Question
Salam Alaikum Shaykh,
May Allah give u long life. I have a question. I get really depressed and sometimes get angry. I get negative thoughts especially when I’m doing dhikrullah or reading Quran or salawat. I feel that I’m blocked from doing everything. It blocks rabitah and effects praying as well. Please tell me what should I do?
Answer
wa `alaykum salam
That is a *good* sign, because, as Mawlana Shaykh Hisham says, from Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r), “a thief will not go to a shack, but rather will look to steal from a palace.” So those whispers are a sign you are on the right way.
As Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani says, whenever waswas comes, say a’udhu billah mina ‘sh-shaytani ‘r-rajeem Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem, but after the third time, say: O’ Shaytan, I am not paying you the slightest attention and ignore it. You will be fine.
As for depression, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani says, go visit a hospital.
Taher
