Steps Helpful In Getting Closer To Allah

It should be a desire for every Muslim to get closer and nearer to our Lord Almighty Allah. But there are many Muslim brothers and sisters who say they want to get closer to Allah, become a good practicing Muslim but they don't know how to do that.
Allah says in the Holy Quran in Surah -Al Baqarah Chapter 2 verse 186:

When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close to them, I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me, let them also , with a will, listen to My call and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way.

Here are a few point summarized that may help us get closer to Allah. May Allah guide us all to the right path. Ameen

1. Make Dua (Supplications ) To Allah Alone : For every step in our life we first of all need Allah's help and guidance. Similarly if we want to get closer to Allah and be good practicing Muslim the first thing is to ask Allah for His help and guidance. We should know that nothing could change without Allah's help and permission. to improve our faith We should ask Allah and surely Allah will guide us.

2. Pray the Obligatory Prayers (Salat) Five times A Day: Always pray at the prescribed timing. Never miss your salat and while you pray forget about everything in your life and just remember Allah. this will give you peace of mind and heart.

3. Praying Nawafil prayers: When one is praying salat he is very close to Allah. Beside the obligatory prayers one should give time to pray nawafil prayers and seek Allah's helps. Allah says in the Holy Quran in Surah Al- Baqarah chapter 2 verse 45- 46

And seek help in patience and As-salat (the prayers) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for those who are true believers in Allah, who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord, and that they are to return to Him.

4. Praying the Night prayer (Thajjud) : Praying at night and supplicating to Allah when every thing is silent and people are sleeping is a good way to come closer to Allah. According to a Hadith in Sahih Muslim :

The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer

5. Try To Avoid Sins: Humans do make mistakes but try to avoid sins as much as possible. Don't backbite, never go even close to adultery, stay away from haram food and income, don't speak lies.



6. Remembrance (Zikr) Of Allah:  Remembering Allah is essential in achieving closeness to Allah. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran in Surah Ar-Raad chapter 13 verse 28:

Those who believe,and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah; for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.

Again at another place in Surah Al Ahzab Chapter 33 verse 41-42

O ye who believe remember Allah much and glorify Him morning and evening

Remembrance of Allah can be done while taking a walk, while driving,  cooking, cleaning etc. One can recite Subhanallah, Allhamdulliha, Allah o Akbar and Astagfirallah easily anytime.

7. Make Friends that Remind you about Allah: A good company and friend who are pious is a great treasure. Friends that help you remind Allah, go for a prayer together and resist from doing evil are helpful. Refrain from many too many friends that may take you away from remembrance of Allah.

8. Read and Understand Quran: Quran is the word of Allah. It has solutions to almost all our problems. Make a habit of reading Holy Quran daily with meanings in the language you understand the best.

9. Follow The Sunnah Of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) : Read the Hadith from the authentic books and try to follow Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in every step of your life. He (pbuh) had the best manners and ethics.

10. Repentance: If a person sins and then sincerely repents to Allah, he will find Allah to be forgiving. Repentance is encouraged at many places in the Holy Quran. a few verses are as follows:
\Surah Al Muzammil chapter 73 verse 20:

And seek Allah's forgiveness, Allah is oft Forgiving, Merciful.

Surah An-Nissa chapter 4 verse 110     ;

If anyone does evil or wrongs his soul, but afterwards seeks Allah' forgiveness, he will find Allah oft  Forgiving, most Merciful

Surah Al-Imran chapter 3 verses 135-136

And those who, when they commit a wrong actor evil themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins and who forgives sins except Allah ? And they do not persist in what wrong they were doing while they knew it. For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens with rivers flowing through, wherein they shall abide forever. How excellent is the reward of the doer of the good.