10 DEEDS THAT TAKE US CLOSER TO ALLAH AZZAWAJAL

In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful, may His Salaah and Salaam be upon His final Messenger to all mankind, and upon his companions and family members, and all those who follow his path until the Day of Judgement.

1) RECITING THE QUR’AN AND PONDERING OVER ITS MEANING:

Allah Azzawajal says in the Qur’an, Surah Muhammad 47:24

أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ
“Will they not then reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts.”

2) DOING MORE OF SUNNAH AND NAWAFIL ACTS OF WORSHIP: like:

¯Umrah

¯Fasting Mondays and Thursdays

¯Fasting the day of Arafah

¯Fasting the two days of Muharram

¯Giving Sadaqah - it cools Allah’s anger

3) DHIKR:

Allah says in Surah Ahzaab 33:35

وَالذَكِـرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً وَالذَكِرَتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْراً عَظِيماً

“……the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.”

Allah says in Surah Ahzaab 33:41, 42

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ ذِكْراً كَثِيراً - وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً

41. O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.

42. And glorify His praises morning and Asila.

Allah Azzawajal praised Yunus (AS) as he was of those who praised Allah. Allah says in Surah Saffaat 37:143,144

فَلَوْلاَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ - لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

143. Had he not been of them who glorify Allah,144. He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.

4) STAYING AWAY FROM BAD DESIRES:

Allah Azzawajal says in Surah Jathiya 45:23

أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـهَهُ هَوَاهُ

“Have you seen him who takes his own lust as his god…”

5) KNOWING ALLAH AZZAWAJAL THROUGH HIS NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES:

وَللَّهِ الأَسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them.”

6) THANKING ALLAH FOR THE BLESSINGS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THEM:

Allah says in Surah Ibrahim 14:7

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ

And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are thankless, verily, My punishment is indeed severe.''

Allah says in Surah Saba 34:13

اعْمَلُواْ ءَالَ دَاوُودَ شُكْراً وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ الشَّكُورُ

"Work you, O family of Dawud, with thanks!'' But few of My servants are grateful”.

7) SHOWING HUMILITY AND HUMBLENESS IN FRONT OF ALLAH

“Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah raises him.”

8) PRAYING QIYAM UL LAYL:

Allah says in Surah Muzammil 73:1-6

يأَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ - قُمِ الَّيْلَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً - نِّصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلاً - أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلاً - إِنَّا سَنُلْقِى عَلَيْكَ قَوْلاً ثَقِيلاً - إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ الَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْأً وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلاً

1. O you wrapped up! 2. Stand (to pray) all night, except a little. 3. Half of it or less than that, a little. 4. Or a little more. And Rattil the Qur'an Tartil. 5. Verily, We shall send down to you a Word Thaqil. 6. Verily, rising (Nashi'ah) at night is better for understanding and more suitable for speech (recitation).

    9) BEING IN THE COMPANY OF GOOD PEOPLE:

Allah says in Surah Zukhruf 43:67

الاٌّخِلاَءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلاَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ

“Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except those who have Taqwa.”

10) STAYING AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT TAKES ONE AWAY FROM ALLAH AZZAWAJAL