❀ The Most Beloved Deeds for Attaining Nearness to Allah in Light of the Qur’an and Hadith ❀
✦ Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdussalam (Hafizahullah)
The deeds most beloved to Allah ﷻ are those rooted in Tawḥīd (the Oneness of Allah), sincerity of intention, piety, and purity of heart. From the Qur’an, Hadith, sayings of the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم), and the words of the pious friends of Allah, it becomes evident that nearness to Allah is attained through sincere worship, pure intention, and high moral character. This article presents the most significant of such deeds as supported by Qur’an, Hadith, and sayings of the righteous predecessors.
Belief in the Oneness of Allah is the greatest deed.
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ
(Surah Al-Bayyinah: 5)
Translation: “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth...”
Taqwa means fearing Allah and abstaining from sins. It is a key to attaining closeness to Allah.
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
(Surah Al-Ḥujurāt: 13)
Translation: “Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the one who has the most Taqwa.”
Sincerity in intention is essential for attaining closeness to Allah.
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth No. 1; Saḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth No. 1907)
Translation: “Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to what he intended.”
Closeness to Allah is achieved by fulfilling obligatory duties and increasing in voluntary acts.
"My servant comes closer to Me through that which I have made obligatory upon him, and then continues to draw nearer to Me through voluntary acts until I love him."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth No. 6502)
Among all forms of remembrance, the best is the declaration of Tawḥīd.
أفضل الذكر: لا إله إلا الله
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Ḥadīth No. 3383)
Translation: “The best remembrance is ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh’ (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah).”
"Actions depend upon intentions, and the reward of every deed is based on the intention behind it."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth No. 1)
"The most successful people in this world are those who possess fear of Allah and sincerity in their hearts."
(Reference: Nahj al-Balāghah)
The greatest means of attaining closeness to Allah ﷻ are:
✔ Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allah)
✔ Sincerity of Intention
✔ Fulfillment of Obligatory Duties
✔ Abundance in Voluntary Worship
✔ Taqwa (Fear and Consciousness of Allah)
From the Qur’an, Hadith, and sayings of the Companions and pious predecessors, it is evident that only those deeds are accepted by Allah which are done with sincerity. Making the pleasure of Allah one's ultimate goal and purifying the heart from the love of this world is the foundation for achieving closeness to Him.
✦ Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdussalam (Hafizahullah)
✿ The Most Beloved Deeds in the Sight of Allah
The deeds most beloved to Allah ﷻ are those rooted in Tawḥīd (the Oneness of Allah), sincerity of intention, piety, and purity of heart. From the Qur’an, Hadith, sayings of the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم), and the words of the pious friends of Allah, it becomes evident that nearness to Allah is attained through sincere worship, pure intention, and high moral character. This article presents the most significant of such deeds as supported by Qur’an, Hadith, and sayings of the righteous predecessors.
① Great Deeds for Nearness to Allah in the Qur’an
◈ Tawḥīd and Sincerity
Belief in the Oneness of Allah is the greatest deed.
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ
(Surah Al-Bayyinah: 5)
Translation: “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth...”
◈ Taqwa (Piety)
Taqwa means fearing Allah and abstaining from sins. It is a key to attaining closeness to Allah.
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
(Surah Al-Ḥujurāt: 13)
Translation: “Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the one who has the most Taqwa.”
② Great Deeds for Nearness to Allah in the Hadith
◈ Sincerity of Intention
Sincerity in intention is essential for attaining closeness to Allah.
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth No. 1; Saḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth No. 1907)
Translation: “Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to what he intended.”
◈ Obligatory and Voluntary Acts
Closeness to Allah is achieved by fulfilling obligatory duties and increasing in voluntary acts.
"My servant comes closer to Me through that which I have made obligatory upon him, and then continues to draw nearer to Me through voluntary acts until I love him."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth No. 6502)
◈ The Greatest Dhikr: "Lā ilāha illā Allāh"
Among all forms of remembrance, the best is the declaration of Tawḥīd.
أفضل الذكر: لا إله إلا الله
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Ḥadīth No. 3383)
Translation: “The best remembrance is ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh’ (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah).”
③ Sayings of the Noble Companions
◈ ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه)
"Actions depend upon intentions, and the reward of every deed is based on the intention behind it."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth No. 1)
◈ ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه)
"The most successful people in this world are those who possess fear of Allah and sincerity in their hearts."
(Reference: Nahj al-Balāghah)
④ Summary
The greatest means of attaining closeness to Allah ﷻ are:
✔ Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allah)
✔ Sincerity of Intention
✔ Fulfillment of Obligatory Duties
✔ Abundance in Voluntary Worship
✔ Taqwa (Fear and Consciousness of Allah)
From the Qur’an, Hadith, and sayings of the Companions and pious predecessors, it is evident that only those deeds are accepted by Allah which are done with sincerity. Making the pleasure of Allah one's ultimate goal and purifying the heart from the love of this world is the foundation for achieving closeness to Him.
