Remembrance of Allah — Page 33
Characteristics of True Dhikr 33 fainting fits. Once the Holy Prophet s as passed by a woman who was exhibiting such lack of patience on the grave of her child. He advised her to be patient. She replied, ‘If your child had died, you would have realized how difficult it is to show patience’ ( Sunan Ab ū D ā w ū d, Kitābul-Janā’iz, Bāb a s-S abru ‘Indal-Mu s ībah; Hadith 3124). 6 She spoke out of ignorance. The truth is, the Holy Prophet s as had lost several of his children. In short, wailing and falling uncon- scious are caused by impatience and lack of hope, or are the result of a weak heart. And even if it is due to the weakness of heart it is still not a good thing. It is stated about a revered person from the time of Hadrat Junaid ra that he would fall into an unconscious state upon hear- ing Allah being remembered. When his disciples asked him the reason he stated it happened because he had grown old and weak. Note that he did not say that he swooned because he had attained a loftier station and reached a higher rank; instead, he attributed it to his advanced age—that is, weakness. As for falling unconscious due to despair or lack of hope, God Almighty says concerning this: — َنْوُرِفٰكْلا ُمْوَقْلا اَّلِا ِهّٰللا ِحْوَّر ْنِم ُسَٔـْياَي اَل ٗهَّنِا ِهّٰللا١ؕ ِحْوَّر ْنِم اْوُسَٔـْياَت اَل َو * S u rah Y u suf, 12:88 Thus, if a person faints and becomes unconscious due to lack of hope he commits an act of disbelief and if he does so due to * And despair not of the mercy of Allah; for none despairs of Allah’s mercy save the unbelieving people. [Publisher]