The Excellence of Drawing Close to Allah

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Excellence of Drawing Close to Allah

Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali




The hadith qudsi mentions, "Whoever draws close to me by a hand-span length I draw closer to him by a cubit. Whoever draws closer to me by a cubit, I draw closer to him by a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I go to Him running."[1]
The narration of Ahmad adds, "And Allah is more Exalted and Greater; Allah is more Exalted and Greater."[2] Another hadith in Ahmad has that Allah, Mighty and Magnificent says, "Son of Adam, stand before me and I will walk to you. Walk towards Me and I will run towards you."[3]
Whoever turns towards Us, We receive him willingly from afar Whoever desires what We want, We desire what he wants Whoever asks of Us We shall grant him more and more again Whoever works seeking Our aid, We will make soft for him iron.
Man! Were you to go to the door of the governor, he would not receive you or give you any attention, perhaps he will even prevent you from getting near him. But the King of kings is saying, "Whoever comes to me walking, I will go to him running," yet you turn away from Him and run after another! You have been cheated in the worst of manners and you have lost out in the severest of ways!
By Allah, I have never come to visit you Except that I found the earth compacting for me, And never have I resolved to leave your door Except that I tripped over my own garments!
O you who desire to meet Him, the path has been made clear so why the tarrying and the holding back?

The Path has been made clear to you, truly

So none who desires You need now to seek.

“Can there be doubt concerning Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you that He may forgive you your sins.”[4]
“O our people! Respond to Allah’s summoner ...”[5]

O soul, woe to You! Guidance has come to you,

Answer it! Here is the caller of Allah summoning you.

Many-a-time are you called to guidance

yet turn away do you,

But answer do you the caller to misguidance when he calls you!

[1] Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah.

[2] Ahmad on the authority of Abu Dharr.

[3] Ahmad 15925 on the authority of one of the Companions. Haytharni, vol. 10, p. 197, said the narrators of the isnad were trustworthy and precise. Mundhiri, Targhib 4771 said the isnad was sahih as did Albani 3153.

[4] Surah Ibrahim (14): 10

[5] Surah Al-Ahqaf (46): 31