According to Shaykh Muhammad Mawlud, author of Matharat al-Qulub (Purification of the Hearts), one has adab with Allah through the following:
1. Haya’—modesty and shame. This is a positive shame based based on awareness of Allah’s knowledge and the ugliness of certain actions that He has condemned. One may feel shame before the angels and even one’s family, but shame before Allah does not change with the change in social and cultural norms. The definition of haya’ is: ‘a quality that moves one to abstain from ugly things and prevents one from being negligent of the rights of those whom are owed rights.’ Some say it is the station of muraqaba (vigilance). Imam Junayd said, ‘Seeing Allah’s blessings and seeing one’s negligence and falling short give rise to a quality called haya’.
2. Dhull—humility before the Divine. The only possible state one can rightly have before Allah.
3. Inkisar—literally brokenness. One of the unique qualities of the Divine Presence is that no one enters it without dhull and inkisar. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani said, ‘I went to every door and saw them all crowded, except for the door of dhull and inkisar (one narration has it: humility); I found it empty and so I entered through it…’
4. Khudu’—a near synonym for humility, implying submission.
5. Hayba—feeling awestruck from the greatness of Allah.
6. Tadarru’—imploring and begging Allah.
