Question:
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, Dear Sheikh Gibril!
How are you? I would like to ask you again a question that I asked you and the other shuyukh while we were in the car in Jakarta. Why is it that serious problems or trials occur when I say the zikr? I did make a scientific observation of stopping the zikr for some time and everything was smooth sailing. When I returned to it, again new troubles occur. And most of these problems are really serious, Sheikh. I consulted to the French mureed who first inducted me to Our Order, and he said even his sheikh in Paris, Sheikh Abdulhafez said that Naqshbandi is full of “violent” trials. Please give me your thoughts on this, Sheikh, I ask respectfully and humbly. I can’t remain Naqshbandi if I don’t do my zikr, so please elucidate me on this issue.
Shukran and Jazakallah khayran,
Keep us in your dua,
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
May Allah Most High guide you and us to what is right. A man complained to Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) of his brother’s stomach trouble so the Prophet prescribed honey for him. The man came back some time later saying it was getting worse. The Prophet prescribed honey for him again. The man came back another time saying the honey was making his brother’s stomach worse. The Prophet said: “Keep taking honey. Your brother’s stomach lies and Allah speaks truth.” He kept to it and eventually got better (Bukhari and Muslim). This is because Allah Most High said that honey contains healing for people. Allah Most High also said to make dhikr assiduously, and that truly dhikr brings tranquility to hearts. So, similarly we say to you keep making dhikr until troubles are replaced with tranquility of heart; your experience lies and Allah
speaks truth.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
