How Can I Strengthen My Connection With Allah in Times of Weakness?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
How can I strengthen my connection with Allah in times of weakness?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Strengthening one’s connection with Allah depends on the nature of the weakness a person is experiencing. Whether the cause is sin, hardship, or spiritual distance, Sacred Law and the guidance of scholars offer a clear and practical path back to Allah Most High.
Weakness Due to Sin
When a believer has committed sins, the spiritual connection is restored through sincere repentance (tawbah). Returning to Allah with humility and seeking His forgiveness reinforces faith.
Weakness Due to Hardship or Calamity
During trials, the connection with Allah is strengthened through dua, patience, and reliance upon Him. One should ask Allah for guidance, ease, and the wisdom to endure difficulties, trusting in His plan.
Weakness Due to Loneliness or Spiritual Distance
In such moments, engagement in dhikr (remembrance of Allah), recitation of the Quran, and heartfelt supplication foster closeness.
A general principle is to respond to life’s circumstances appropriately: in times of ease, express gratitude for Allah’s blessings, and in times of difficulty, exercise patience and seek His support. One should not rely solely on feelings of spiritual closeness, as these fluctuate. The ability to remember Allah, make dua, or perform acts of worship is itself a sign of Allah’s acceptance and guidance.
Sincere Humility and Reliance
Shaykh Ahmad ibn ‘Ata’illah (Allah be pleased with him) advised presenting one’s brokenness sincerely before Allah, acknowledging one’s limitations and failures, and placing trust in His power:
“This is my humiliation before You, my state is not hidden from You, and from You I seek guidance to be close to You.”
Believers should persist in turning to Allah, even if immediate results are not visible. Continuous effort, whether through prayer, dhikr, or supplication, is rewarded and fosters spiritual resilience. Allah has the power to transform any believer’s state, no matter how distant they may feel from Him.
Understanding Allah as the Creator
Allah creates all cause-and-effect relationships in the world. For example, fire does not burn intrinsically; Allah simultaneously creates the fire and the act of burning. Similarly, a blade does not cut unless Allah wills it. Recognizing Allah as the ultimate creator emphasizes that all outcomes, events, and natural phenomena occur by His will, and the apparent efficacy of means is not independent of Him.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began studying Arabic Grammar and Morphology whilst studying for a degree in English and History. After graduating, He traveled to Damascus and studied Arabic, Hanafi Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, and Logic with Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman Arjan al-Binsawi, Shaykh Husayn Darwish, Shaykh Muhammad Darwish, the late Shaykh Rashad Shams, and others. He then moved to Amman to continue his studies in those fields, as well as in Tafsir, Quranic Sciences, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Prophetic Biography, Prophetic Perfections and Traits, Rhetoric, Arabic Literature, and Tajwid. His teachers include Shaykh Ali Hani, Dr. Hamza al-Bakri, Dr. Salah Abu al-Hajj, Dr. Mansur Abu Zina, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Shaykh Ahmad Jammal, and others.
