The message of Islam is to remind all mankind that we have a Rabb to whom we are directly connected without the need for any intermediaries, agents, intercessors, or facilitators. When we speak, He hears us. When we ask, He gives us. He created us, sustains us, protects us, tests us, helps us, rewards us, and to Him is our return. To Him we turn for all our needs. To Him we tell our story. Before Him we shed our tears. To Him we complain about those who oppress us. And above all, Him, we thank for all that He gave us. Our relationship with Allahﷻ is very close and personal. We know Him, we are in awe of Him, we bask in His Glory, we marvel at His Magnificence, we delight in the variety and complexity of His creation, and we love Him more than we love anyone and anything else. This was the message of all the Prophets and Messengers of Allahﷻ through the ages. A simple message of love, warmth, comfort, and mercy. The message of Islam.

Islam is a Deen of connection. The Purpose of creation is to connect with Allahﷻ. Allahﷻ told us:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

Dhariyaat 51: 56    And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).‎

We enter Islam by accepting that connection when we declare the Shahada. The Shahada is not a statement of information. It is a statement of a relationship between the Abd and his Rabb. We reiterate this in every Raka’a of every Salah, compulsorily at least 17 times a day in the 5 Fardh Salawaat when we say: Iyyaka na’abudu wa iyyaka nasta’een (We worship only You and we seek help only from You.) That is to reiterate the relationship by saying, ‘O Allahﷻ, I am Yours. I belong to You. I ask only You for help because I am Yours. I am asking, so help me.’

Allahﷻ‎ mentioned the reward for that connection: Faz kuruni az kurkum (You remember me, I will remember you). Just reflect on what it means to have Allahﷻ remember us, which means to mention us on His Arsh (Throne). What does that do to our hearts? Rasoolullahﷺ said about this:

Abu Hurairah (R) narrated that Rasoolullahﷺ said, ‘Allahﷻ says: 'I am (for my slave) just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’ May Allahﷻ help us to appreciate the value of Dhikr. It is the basis of building a connection. We can’t claim to have a connection with someone we don’t even remember or mention. Know Allahﷻ. Remember Allahﷻ and mention Allahﷻ often, that is the proof of being connected.

Allahﷻ honored those who are connected with Him and called Himself their Wali. He promised to guide them out of the darkness of ignorance and fear into the light of His knowledge and peace and security. Heﷻ said:

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

Baqara 2: 257    Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire,