Re: Dhikr
Ok ok … 
I think I understand the confusion …
Well please refer to Hadith Jibreel … You can find it related in Al-Nawawis 40 hadith collection … and the explanation … this will be a long read ..
Jami al-`Ulum wal-Hikam - Ibn Rajab al-Hanabali
The Jibril Hadith Explained - Essentials of Islam, Iman & Ihsan
In our Deen we have three sections, Islam, Iman and Ihsan … Islam is what we do, Iman is confirming our beliefs, and Ihsan is about feeling and living in total sense of Reality. You can say we start of by talking about Allah (SWT), then we firmly believe through reason that Allah (SWT) is Real, then we move to a state where have no need to believe through reason because we can learn to feel Divine presence.
And each one of these is testable … i.e. objectively provable.
In time these three aspects have become disciplines - like domains for learning … Fiqh schools were developed to cover the Shari’ah which is Islam, I’l ul Kalam and A’qeedah were developed for the area covering Imaan and the Sufi tariqahs crystalised through time forming the basis for learning the aspect of Ihsan … Dzikr or the litanies are only aspects of tassuwwuf as a discipline.
The main intent is perfect character - i.e. adab, patience - in order to reach a proximity to Allah (SWT) that we behave as though we can see Allah (SWT) (or experience His Presence) we engage in Dzikr and hard work to train our nufs in order to have openings in inner sight and a side-effect of this is when people become walis - lesser miracles start to happen on their hands, through no choice of their own as a sign of their purity and favour of Allah (SWT). They become like lights who can guide the way to success for others who are unable to walk that journey themselves.
The whole point of becoming a Sufi is to fulfil all three aspects of the Deen - Islam, Iman and Ihsan … I hope this helps …