It is related in the Sahih (1) that he—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Allah Most High says: ‘My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him.’” (2)

There are so many examples of this in the Quran and hadith that recounting them all would take too long. We have discussed this at length in Dar’ (3) Ta‘ārud al-‘Aql wa-al-Naql (Averting the Conflict between Reason and Revelation) and elsewhere.

Allah Most High has stated in the Quran, in more than ten passages, that He calls His servants. A call can only be made with a sound, by the agreement of linguists and all other people.

Allah states that He called Moses when he came to the tree, saying:

“When he came to it, he was called: ‘Blessed is whoever is at the fire and whoever is around it. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”

[Surah al-Naml: 8]

“When he came to it, he was called: ‘O Moses! Indeed, I am your Lord.’”

[Surah Tā Hā: 11–12]

“When he came to it, he was called from the right bank of the valley, in the blessed spot, from the tree.”

[Surah al-Qasas: 30]

“And when your Lord called Moses, saying: ‘Go to the wrongdoing people.’”

[Surah al-Shu‘arā’: 10]

“We called him from the right side of the Mount.”

[Surah Maryam: 52]

“Has the account of Moses reached you, when his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwā?”

[Surah al-Nāzi‘āt: 15–16]

“You were not beside the Mount when We called.”

[Surah al-Qasas: 46]

“And on the Day He calls them and says: ‘Where are My partners whom you used to claim as such?’”

[Surah al-Qasas: 62, 74]