The Journey to Attain Closeness to Allahﷻ

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Allahﷻ Says in the Holy Quran,

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ
And the king said, "Come up with him (i.e., Bring him, Sayyidina Yusuf Alayhi salam) to me! I would faithfully (attach) him to myself." So, as soon as he spoke to him, he said, "Surely today you are close to us, established, and devoted."
(Quran 12:54)

Sayyidina Yusuf Alayhi salam went through many difficulties in his life and in the end, he was rewarded by Allahﷻ for his patience. He was raised in rank, from a prisoner in the dungeon, to attaining the highest honour, being one most trusted in closeness to the king.

For a believer, Allah Almighty is the King of all kings, and attaining nearness to Himﷻ is the highest honour for a humble servant.

Mawlanaق said that when Allahﷻ Loves Hisﷻ servant, Heﷻ brings the person in closeness to Himﷻ. Mureeds in this Way know, it is not an easy journey. They are taught to think nothing of the good deeds they do, to seek no reward for their actions, except Allah’sﷻ Pleasure.

A mureed must strive to do all within his capacity to be in service in this Way, following the orders of his Guide, and beautifying his actions with Sincerity.

Sincerity, is the Protection in Allahﷻ against iblis alayhi laqnat and his forces.

A sincere mureed realises that every good action he performs is in reality, from the Generosity of his Lord and he releases its rewards to the Safekeeping of His Belovedﷺ. In the Divine Presence of Allah Almighty, Most High, there is no place for ‘I’-ness. To lose oneself is the goal of Tariqah, to attain the Pleasure of Allahﷻ is the destination.

Mawlanaق reminds us to be wary of our egoistic-self and to act with caution, always checking the heart for any signs of subtle rebellion towards Allahﷻ. Praises and insults must appear the same to a mureed as he learns to have complete trust in the Will of Allahﷻ.

As one seeking Knowledge from the Quran will find, in the letter ‘س’, a linguistic value of subtlety. The subtleness of ‘س’ is found in the entire Surah An-Nas, which is a prayer, seeking the Help of Allahﷻ against the insidious games shaitan and his companions play, whispering to people feelings of distrust in their Lord Most High. Hence, be careful, because even a small amount of unhappiness with the Will and Wisdom of Allahﷻ, can take one far from Himﷻ.

The secret, hidden enemy can only be defeated with constant zikrullah, being with Allahﷻ and asking Himﷻ for help against the ‘snipers’ waiting to ambush and attack with their ‘waswasa’, crafty whisperings.

May Allahﷻ make us to be those who have full trust in Himﷻ, in our Prophetﷺ, and in our Guideق, until we reach the highest honour of attaining closeness to Himﷻ.