The keys to acceptance:
The more one pleases Allah Almighty by observing the obligations and doing the recommended acts of piety, the more he loves his Lord and draws closer to Him.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
“Allah Almighty says: ‘I will declare war against he who shows hostility to a pious worshiper of Mine. And the most beloved thing wit h which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing supererogatory acts of worship till I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks for My refuge, I protect him.and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer; as he hates death, and I hate to hurt him.’”
[Narrated by Al - Bukhāri]
Shaykh al - Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
“A person does not become a pious servant of Allah unless he follows the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) inwardly and outwardly. The more he follows the Prophet, the more he becomes a pious servant of Allah.”
“Allah Almighty says: ‘I will declare war against he who shows hostility to a pious worshiper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing supererogatory acts of worship till I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks for My refuge, I protect him. and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer; as h e hates death, and I hate to hurt him.’”
[Narrated by Al - Bukhāri]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
“A person does not become a pious servant of Allah unless he follows the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) inwardly and outwardly. The more he follows the Prophet, the more he becomes a pious servant of Allah.”
