Basis of Relationship

- It is Allah Who has made you for you the earth as a resting place, and sky a canopy, and has given you shape – and made your shape beautiful, - and has provided for you sustenance, of things pure and good; - such is Allah your Rabb! So Glory to Allah, Rabbil-Alameen!

- He is the Living (One): there is no god but He: call upon Him, giving Him since devotion. Praise be to Allah, Rabbil-Alameen!

- Say [O Muhammad (SAAW)!]: “Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allah once the clear proofs have come to me from my Rabb, and I have been Commanded to submit to the Rabbil-Alameen.

(Mu’min 40, Ayat 64- 66)

These Ayat are just one reference, amongst numerous references in the Holy Qur’an, that provide us with the sound basis for our relationship with our Creator.

The unique feature of these Ayat is that this is the only place in the Holy Qur’an where in three consecutive Ayat are concluded with the attribute – ‘Rabbil-Alameen’. 

Arabic word ‘Rabb’ used in the Holy Qur’an to address our Creator cannot be fully expressed by a single word in any other language. It carries in it the connotation of – Master, Sustainer, Provider, Supporter, Nourisher, Guardian, Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, He Who Controls and Directs. (Abul Ala Maududi, vol. 1, p 36)

Thus, it is absolutely logical that we reserve our devotion to the Majesty and Might of the One and Only Allah (SWT) Who is our Rabb.

The first Surah of the Holy Qur’an starts with the Ayah:

- Praise be to Allah, Rabbil-Alameen!

(Al-Fatihah 1, Ayah 1)

This is the spontaneous admission of the Absolute Sovereignty of the Creator by us when we ponder over the bounties bestowed upon us in the form of this beautiful universe and the complete system of nourishment and support. The Holy Qur’an beautifully depicts this response of men of understanding:

- Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of the night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.

- Those who remember Allah (always and in prayer) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the saying): “Our Rabb! Not for naught have You created (all) this! Glory be to You! Give us salvation from the chastisement of the Fire.”

(Ale-Imran 3, Ayat 190-191)

Proper Perspective 

The last part of the Ayah 191, quoted above, is very significant. Once a man of understanding realizes that everything that is around him is created with a purpose, he goes on to contemplate on the purpose of his own creation and the consequences of not fulfilling this purpose.

Holy Qur’an describes this purpose as under:

- Behold, your Rabb said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ They said: “Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? – while we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?” He said: “I know what you do not know.”

(Al-Baqarah 2, Ayah 30)

This role is more explicitly stated in Surah Saad, where Allah (SWT) reminded Dawood (AS) about his responsibility:

- O Dawood (AS)! We did indeed make you a vicegerent on earth: so you judge between men in truth (and justice): nor do you follow the lusts (of your heart), for they will mislead you from the Path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is a grievous Penalty, for that they forget the Day of Account.

- Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between! That was the thought of unbelievers! But woe to unbelievers because of the Fire (of Hell)!

- Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right?

- (Here is) a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they meditate on its Signs, and that men of understanding may receive admonition.

(Saad 38, Ayat 26-29)

It is, therefore, imperative that while on one hand we should be grateful to the Rabbil-Alameen for bestowing this status of ‘vicegerent’ on us, on the other hand we should not lose sight of the fact that we are not granted absolute freedom to act the way we like. We are accountable for all our actions and conduct. That is why we make conscious submission in the beginning of our relationship with the Holy Qur’an, in Surah Fatihah, after acknowledging the attributes of Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem, we acknowledge that He is:

- Master of the Day of Judgment

It is this attribute which provides us with the reason to follow the directives and guidelines of the Message. At the same time it gives us a balanced perspective for our relationship with our Creator.

Strengthening the Relationship

The most helpful deed that helps us to strengthen our relationship with our Creator is Salat.

The five obligatory daily prayers are essential for every adult and sane Muslim:

- …the Prayer is enjoined on the believers at stated times.

(An-Nisa 4, Ayah 103)

Additional prayers (Nawafil) – especially Tahajjud – add to the strengthening of this relationship.

When offering Salat, we present ourselves to the Creator and establish a direct contact with Him. It is, therefore, imperative that we offer our Salat with full concentration and devotion in order to reap the desired benefit.

- Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer, and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).

- (Al-Baqarah 2, Ayah 238)

And what is the desired benefit?

Holy Qur’an says:

- Recite, [O Muhammad (SAAW)!], what has been revealed to you in the Book and establish prayer. Indeed prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

(Al-Ankabut 29, Ayah 45)

Obviously, when we save ourselves from immorality and wrongdoings, seeking help of Salat, it becomes easy for us to follow the path towards our Creator:

- And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.

(Al-Ankabut 29, Ayah 69)

The next source that helps us strengthen our relation with our Creator is the Holy Qur’an.

Our relationship with the Book is discussed in detail in the previous chapter.

In short, in order to strengthen our relationship with our Creator, we have to read, understand and follow the Guidance provided by the Holy Qur’an:

- (It is) a Qur’an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil.

(Az-Zumar 39, Ayah 28)

Now, how do we follow the Guidance of the Book in our day to day life in order to strengthen our relationship with Allah (SWT)?

For this, we need to turn to the Sunnah and Seerah of Prophet (SAAW) – the best role model to follow:

- You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah.

(Al-Ahzab 33, Ayah21)

In fact, at eleven places in the Holy Qur’an obedience of Prophet (SAAW) is mentioned immediately after the obedience of Allah (SWT) as a condition to attain prosperity.

In Surah Aal-e-Imran Prophet is asked to declare:

- Say, [O Prophet (SAAW)!]; “If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(Aal-e-Imran 3, Ayah 31)

And in Surah An-Nisa, Qur’an declares categorically:

- He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah: but if any turn away, We have not sent you [O Muhammad (SAAW!)] over them as a guardian.

(An-Nisa 4, Ayah 80)

It is, therefore, essential that we learn more and more about Prophet’s (SAAW) Sunnah and Seerah from authentic sources and put them in practice in our life as much as possible.

Apart from these three main sources, there are acts like charity, helping people in need and Azkar/Tasbeehat that help us strengthening our relationship with Allah (SWT).

Pitfalls in Relationship

Despite all good intentions to have a strong relationship with the Creator a person may encounter pitfalls when it comes to the issue of seeking help or asking for repentance/salvation. Sometimes unintentionally and unknowingly the person indulges in shirk. Satan makes a backdoor entry, convincing the person that he is too small, insignificant individual, full of sins, to approach the Almighty directly. The person, in this state of low self esteem and having a myopic vision of the Grace of the Almighty starts looking for some mediator who is ‘close to Allah (SWT)’, to present his case. Most harmful situation develops when the person gradually lets this mediator take the centre stage of his attention and invocation to get his problem solved or to ‘procure’ repentance or salvation for him.

We must bear in mind that while a person may feel that he is not close to Allah (SWT), Allah (SWT) is always close to him and is Ever-Listening and answering to the call of His bondsman:

- And when My servants ask you [O Muhammad (SAAW)!] concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) and believe in Me that they may be (rightly) guided.

(Al-Baqarah 2, Ayah 186)

Points that are significant to note in this Ayah are:

1. Allah (SWT) is addressing us as Ibadi (My servant) without distinction or discrimination. Showing thereby the Infinite Love and Mercy of the Creator for His bondsmen.

2. In the Holy Qur’an whenever there is mention of questions asked by the people in Prophet’s (SAAW) time in the form yas’aloonaka (they ask you) and the answer is provided through Prophet (SAAW) in the form, qul (tell them). However, in this particular Ayah the question (and when my servants ask you concerning Me) is asked to the Prophet (SAAW), the answer is given by the Almighty Himself. Thereby highlighting the proximity of the Almighty with His bondsmen.

3. Allah (SWT) not only Listens but also Responds to the call. According to a Hadeeth, none of our calls (Dua) go unanswered. There are three ways that it is responded:

(a) The request that is made is met with.

(b) A more serious calamity/problem is staved off in compensation.

(c) The reward for the request is saved for the Day of Recompense.

In order to ensure the acceptance of our Dua we need to ensure that we follow the rules laid down by the Holy Qur’an. The first and foremost of the requirement is that we earn our livelihood through honest and rightful means.

As regard the concocted intercessors, worshipped by the simpletons, the Holy Qur’an says:  

- And they worship other than Allah that which neither harm them or benefits them, and they say, “These are our intercessors with Allah” Say, “Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?” Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.

(Yunus 10, Ayah 18)

On the Day of Judgment these ‘intercessors’ will disown them and they will be getting the return of their deeds.

- And when those who associated others with Allah see their ‘partners’, they will say, “Our Rabb! These are our ‘partners’, those whom we used to invoke besides You.” But they will throw back their word at them (and say): “Indeed you are liars!”

(An-Nahl 16, Ayah 86)

Similar assertion is made in Surah Maryam:

- And they have taken besides Allah (false) deities that they would be for them (a source of) honor.

- No! Those ‘gods’ will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents (on the Day of Judgment).

(Maryam 19, Ayat 81-82)