Closeness to God means establishing a deep and loving relationship with Him, while frequent worship refers to performing religious duties and rituals.
In the Holy Quran, the concepts of closeness to God and worship are fundamental and interconnected, yet they possess distinctions. Closeness to God refers to establishing a deep, intimate relationship with Him. This relationship involves love, respect, and trust in God. Allah states in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 186, 'And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.' (Al-Baqarah: 186). This verse illustrates that Allah is near to His servants, and they can establish a close relationship with Him. Frequent worship, on the other hand, refers to the performance of religious duties and rituals. This includes prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and other forms of worship that are performed to obey God's commandments. Allah emphasizes obedience and worship in Surah An-Nisa, verse 77. While acts of worship can lead to closeness to God, merely performing rituals alone may not suffice for a deep love and connection with Him. Ultimately, one can achieve true and heartfelt proximity to God by focusing on the quality of their relationship with Him rather than solely the quantity of their worship. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes that alongside worship, hearts must be directed towards God and His love. Thus, closeness to God is a deeper endeavor that should be coupled with love, humility, and sincerity.
And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.
Did you not see those whom it was said, 'Prevent your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah.' But when fight was decreed upon them, a party of them feared the people as they should have feared Allah or with greater fear.
One day, Adel was pondering about his life and wondered what mattered most to him. He recalled the verses of the Quran and realized that recognizing life's priorities was essential. He then decided to focus more on establishing a connection with God while also devoting kindness to his parents. After some time, Adel noticed that his life had changed, and he felt a greater sense of peace.