An aspirant wrote complaining that he did not feel any effect of the dhikrullah in his heart.
Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,
“What do you think is desired effect of dhikrullah?
Increasing relationship with Allah (ta’luq ma’ Allah) is the main objective of doing dhikrullah.”
Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 155
Assalamu alaykum,
Shouldn’t the increased relationship be felt? Or is it instead manifested more generally in your state without you being aware?
‘abd: As a basic principle feelings are not essential. The effect of ta’at (good deeds) are usually very subtle and fine to be percieved by the physical senses. Their real end result are the actions, like abstaining from sins, doing more good deeds and perpetual remembrance of Allah SWT that are the desired effects. These can be manisfested by one’s state without being aware.
An example is our eating the food . When we eat do we feel the absorption, digestion and the metabolism resulting in energy production. However, physical activity displays the desired effect.
At the same time it does not mean that if someone has good feeling in dhikrullah or other ta’at it is something bad or inferior. It is blessing but it must be with the final end result, otherwise it is a false feeling.
muhtaj e dua
Assalamu alaykum,
JazakAllah khayr for the wisdom. This will help those of us away from teachers who find it difficult to keep up practices when we don’t feel the benefit.