Why a Good Relationship with Allah is Obligatory for the Servant! - Hafiz Masum Ahmad Dudhratchaki

Daily Bijoy News, Special Correspondent:

The one with whom you should have the best relationship is Almighty Allah. He is the one who, keeping a human covered with a sheet of mercy inside the dark womb of the mother for a long period, provided the opportunity to come into this world through a sequential process. Not only that, for the favors He has bestowed, starting from a blood clot to a lump of flesh and then the addition of bones in the mother's womb before coming into the world, it is obligatory for every servant to maintain a good relationship and observe etiquette with Him. Forgetfully neglecting all these mercies and favors of Almighty Allah, the servant engages in disobedience towards Him. Despite his disobedience, He has kept everyone, believer and non-believer alike, under a vast blanket of mercy, whose judgment and decision will take place in the Hereafter. Before that, it is extremely important for believing Muslims to maintain a good relationship and observe etiquette with Allah in this world.

Praise and Gratitude to Allah

The first demand of faith for all these mercies and favors of Almighty Allah upon the servant is that the servant should constantly praise Allah with his tongue and express obedience with every limb of his body with a bowed head. How gracious is Allah, who has declared that if the servant praises and obeys Allah, He will also remember the servant immediately. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
'So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.' (Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayat 152)

Furthermore, Allah Almighty has declared that He will increase His favors upon the servant in response to his gratitude and praise. And if the opposite occurs, there is also a declaration of severe punishment for him. Allah says: 'And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you are ungrateful, indeed, My punishment is severe.'' (Surah Ibrahim: Ayat 7)

Must Remember

The owner of all favors is Allah. The owner of all blessings in the world is Allah. Therefore, there is joy and reward in acknowledging the favor of the Owner. Denying or disregarding a favor does not in any way fall within the bounds of etiquette and gratitude. Allah Ta'ala, reminding people of His favors, says:
'And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them.' (Surah An-Nahl: Ayat 18)
'And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allah.' (Surah An-Nahl: Ayat 53)

Therefore, 'So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.' (Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayat 152)

Fear of Allah

When a servant fears Allah, He still sees and knows all of the servant's conditions. For this reason, the heart and mind of a believing servant become filled with fear and reverence for Allah. Whenever a believing servant commits any wrong or disobedient act, he immediately feels ashamed before Allah.

He considers going against Allah and stepping out of the bounds of obedience as a true disgrace and immediately turns back to Allah. This is a sign of the servant's good relationship and etiquette with Allah. Because whenever a believing servant gets involved in any disobedience to Allah, he feels that Allah Ta'ala is watching him. The believing servant also remembers that declaration of Allah. Addressing the servant, Allah has said:
'What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur, While He has created you in stages?' (Surah Nuh: Ayat 13-14)
Elsewhere, He further said: 'And He knows what you conceal and what you declare.' (Surah At-Taghabun: Ayat 4)

Therefore, the only task for the servant is not disobedience to Allah, but to return to Him. He has power over the servant. The servant is under His control. The servant has no path or means of escape open except to return to Him. Allah says:
'And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you...' (Surah Hud: Ayat 56) and '...And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers.' (Surah Al-Ma'idah: Ayat 23)
To maintain a good relationship with Allah, it is as essential to express gratitude for His favors as it is to refrain from all acts of disobedience.

May Allah Almighty grant the Muslim Ummah the ability to express gratitude for His favors and to refrain from His disobedience. May He grant the ability to harbor the hope of His mercy and fear in our hearts. Allahumma Aamin, Thumma Aamin.

Writer: Eminent Islamic thinker, writer, and columnist Hafiz Masum Ahmad Dudhratchaki, Former Imam and Khateeb of Kadamtali Mazar Jame Mosque, Sylhet.

Daily Bijoy News/ Hafiz Masum Ahmad Dudhratchaki