The First Step to Allah: Take One Step Toward Allah and Watch His Mercy Run to You

The authentic Hadith Qudsi recalls powerful statements made by Allah (All Mighty & Exalted) regarding the closeness He has towards His Servants. Allah (All Mighty & Exalted) says: “If a Servant comes to Me (Allah) by the length of his hand, I (Allah) shall come to him (the Servant) within an arm’s length.

By taking one step toward Allah, you will feel His guidance illuminating your path.

When he (the Servant) comes to Me with two hands and walks towards Me, then I (Allah), am running towards him (the Servant).” This is what our journey is all about, and by taking one step towards Allah (All Mighty & Exalted), He (Allah) will open doors of mercy that you would never have thought of.

Each one step toward Allah is a journey that transforms not just the heart but the entire soul.

Introduction

Many Muslims grapple to feel as though they don’t measure up or that they are totally “too sinful” to come back to Allah (SWT). In those times, it feels almost impossible to work your way back to Him (SWT). But He (SWT) has an answer for you: just move in the direction of Allah (SWT).

One step toward Allah is all it takes to begin your spiritual journey.

Also, It is not where your physical location is on this path, but rather the direction that you are going to be turning toward (which should be Allah (SWT)). Also, the Qur’an and Sunnah inform you that even the smallest of sincere actions made towards Allah (SWT) will result in an increase in His (SWT) mercy, guidance, and love.

All of your small efforts such as a simple tear, the whispering of the words “Astaghfirullah,” all of these count towards moving closer to Allah (SWT). This will help you to understand how to make that initial step and how that initial step can turn into a never-ending journey of closeness, barakah, and inner peace.

Every small gesture is a one step toward Allah and makes a difference in your life.

Through this way, you will be able to understand how your first step will be made toward Him (SWT), and you will be able to find a greater understanding of the importance of being in a constant state of taking steps toward Him (SWT).

Summary

A true relationship with Allah starts with one step toward Allah, leading to greater closeness.

• A true desire in the heart can create a pathway to having a close relationship with Allah, forever changing your destiny.
• Both the Quran and Sunnah state that if you sincerely repented and turned to Allah, Allah would come closer to you.
• Through small, continuous acts of faith, the hearts of the awliya were changed.
• According to the teachings of Tasawwuf, the first step in transforming yourself from within is through a small act of humility and submission to Allah.
• You do not need to be perfect; you just have to start your journey to Allah.

Features: What Happens When You Take One Step Toward Allah?

1. Allah Loves Your Small Steps

By taking just one step toward Allah, you invite His love and mercy into your life.

Allah ﷻ says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:222)

This shows from the Qur‘an and Hadith that any small amount of action can allow a person to be counted as someone who has entered the group of people that Allah loves.

Your first sincere Tawbah (repentance) may be done today, your first prayer after being away from it for so many days, your first heartfelt Allah Ya Allah; all through which you take a step towards Allah.

Also, in the Sunnah, we see that Allah is more joyful over His servant who repents than what is experienced by the traveller who has just found his camel with supplies after having lost it while journeying through the desert. Allah‘s happiness is due to every step that His servant takes towards Him.

2. Your Past Does Not Disqualify You

Many people hesitate to take one step toward Allah because they feel ashamed of their past. But Allah ﷻ says:

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.’” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53)

In this ayah is a Divine reminder that it does not matter how far you travel away from Allah, it is always possible to make an honest attempt towards returning with sincerity and regret which can totally obliterate your mountain of sins. The Sufis have a saying; “The distance from Allah to you is equal to one sincere tawbah.“

It does not matter how far you stray, you can always take one step toward Allah and return with sincerity.

3. Each Step Brings Light to Your Heart

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When a servant commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. If he repents, stops the sin, and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished.” (Tirmidhi)

Each time you perform tawbah, pray, make dhikr, or cry in sujood, you are taking one step closer to Allah. Each small step accumulates into the journey of noor (light), transforming your heart into a pleasant and natural place to remember Allah.

Each prayer is a one step toward Allah, bringing you closer to His presence and blessings.

Deep Tasawwuf Reflection: Inner Meaning of One Step Toward Allah

Sunni Tasawwuf interprets the concept of taking steps toward Allah from the heart rather than just from the body. Like Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani(رحمه الله) and Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (رحمه الله) explain, the first true step toward Allah is recognizing your complete dependence on Him.

Recognizing you cannot do everything by yourself and in utter brokenness calling out to Allah: “Ya Allah, I cannot do anything without You!” demonstrates humility. This type of humility brings Allah’s infinite mercy upon you far more than a million empty actions.

Recognizing you cannot do everything by yourself and in utter brokenness calling out to Allah: “Ya Allah, I cannot do anything without You!” demonstrates humility. This type of humility brings Allah’s infinite mercy upon you far more than a million empty actions.

According to Imam al-Ghazali (رحمه الله) in Tasawwuf, the heart’s door can only be opened by remembering Allah (dhikr) and by repenting for our sins.

Once you have begun to take steps to Allah through dhikr like saying “La ilaha illa Allah” (the Oneness of Allah) with the greatest awareness (intuition) of one’s self and the greatest attention to Allah, the door of your heart begins to open.

The Sufi traditions of the Chishti and the Qadri schools provide easy practical steps to help all followers of the way develop an even deeper relationship with Allah; the habits or practices like performing two rak’ahs of nafl prayers in the night or spending a few minutes doing dhikr can serve to continually draw individuals closer to Allah.

The Big Heart-Melting Inspiration: One Step That Changes Everything

Your journey begins with one step toward Allah, and it can lead to profound transformations.

Imagine a believer who hasn’t prayed in years. Alone in their room at night, filled with sadness and guilt, he whispers to Allah, “Ya Allah, I am weary of life; I want to return to You.” He raises his hands to pray with tears in his eyes, finally making a genuine dua for the first time in a long while. That is the first step he takes towards Allah.

That first prayer is a one step toward Allah, igniting a spark of hope within you.

The following day he struggles to get out of bed but manages to perform just one prayer. He also listens to one lecture, reads one page of the Qur’an and attempts to quit one sinful habit.

These actions, although seemingly small, create great change in the unseen universe where angels are writing a new chapter in his life. As the believer gets closer to Allah, the door to Allah’s mercy is thrown open and the heart will soften.

Every action, no matter how small, is a one step toward Allah, leading to meaningful change.

One of the most beautiful Hadith Qudsi says:

“Whoever comes to Me walking will find Me running toward him.” (Bukhari)

This Hadith reminds us that taking one step toward Allah brings Him closer to us.

The meaning of this is: If you take one step toward Allah, He will then draw you to Him with multiple steps and greater ease in obeying and worshipping Him. Even if you fall, each time you return, you are taking another step toward Allah, and He never grows weary of your returns to Him.

A Story of Return (Inspired by the Path of the Awliya)

As you strive to take one step toward Allah, you open the door to His infinite mercy.

A young man who was addicted to sin and bad company had been to see a gathering of a Shaykh positioned in a different tradition from him. The Shaykh’s response to the young man was that he didn’t say anything to him, just, “My son, take the first step towards Allah.

Offer Allah two rak’ahs of prayer before you are forced to sleep in the night and, if you want to gain guidance, ask Him for it.”
Thus, the young man heeded his advice and hadn’t even been able to pray the two rak’ahs, he had just, in the beginning, taken the first step toward Allah.

Each night spent praying is a one step toward Allah, paving your path to redemption.

He kept doing this and even struggled for weeks to do the prayer of two rak’ahs every night.

After several months had passed, one night while praying in frustration, the young man cried out to Allah while prostrating down.

His guidance awaits those who take that one step toward Allah with sincerity.

This was the moment the young man made a significant change in his life; he stopped drinking, he made daily Salah prayers, and began learning Qur’an. Years after that moment he became a teacher, teaching other people who were like he once was.

The key that led to this complete transformation did not occur through his being perfect right away, but through his taking just one step towards Allah.

Remember, every day offers a new opportunity to take one step toward Allah and change your fate.

The Sufis knew that an individual should never underestimate the importance of a small step. It is not the individual who completes the journey; it will be Allah who carries you along that path after you have made your turn toward Him.

Practical Ways to Take One Step Toward Allah

Through humility, each one step toward Allah becomes a significant leap in your spiritual journey.

Even if you feel like your faith is low right now, I encourage you to do the following:

1. 1.  Perform 2 units (rakats) of sincere repentance (tawbah) today.

Practice these steps as a one step toward Allah, and witness the remarkable change in your life.

1. 1.  Have a firm intention to perform fajr and isha prayers on time daily, starting now.
   2.  Read 1 page of the Qur’an (Qur’an) daily, even if it only takes 5 minutes.
   3.  Stop committing 1 of the following sins: having a sexual relationship outside of marriage (haram), charging/accepting interest (riba), or watching/listening/reading haram media (such as porn, news that is haram, or other types of haram).
   4.  Start a simple daily routine for remembering Allah (dhikr), which can be done in just 5 minutes per day. (Examples: 100 times saying Astaghfirullah, 100 times saying La ilaha illa Allah, and 100 times sending blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Each act of remembrance is a one step toward Allah, bringing you closer to Him.

1.  Spend at least 5 minutes a day talking to Allah about your fears and hopes.
2.  Find the company of righteous scholars or teachers of Sunni Islam (this is a big step toward getting closer to Allah).
   By taking one step toward Allah, you embark on a journey filled with blessings and guidance.

Beautiful Arabic Duas for the First Step Toward Allah

• Dua for Tawbah & Return

  اللَّهُمَّ رُدَّنِي إِلَيْكَ رَدًّا جَمِيلًا
  O Allah, return me to You in a beautiful return.

• Dua for Steadfastness

  يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
  O Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.

• Dua for Nearness

  اللَّهُمَّ قَرِّبْنِي إِلَيْكَ وَابْعِدْنِي عَنْ كُلِّ مَا يُبْعِدُنِي عَنْكَ
  O Allah, draw me closer to You and distance me from all that distances me from You.

• Dua for Purification

  اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْ قَلْبِي مِنَ النِّفَاقِ وَعَمَلِي مِنَ الرِّيَاءِ
  O Allah, purify my heart from hypocrisy and my actions from showing off.

   

Religion, Beliefs & Facts (Sunni Perspective)

• • • Ahlus Sunnah (people of the Sunnah) has a belief that Allah’s mercy is greater than all sins. Anyone who takes a step towards Allah with sincere intention of tawbah may receive Allah’s wrath.

  Every small act can be your one step toward Allah, showing His endless mercy.

  • • “For every one good deed you do, Allah rewards you with ten to seven hundred times more good deeds. When you commit a sin, it is counted only once, so the more you walk towards Allah, the more your reward multiplies.”
    • Believing in Qadr means that even your inclination towards taking a step to Allah is a gift from Allah. Be grateful for this gift and take advantage of it.

  Your willingness to take one step toward Allah is a sign of His divine guidance in your life.

  • The awliya (friends) of Allah were not born perfect. They were humble; they shed tears of sorrow throughout the night, and they constantly strived for closeness to Allah, over and over again.

In conclusion, taking one step toward Allah can transform your heart and life in ways you may not even realize.

A single decision to take one step toward Allah can lead to a profound transformation.

Conclusion

If today you feel distant from Allah, please remember: You are only one step away! Whenever your heart turns back to Him; when you make wudu (ablution); when you raise your hands in supplication and say “Ya Allah, I’m coming back”, you have already taken a step in the right direction towards Him. And when you take a step towards Allah, He runs with mercy, guidance, and love to catch up with you far exceeding any limitations of the human experience.

Every time you say ‘Ya Allah,’ you take one step toward Allah, and He responds with love.

Don’t wait for perfection; don’t wait for perfect iman; don’t wait for perfect circumstances. Start taking steps now! Even a single tear can represent one step closer to Allah. The magnitude of your journey doesn’t have to be great – it just has to be done with a sincere heart.

Read more:

As you read more and learn, you take one step toward Allah, enriching your faith.

• How to Build a Strong Relationship with Allah
• Power of Tahajjud and How to Wake Up for It