How to closeness to Allah

The Ahlullah have mentioned two secrets to gain the closeness to Allah. 1. Dhikr in isolation. 2. Tahajjud. Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb has expounded on this in the light of Quran and Hadeeth. He emphacized on the importance of Tahajjud, especially now that it is winter and the nights are long.

specialties of Zikr

Faqeeh Abu al – laith Samarqandi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), a great scholar says:

Know that the Zikr of Allah (Ta’ala) has five specialties:

1. ” The pleasure of Allah (Ta’ala) is attained through it.”

2. ” It increases one’s inclination to do acts of obedience”.

3. ” It protects one from the Shaytaan if one is engaged in the Zikr of Allah (Ta’ala)

4. ” It creates softness within the heart”.

5. ” It prevents/deters one from sins”.

  (Tambeehul Ghafileen, Pg.264, Dar al- Hadeeth)

Three methods of Dhikr

Mufti Shaafi (RA) writes in the commentary of this verse that Allah Ta'ala has shown us three methods of Dhikr:

a) Dhikr Qalbi: The tongue doesn't move but the heart and mind are involved in the remembrance of Allah

b) With the Dhikr of the heart, the tongue also engages in Dhikr but softly so that only the reciter hears. Both these meanings are incorporated in 'And remember your Lord within yourself'.

c) Dhikr is made audibly but in a moderate tone. This method is taken from 'without loudness'. Note: 'without loudness' negates Dhikr made in loud tones, not Dhikr in an audible manner