Maintaining a Direct Connection with Allah (s.w.t.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is a transcript of discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنفَال

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمۡ لِمَا يُحۡيِيڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡمَرۡءِ وَقَلۡبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُ ۥۤ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ (٢٤) 

O you who believe!  Give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He Calls you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah Comes in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to whom you shall (all) be Gathered. (Surah al-Anfal:24) 

The first part of the ayat has a lot of implications and importance.  When the Call comes from Allah (s.w.t.) and His Messenger (s.a.w.), we must respond.  Once Prophet (s.a.w.) called out to a companion who was at the time in swalah.  The companion did not respond but instead waited until he completed his swalah and then went to Prophet (s.a.w.) and informed him why he did not respond initially.  To this the Prophet (s.a.w.) reminded him about the first part of the ayat quoted above. 

Prophet (s.a.w.) is reported to have said “Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart.  He Turns that to any (direction) He likes”.  Allah (s.w.t.) can Guide us to righteousness or cause us to deviate.  This is why Prophet (s.a.w.) prayed: 

Allahumma yaa muqallib al-quluub tsabbit qalbii ‘alaa diinik 

“Oh Turner of Hearts, Keep our hearts Firm on Your Religion” 

We need to understand why Allah (s.w.t.) says our wealth and our children are only a trial, fitnah.  It is because they can come between Allah (s.w.t.) and our heart and divert our focus.  The verse quoted above tells us that we should give nothing more preference than Allah (s.w.t.).  And not let anything come in the way and hinder our connection to Him.  A true believer will carry out all the necessary undertakings of the world but his heart remains engaged in remembrance of Allah (s.w.t.).  We have to get involved in the world for our livelihood but not be consumed by it to the extent that we give preference to it over our religious obligations. 

We must not put a curtain between Allah (s.w.t.) and our heart and never forget that any time we do wrong, a black spot will appear on our hearts, as Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ المطفّفِین

كَلَّا‌ۖ بَلۡۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِم مَّا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ (١٤) 

By no means!  But on their hearts is the stain of the (ill) which they do! (Surah al-Muthaffifin:14) 

Our goal should be to maintain a direct connection to Him.  It is not easy but possible.   Insha’Allah, let us all try to make this jihad for ourselves and not put spots between Him and ourselves.  And leave this world in a clean and pure state, insha’Allah.