The very first means to establish a living connection with God is through connecting with His Holy Book.
The Holy Quran is the word of God and contains complete guidance for mankind. It lays down the law and commandments. Much of the Holy Quran is about God, His attributes and man’s relationship to Allah and the ways to achieve the nearness to God.
The Promised Messiah (as) says, “I wish to assure the listeners that the God, meeting with Whom is the salvation and eternal welfare of man, cannot be found without following the Holy Quran.” (The Philosophy of Teachings of Islam, Page 198)
Allah has also sent down Messengers for guidance on how to establish a connection with God. So, to attain the nearness to Allah, the obedience and following the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the key. As Allah himself says in the Holy Quran, “And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings.” Chapter An-Nisa’ Verse 70.
Another way to build a living connection with God is through prayers. God listens to the prayers and answers to his true believers and gives them his nearness as He Himself says in the Holy Quran chapter Al-Baqarah Verse 187.
“And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: ‘I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So, they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.” One can also build a connection with God through the company of the righteous as the Holy Qur'an has guided the believers in these words “O ye who believe! fear Allah and be with the truthful”. (Chapter At-Taubah Verse 119)
And another means of building a living connection with God is through the attachment with Khilafat. The blessed presence of the Khalifa of the time is a means of attaching us to the living God because he is the current successor of Allah so we all should try to truly benefit by being in the righteous company of the Khalifa of the time.
Author: Ehsan Khalid. Al Masroor Magazine - April 2023 Ramadan Edition
