Getting closer to Allah is the deepest need of the heart, even when the tongue does not realize it. The soul was created to recognize its Lord, and every form of restlessness, emptiness, and longing traces back to distance from Him.
Nearness to Allah is not reserved for scholars or saints. It is open to every struggling heart, every sinner who repents, every tired soul that still turns back.
Tips to Get Closer to Allah
1. Begin With Sincere Tawbah
Closeness to Allah begins where distance ends, and distance always ends with repentance. Tawbah is not merely saying “astaghfirullah.” It is returning with regret, humility, and the intention to change. Allah says:
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” [Qur’an 24:31]
The heart cannot grow closer to Allah while holding tightly to sin without regret. Tawbah cleans the path so nearness can begin.
2. Guard the Five Daily Prayers
Nothing brings a servant closer to Allah more consistently than the five daily prayers. They are the spine of the relationship with Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ
“The closest a servant is to his Lord is while he is in prostration.” [Sahih Muslim 482]
Every sujūd is a moment of nearness that no worldly connection can replace.
3. Make the Qur’an a Daily Companion
Distance from the Qur’an always creates distance from Allah. Even a few verses daily reconnect the heart. Allah says:
إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ
“Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most upright.” [Qur’an 17:9]
Closeness grows when the heart hears Allah’s words more than the world’s noise.
4. Increase Dhikr in Hidden Moments
Remembrance softens what the world hardens. Allah says:
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility.” [Qur’an 13:28]
Dhikr during walking, working, waiting, and resting builds closeness quietly and continuously.
5. Learn to Speak to Allah Through Du‘ā
Du‘ā is the language of closeness. Allah calls His servants to speak to Him directly:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
“And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me and I will respond to you.’” [Qur’an 40:60]
The more a person pours their heart into du‘ā, the more they feel Allah near.
6. Detach the Heart From Sin Gradually
Sin does not just displease Allah. It thickens the veil between the servant and their Lord. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا أَخْطَأَ خَطِيئَةً نُكِتَتْ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَإِذَا هُوَ نَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ وَتَابَ سُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ وَإِنْ عَادَ زِيدَ فِيهَا حَتَّى تَعْلُوَ قَلْبَهُ وَهُوَ الرَّانُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ : ( كلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ )
“Verily, when the slave (of Allah) commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. When he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns, it increases until it covers his entire heart. And that is the ‘Ran’ which Allah mentioned: ‘Nay, but on their hearts is the Ran which they used to earn.’” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3334 | Hasan]
Closeness increases as sins decrease, even if the change is slow.
7. Keep Company With Those Who Remember Allah
The heart imitates the environment it sits in. The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ
“You will be with those whom you love.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 3688 | Sahih Muslim 2639]
Being around people who love Allah makes nearness feel possible and real.
8. Give Charity Even When It Feels Small
Charity softens the heart and attracts mercy. The Prophet ﷺ said:
الصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ
“Charity extinguishes sin just as water extinguishes fire.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi 614 | Hasan]
A heart softened by generosity draws closer to Allah than a heart hardened by hoarding.
9. Learn About Allah Through His Names
You cannot love a Lord you do not know. Allah says:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
“To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call upon Him by them.” [Qur’an 7:180]
Closeness deepens when you know Allah as Ar-Raḥmān, Al-Latīf, Al-Ghafūr, and Al-Wadūd.
10. Be Patient With Trials Without Cutting Off From Allah
Hardship can either push the heart away or pull it closer. Allah says:
وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ
“And He is with you wherever you are.” [Qur’an 57:4]
Remaining connected during pain strengthens nearness far more than worship during ease.
11. Lower the Gaze and Guard the Tongue
The eyes and tongue shape the heart more than most people realize. Allah says:
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze.” [Qur’an 24:30]
Clean eyes and a clean tongue keep the heart light and receptive to Allah.
12. Wake up for Allah Even Occasionally at Night
Night worship has a sweetness no daytime act can replace. Allah says:
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ
“And during the night, pray with it as additional worship for you.” [Qur’an 17:79]
Even once a week, standing before Allah when the world sleeps brings powerful closeness.
13. Love Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and Follow Him
The pathway to Allah runs through following the Prophet ﷺ. Allah says:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ
“Say, if you love Allah, then follow me, and Allah will love you.” [Qur’an 3:31]
Following his character, mercy, patience, and humility brings direct access to Allah’s love.
14. Make the Hereafter More Present Than the World
Closeness to Allah grows as attachment to dunya weakens. Allah says:
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ
“And the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” [Qur’an 87:17]
A heart anchored in the Hereafter never drifts too far from Allah.
15. Return to Allah Without Delay After Every Fall
Distance grows not from falling, but from staying down. The Prophet ﷺ said:
التَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لَا ذَنْبَ لَهُ
“The one who repents from a sin is like one who never sinned.” [Sunan Ibn Mājah 4250 | Hasan]
Quick return is one of the greatest signs of nearness.
Getting closer to Allah is not about becoming perfect.
It is about becoming consistent in return.
It is about choosing Him again and again after distraction, after failure, after weakness.
Every step toward Allah is always met with something far greater in return.
