10/07/2025
Not so long ago, I was trying to find ways to come closer to Allah, but I still didn't fully understand the need behind salat. Yes, Allah commanded it, but why? "Why did he command it/do I really need to pray to come closer to him?" is what I would ask.
Short answer: YES you do need to pray to come closer to Him and you don't need to know the why to do it. Obedience will always bring you closer to Allah. Sometimes you'll feel the emotional connection, sometimes you won't - either way, you are showing up to your meeting with Allah as He asked you to.
The conversation should go like this:
Q: Why do I need to pray 5X a day?
A: Because He ordered you to. (There are many other benefits but that should not be the reason you do it)
Is it the only way to come closer to Him? Definitely not, but it is a pillar for good reason!
Does that mean you shouldn't seek knowledge and deeper meaning behind salat? Absolutely not. Seeking life long knowledge about Islam will pave a path to Jannah for us inshaAllah.
It just means, you will still obey even if you don't know why, or agree with the why behind the action. (We won't always know why because some knowledge is not meant for us)
So in short, IMO, seeking closeness to Allah is 2 fold:
1. Obedience
2. Seeking knowledge and contemplation
Doing both of these things will bring you closer to Allah than you could imagine, without you even realizing it.
A few surprise gifts that Allah has given me along my journey closer to Him since January 2024 (Some I didn't even think to ask for)
- Halal only food
- Hijab (this was the biggest surprise for me alhumdullilah)
- Praying 5X a day
- Easy to fast
- My beehive (muslim sisters)
- BIL who reverted and has brought my sister closer to Islam
- Learned to read arabic
- My 8 & 11 yr old boys are fluently reading and reciting Qur'an
- Better understanding between my husband and I
Too many to keep going, but you get the gist.
Open your heart and eyes to His signs - and some of the things, you'll realize were there all along.
No one can love you more than Allah, so why should you not reciprocate?
What are some things you've seen change in your life in your quest to come closer to Allah?