An aspirant wrote,

“I can not wake up for tahajjud salah at all. This causes me a lot of distress and remorse.

By the way you had previously advised me to pray (tahajjud salah ) after ‘isha prior to witr, however, my mind does not accept this method.”

Hadhrat Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

“This is regrettable.

Is this saying that my mind does not accept the instruction given the level of trust on and following of someone considered to be knowledgeable and considerate?

In this situation Shaykh will always have doubts regarding the instructions given that probably the respectable mind of Mr. Mureed will not accepts them. In this case how will he feel motivated to instruct this mureed.

(Hence) It is best to abandon this heedless Shaykh and select another Shaykh. This new Shaykh can be your lower-self (nafs) or some other individual.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 651