How to attain closeness to Allah?

Closeness to Allah is attained by performing the Ibaadaat for Allah.  There are some Ibaadaat which are obligatory called Faraaiz while others which are not obligatory.  These are supererogatory Ibaadaat which are called Nawaafil.  The word ''Faraaiz'' consists of actions that are compulsory to engage in and those that are compulsory to refrain from.

The indispensable means to reach Allah is by abiding by these Faraaiz.  Without doing this, a person may not gain closeness to Allah nor become the Wali of Allah.

A person may surpass others in supererogatory acts of worship.  However, an Ibaadat becomes supererogatory only when the compulsory Ibaadaat are accomplished first.  One example is that a person who has not yet completed his work during the stated working hours, will not be allowed to take up overtime.  Working hours are classed as overtime only after a person has first completed the normal working hours. 

In the same way, Nawaafil comes into existence and is valid when a person observes the Faraaiz first.  Thereafter, the second stage of attaining closeness to Allah is realised by supererogatory Ibaadaat.  A person keeps drawing closer to Allah by carrying out His commandments and refraining from His prohibitions.  Besides that, out of love for Allah, he continues to do supererogatory and voluntary Ibaadaat until he becomes "Mahboub Rabbani" that is the beloved of Allah.

At this stage, the likes and dislikes of the servant is fully in accordance to Allah.  That is, he desires what Allah loves and he hates what Allah hates.  He uses his entire body for the pleasure of Allah.  He does what Allah loves and what Allah loves, he does.  It is an advanced stage of love where a person annihilates himself and his desires for the pleasure of his beloved.

When a servant reaches this stage, Allah grants him all that he desires.  However, one should bear in mind that there are different ways of Allah answering the Du'aa of his servant: at times He gives him what he wants, at times He gives him something which is more beneficial and at times He keeps it for him in the Hereafter.  If this applies to all of the servants, then all the more this will apply to the beloved servants of Allah.

[English version of "Couma rapproché avec Allah Ta'ala?" - Al Jamiat Vol.3 No.13]