A story about Zikr

A certain devotee was one night making the Zikr of Allah’s name in complete sincerity so much so that from this Zikr his saliva too was tasting sweet. Shaytaan said to him: “O Saint! Be silent. Why are you reciting this Zikr so profusely? It is of no benefit. After all, you do not get any reply from Allah’s side. So what benefit is there in one-sided love?”

Hearing these words of deceit from Shaytaan, the pious man became broken-hearted and depressed. He postponed the rest of his Zikr and went to sleep.

That night he saw in a dream that Hadrat Khidr (as) came to him, asking him: “Why were you negligent of Zikr this night?”

The pious man replied: “from Allah’s side there was no reply of ‘Labbaik’. From this I got the impression that my Zikr was not accepted by Him”.

Hazrat Khidr (as) said: “Allah has sent a message to you. He has said: Tell this servant of mine: ‘O My servant, your saying ‘Allah’ is My reply of ‘Labbaik’ (I am present)’”

In other words, when your first ‘Allah’ is accepted by Allah, then only are you granted the ability to say ‘Allah’ a second time. Thus this second ‘Allah’ is “Labbaik from My side”.

Lesson: at the time of making Zikr, it should be borne in mind that it is when our first ‘Allah’ is accepted then only the second Zikr of ‘Allah’ follows. And this second Zikr must be accepted before the third on follows...         

Blessed is this gift for the Zaakireen. May Allah grant us the ability to make Zikr up to the last breath of our lives, Ameen.