Seeking Connection
And becoming a better slave.
As-salaam alaykum. Warahmatullahi. Wabarakaatuh. Iâm here again, after ghosting yâall for a few weeks. Again. No vex.
You see, in the weeks since before my last letter till now, Iâve started three letters to you and finished only two. Lost one draft, couldnât finish the other. One got to you sha, one month ago. So, letter number four here, letâs hope it gets to you too.
Iâve been trying to process some thoughts in the past weeks and they were just not processing. All the letters that have been abandoned had subjects revolving around that single thoughtâthe dynamic of our relationship with Allah. I mean, I know Iâm lazy and have been procrastinating a lot, but the network connection in this house is really after my life and the thoughts have also just not been thoughting.
So I was listening to this episode of the TDS Podcast titled, âYou Canât Love What You Donât Knowâ earlier this week and it has given me some sort of clarity over those thoughts Iâve been trying to process.
After listening to that episode of the podcastâwhich I'd really like you to listen to too, hereâagain though, it finally clicked. The thing is, I have been struggling with improving several parts of my worship and itâs been hard, really hard. In studying on how to make it easier, Iâve had some thoughts I want to share. On the struggle to become a better slave to your creator and things you might want to consider doing to make it easier.
Now, this is what Iâve been trying, and failing, to put together in the past few weeks.
For starters, we must constantly remind ourselves that our sole purpose in this Dunya is to worship Allah. Every other thing is either a means to that end or a distraction from that purpose. And the distractions are so numerous, so much that it is very easy to get lost in them and forget the goal.
But what is even tougher than remembering the goal is working towards it with all of your body, mind and soul. What is hard is not falling into a dull monotonous routine with your âibaadaat. What is hard is waking up everyday and performing all the acts of worship you perform with full consciousness. What is hard is remembering Allah in every situation and turning back to him after every transgression. What is hard is maintaining khushuuâ in your salah. What is hard is not getting sidelined by all the distractions and remembering every step of the journey that, even more than Jannah, pleasing Allah is the goal.
And especially in a world where everythingâs moving so fast that thereâs barely anytime to take a breath, where you could pick up your phone for a 10 minute break and realize youâve lost three hours instead to the distractions of IG streets, where thereâs distractions pressing into your face from literally every angle, it is very very easy to get sidelined. Very.
Sha. Sha. Sha. Here are some tips Iâve been exploring myself. I hope they work for you too, even more than theyâre working for me.
1. Surround Yourself With Goodness
I genuinely feel like this is one of the most important things that would help keep you focused on the goal. Tailor your circle. Surround yourself with good people, the kind of people youâre aspiring to be. Hang around people who would notice when you make mistakes and call you to order. Do you want to stop listening to music? Stop hanging out with the musical crowd. Do you want to start observing your salah at the appropriate times? Hang out with people who do not procrastinate salah. This is not even motivational talk, itâs literally just what happens. When I hang out with the musical crowd, my brain picks up musical stuff. When I hang around the people of the Qurâan, Iâm reminded to pick up my Qurâan more often.
And thereâs this Hadith,
Abu al-Ahwas reported: Abdullah ibn Masâud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, âRemember Allah Almighty often. You must not accompany anyone unless they help you remember Allah Almighty.â Source: Shuâab al-ImaĚn 8998
And you know what else you get from this? His love, made obligatory for you. See.
âAmr ibn âAbasah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, âAllah Almighty said: My love is a right upon those who befriend each other for my sake. My love is a right upon those who defend each other for my sake.â Source: al-Muâjam al-SĚŁaghiĚr 1092
2. Iâm bringing this one in with a question.
Who is Allah? What is the first thing(s) that come to mind at this question?
How much do you even know Allah?
Before you start para-ing, calm down. Take a chill pill. I know you went to madrasah and islamiyyah, youâve been learning âAllahu fee as-samaaâ since kindergarten. I know, I know. But even though. Even though. Even though upon still.
When you think of Allah, how do you think of Him? (No sly me abeg, I actually want to know).
Do you think of the Rabb that has 99 beautiful names and more than 30 of those names just His kindness, gentleness, forgiveness and compassion? Do you think of His might and dominion that puts everything and anything in His power such that thereâs literally nothing you could you ask for that would be outside his capabilities? Do you think of the Rabb who loves you more than ANYONE could ever love you? Do you think of the Rabb who has sustained you from the moment you were conceived till this date?
Now can you list, off hand, just 10 things your Rabb loves? And five things He dislikes? Off the top of your head. This Rabb who knows you more than you know yourself. Do you get my point yet?
Yeah, maybe knowing your Lord better would help you connect with Him better.
3. Your relationship with the Qurâan.
For many of us, studying the Qurâan was not a decision we made. Our parents did. We have since finished memorization or paused it for one reason or the other and our relationship with it is now limited to salah, seeing clips on statuses and maybe Friday Kahf recitations too.
Humor me a little please, but do you know what the Qurâan is? Humor me.
The Qurâan is the word of Allah. It is literally Allah talking to you. Heâs advising you, Heâs encouraging you, Heâs telling you stories, Heâs warning you. Allah says,
âThis is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqoon [the pious]â (Quran, 2:2)
And thereâs no chain of transmission. You literally just pick it up/swipe on your phone, open it and Heâs speaking to you. Just like that. What better way can you think of to understand your Lord better and get closer to Him?
And you know, you kill plenty birds with one stone. You get closer to your Rabb and you reap the virtues that come with reading the Qurâan, like;
âThe rewards,
âVerily the one who recites the Quran beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.â (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
âThe intercession,
âRead the Quran, for verily it will come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for its companions.â (Muslim)
And it just goes on.
Iâll stop here. Until my next letter sha, what and who does Allah love? Let me know your answers.
As-salaam alaykum.



Allah loves those who are conscious of Him and constantly turn to him.