Fighting Depression with Dhikr

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

May Allah keep us from the evil of our egos. As much as you are able, fight your ego. There is a different test each day; Allah Almighty is looking. If you go after your ego like a sheep, then it is dangerous. Keep to the right hand and go on, straight. Then there will be peace and satisfaction for you, here and in the Hereafer.

May Allah Almighty let all of you taste real faith. It is sweet, real faith's taste. When you taste real faith, you keep it, never losing it. The one who does not taste, he quickly leaves, quickly loses.

Which way makes you taste real faith? Dhikr; dhikr makes you taste the taste of iman. Say Allah…and you may taste the taste of faith. Whoever feels darkness and depression in his heart may say Allah, Allah, Allah…, and then nothing can stop his heart. When you say Allah, Allah, Allah…, there is no darkness in your heart. But if it should continue, keep your tongue silent and make your heart say Allah hu, Allah hu, Allah hu, haqq,* and you should hear the same dhikr, which we are now saying, in your heart.

Now listen! Three times Allah hu, haqq. Any time you may want to listen and keep your tongue silent, look at your heart, and you may, you must, hear that dhikr going on, never stopping. When you are listening, then darkness and depression are going away.

"Allah, Allah, Allah, truth (or reality)." This dhikr was transmitted by the Holy Prophet (s) to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq when the two of them hid in the cave of Thaur near Mecca during their flight from Mecca to Madinah.

Wa min Allah at Taufiq

- Sheikh Nazim Adil Al Haqqani