Union with Allah
To grasp this concept better, let’s take the
example of the sensation of warmth from the sun. If someone has stood under the
sun, they will immediately understand what heat means when another person
describes it to them. However, someone who has never felt the heat of the sun,
who has never been exposed to its light, will not know the effect or sensation
that sunlight provides. They will only make assumptions and have a vague idea
of what sunlight on a person might feel like, based on their analysis of what
others proclaim about the heat of the sun alongside other sensations, such as
the warmth of fire or lukewarm water. Thus, they might understand it to some
degree but not completely. The best way for them to truly grasp the warmth of
the sun is to go outside themselves or stand in a spot at home where the light
of the sun reaches them. Similarly, the experience of union with Allah cannot
be fully conveyed in words – one must personally go through it to understand
this union.
Nevertheless, just as this experience is
essential for faith and spiritual growth, Allah grants those who attain this
special connection with Him certain qualities that make their bond with Him clear
to others. Just as a machine comes to life when connected to electricity, those
united with Allah manifest an undeniable divine energy. Throughout history,
prophets such as Hazrat Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa (as), and Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh)
have been recognised as Allah’s chosen ones – not through verbal declarations,
but through clear manifestations of divine attributes in their lives.
Islam teaches that understanding and
experiencing Allah’s presence unfolds in three stages:
1. Knowledge through deduction – At this stage,
a person does not directly perceive Allah but sees signs of His existence. Just
as smoke suggests the presence of fire, observing divine actions in the world
leads one to believe in Allah. However, at this level, belief in one’s heart is
not yet absolute or complete, and doubts may still arise.
2. Knowledge through vision – Here, a person
moves beyond mere deduction and begins to perceive Allah’s presence more
clearly. It is akin to seeing flames after first noticing smoke. At this point,
they recognise divine manifestations and signs more directly, though they may
not yet have the capacity to fully comprehend them.
3. Perfect realisation – This is the highest
stage, where a person deeply feels Allah’s presence and experiences it
personally. It is like touching fire and realising its true burning nature.
Upon reaching this stage, the believer feels the effects of the divine
connection within themselves.
These stages are visible in everyday life.
Children, for example, are naturally curious and often place their hands into
fire to understand its effects. Similarly, people constantly seek to deepen
their understanding of Allah.
Islam is not limited to listening to
discussions about Allah’s attributes or reading about them in books. Instead,
it encourages a personal spiritual journey, allowing people to progress through
different stages of realisation. Those who sincerely seek Allah will find Him,
and no level of divine connection is closed off to them. [Note:
Everybody, both men and women can achieve high in their spiritual connections
to Allah, but when it comes to being a prophet of Allah, sent officially to the
world as a Warner and Bearer of Glad tidings, it is only men and not women who
are vouchsafed this responsibility. Spiritually, between Allah and His
designated human soul – whether it is for a man or a woman – they can get a
very high position of honour in Allah’s sight (it is like a secret between
Allah and them) but for the world, women are not sent officially and openly as
prophets.]
Islam describes three outward signs of union
with Allah, which serve both as proof of divine connection and as a means to
strengthen faith:
1. Acceptance of prayer – The Salat and Duahs
(whether obligatory prayers, voluntary prayers, or supplications) of those
close to Allah are granted in extraordinary ways, demonstrating their special
relationship with Him.
2. Revelation – These people receive special
guidance and insight from Allah through revelation and divine inspirations,
enabling them to understand truths beyond ordinary human perception.
3. Manifestation of divine attributes – These
people exhibit qualities such as mercy, wisdom, and justice, reflecting Allah’s
presence in their lives.
These manifestations distinguish the true
servants of Allah from impostors and allow others to benefit from their
presence. Through them, people can witness the reality of divine connection and
be inspired to seek their own connection with Allah.
The Quran and Hadith provide several references
regarding closeness to Allah and the stages of spiritual realisation.
Regarding seeking closeness to Him, Allah says
in the Quran: “And when My servants ask you
concerning Me, I am indeed near. I respond to the call of the supplicant when
he calls upon Me.” (Al-Baqara 2: 187)
This verse brings to light that Allah is always
close to His servants and that He responds to those who sincerely seek Him.
Allah also speaks about the stages of spiritual
realisation: “We will show them Our signs in all
directions and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this is
the truth.” (Fussilat 41: 54)
This verse reflects the progression of
realisation – from observing signs in the world to experiencing divine truth
within the believer themselves.
Regarding the spiritual transformation that a
believer experiences, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) conveyed in a Hadith-e-Qudsi,
where Allah Himself says: “My servant does not draw closer to Me with
anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. And My
servant continues to draw closer to Me through voluntary acts until I love him.
When I love him, I become his hearing through which he hears, his sight through
which he sees, his hand through which he grasps, and his foot through which he
walks.” (Bukhari)
This Hadith describes the ultimate stage of
union with Allah, where a person becomes so close to Allah that their actions
are guided by divine wisdom.
Allah speaks in the Quran about His light,
which He places within the heart: “Allah is the
Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is like a niche
within which is a lamp; the lamp is within a crystal, and the crystal is like a
brilliant star...” (An-Nur 24: 36)
This verse beautifully illustrates the
illumination of the heart when one chosen by Allah attains closeness to Him.
Union with Allah is not merely a theoretical
concept – it is a lived experience that transforms the heart, mind, and
actions. Islam teaches that this journey is accessible to all who sincerely
seek Allah and it provides clear stages to guide believers. Through prayer,
revelation, and the manifestation of divine attributes, those who attain
closeness to Allah become living examples of His presence in the world.
May Allah grant you, my sincere disciples of
today and tomorrow, the ability to seek Him earnestly and attain the highest
level of spiritual realisation. Alhamdulillah, Allah is certainly
manifesting Himself to you in various ways. May He continue to pour His mercy
upon you and make you lights that ignite other lights. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 09 May 2025~ 10 Dhul Qaddah 1446 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.