What is the reason for people turning away from seeking protection with the prescribed dhikr?
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The questioner : What is the reason for people turning away and hesitating to seek protection with dhikr, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : There are reasons for this, among them ignorance. Many people are ignorant of these dhikr and the daily recitations, and they are ignorant of their benefits. Therefore, the head of the household should be eager to teach his sons, daughters, and family these dhikr. Praise be to Allah, booklets on this topic are widely available.
Second: the weakness of faith. Some people recite these daily recitations, but they do not believe in their hearts that whenever they recite something from them, they surround themselves with a strong wall against the evil of the Shayatins. In fact, some people recite them merely for the sake of seeking blessing. They do not benefit anyone except the one who recites them with the utmost faith, without any doubt or mere experimentation. If he recites them while doubting, or recites them as an experiment, saying, "Let us see if they work or not," they will not benefit him.
Third: people’s reliance on material matters and their negligence of spiritual, heart-related matters. For this reason, you find that when a person is afflicted with an illness, he rushes to the doctor and does not look into the supplications transmitted for healing from illness. For example, if a person suffers from the slightest pain in one of his joints or organs, he goes directly and quickly to the doctor, even though the Sunnah states that if a man places his hand on the place of pain and says:Sunan Ibn Majah 3522Sahih (Darussalam), the pain will disappear from him.
But this is only if he says it with faith in it. Likewise, if he recites al-Fatihah for someone bitten by a snake or stung by a scorpion, he will be cured by the permission of Allah, as in the story of the Companions whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent. They descended upon a group of people who did not host them, so they moved to the side. Then Allah the Mighty and Majestic sent a snake to their chief, and he was bitten. They said, "Is there anyone who can recite?" They said, "Perhaps these people have someone who can recite." So they came to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asking for a reciter. They said, "We will not recite for him except for a fee." They gave them a flock of sheep. Then the reciter went to recite al-Fatihah only over the bitten man. The bitten man rose up as if he had been released from a bond. When they presented themselves to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him, he said to the reciter:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2064Sahih (Darussalam).
Al-Fatihah has a wonderful effect when recited over the sick in general, and over those who are bitten in particular. But as I told you, people are in a state of negligence regarding this. They now rely only on material things. This is what has caused many people now to be afflicted with this panic, and perhaps they are afflicted with the dominance of jinn over them, the dominance of sorcerers, and other things that have become common recently. We ask Allah for safety for you and for us.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : There are reasons for this, among them ignorance. Many people are ignorant of these dhikr and the daily recitations, and they are ignorant of their benefits. Therefore, the head of the household should be eager to teach his sons, daughters, and family these dhikr. Praise be to Allah, booklets on this topic are widely available.
Second: the weakness of faith. Some people recite these daily recitations, but they do not believe in their hearts that whenever they recite something from them, they surround themselves with a strong wall against the evil of the Shayatins. In fact, some people recite them merely for the sake of seeking blessing. They do not benefit anyone except the one who recites them with the utmost faith, without any doubt or mere experimentation. If he recites them while doubting, or recites them as an experiment, saying, "Let us see if they work or not," they will not benefit him.
Third: people’s reliance on material matters and their negligence of spiritual, heart-related matters. For this reason, you find that when a person is afflicted with an illness, he rushes to the doctor and does not look into the supplications transmitted for healing from illness. For example, if a person suffers from the slightest pain in one of his joints or organs, he goes directly and quickly to the doctor, even though the Sunnah states that if a man places his hand on the place of pain and says:
a’udhu bi’izzatil-lahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhiru. (In the Name of Allah, I seek refuge in the might and power of Allah from the evil of what I feel and what I fear),” seven times.
أعوذ بعزة الله وقدرته من شر ما أجد وأحاذر سبع مراتBut this is only if he says it with faith in it. Likewise, if he recites al-Fatihah for someone bitten by a snake or stung by a scorpion, he will be cured by the permission of Allah, as in the story of the Companions whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent. They descended upon a group of people who did not host them, so they moved to the side. Then Allah the Mighty and Majestic sent a snake to their chief, and he was bitten. They said, "Is there anyone who can recite?" They said, "Perhaps these people have someone who can recite." So they came to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asking for a reciter. They said, "We will not recite for him except for a fee." They gave them a flock of sheep. Then the reciter went to recite al-Fatihah only over the bitten man. The bitten man rose up as if he had been released from a bond. When they presented themselves to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him, he said to the reciter:
How did you know it was Ruqyah?
وما يدريك أنها رقية؟Al-Fatihah has a wonderful effect when recited over the sick in general, and over those who are bitten in particular. But as I told you, people are in a state of negligence regarding this. They now rely only on material things. This is what has caused many people now to be afflicted with this panic, and perhaps they are afflicted with the dominance of jinn over them, the dominance of sorcerers, and other things that have become common recently. We ask Allah for safety for you and for us.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.