As muslims we are constantly seeking out ways to earn Allah’s pleasure and get closer to Him. It is a day in and day out struggle trying to maintain a connection with Allah.

Allah never cuts the line, but for own part, sometimes we slack and the connection crackles, or worst scenario, it is severed. May Allah protect us, and allow us to be constantly connected to Him.

Here are a few tips to help you on a daily basis to stay connected with you Creator, your Sustainer, Maker and Cherisher.

• Purify your intention: Before you carry out any of the following tips begin with a sincere intention. Renew your intention to reconnect with the purpose behind your action. Dig deep, why are you doing this good deed? What are the benefits? Your intention is within your heart, and if you cannot find it, ask yourself, ‘Why am I about to do this deed?’ and let your heart answer. Then, cleanse your intention, and make it solely to earn Allah’s pleasure, to come closer to Him and to earn His rewards.
• Get to know Allah: Learn His names and Attributes. Learn about Him; what is Allah’s role in your life. Ponder upon Allah’s significance in your day. Is He your first priority? The more you know about Allah, the more you can love Him and come closer to Him.
• Make duaa: Ask Allah to help you to come closer to Him. Ask Allah every step of the way for every little thing in your day. By calling on Him so often, your heart will soften at His mention.
• Read Quran daily: The Quran is Allah’s words and instructions to us. Reading the words of Allah will naturally establish an attachment between us and our Rabb.
• Understand what you recite from the Quran and in Salah: Repeating phrases that you have memorised but have little or no understanding of; though the rewards will pile up, and it may well affect your heart, your brain however…will be tongue tied! Derive full benefit from your salah and reading Quran by understanding what you are saying. Learn the translations, though these are inaccurate to say the least, and learning Arabic would be much more beneficial. Doings so will build a stepping stone to connecting with Allah
• Secret good deeds: Connect with Allah in private, by doing good deeds that others are unaware of. It will make you feel closer to Allah, just by knowing that Allah is the only witness to your deed, plus it will help you to have a sincere intention.
• Learn the daily athkar: doing so will help you remember Allah at various times of the day. And when you remember Allah, Allah remembers you! What better way to improve the link between you and your Creator?
• Remember death: Death is one of those things that everyone puts to the back of their minds until an emergency occurs, except for those whom Allah has mercy upon. Remembering death is from the Sunnah (not to the point that it causes depression!), it is a motivation for one to increase their good deeds, and be conscious that their meeting with Allah is soon to come. If you have love for Allah in your heart then you will yearn for this meeting, and so you will work hard to ensure that it is a pleasant and frequent appointment.
• Learn about the life of the Prophet and his companions: Knowing how the Prophet and the best of generations lived will inspire you into action.
• Reflect on your surroundings: sometimes it’s the small things in life that helps us see the bigger picture. Take note of the creation of Allah that surrounds you, the occurrences in your daily life that is part of His Qadr, and link it all back to Allah’s Wisdom and Majesty.