It is an essential for the seeker to curtail his/her social connections in order to establish and develop a real, strong and ever-growing relationship with Allah.

Hakim al Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘Solitude (khalwa) protects from involvement in sinful activities. Provided this solitude is accompanied with the safeguard of eyes, ears and heart  (from seeing, hearing or thinking about anything impermissible).

(In solitude) Purposefully one should not think about anything other than Allah. If random thoughts come then busy yourself in remembrance of Allah and cast them away.   This type of solitude will indeed save one from involvement in sinful activities.’

“Individuals who do not have (daily) scheduled time for solitude gradually lose the spiritual luminosity of their hearts.’

On how to achieve this in one’s daily life practically, he added,

‘Do everything on its scheduled time.

The (permissible) worldly affairs on their time and the daily spiritual recitations and activities (wird) on the time allotted for them.

Even occasionally involve yourself in appropriate and succinct humor to entertain and please a fellow Muslim’s heart.

In this way all things will move together, otherwise, in complete solitude sometimes the enthusiasm and aspiration becomes weak. And without them it is difficult to proceed.’

Shariat wa tariqat, page 257