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Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on balanced diet!
Shaykh (RA) responds on page 261 that wear cheap clothes (if you have to) but eat well (if Allah (SWT)) blesses you) because if you don’t eat well then you will develop (physical) weakness and consequently suffer. People do the exact opposite because nobody witnesses their diet but their dressing is witnessed and this is also a “spiritual disease” linked to pride (in showing off good clothes).
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on new, innovated and exaggerated titles for Ulamah!
Shaykh (RA) responds on page 274. Where do all these new, innovated and exaggerated titles for Ulamah come from? Our elders were Scholars of high stature but they had no titles and nobody was “Imamul-Hind”, “Shaykhul-Hind”, “Shaykhul-Hadeeth”, “Shaykhut-Tafseer”, “Abul-Kalam” or “Ameerul-Kalam”, all they had was simplicity!
A person informed that the tombstone of Shaykh (Maulana) Qasim Nanotwi (RA) in Deoband displays the title of “Shaykhul-Islam” to which Hazrat (RA) replied, “This is the first I have heard of it but Shaykhul-Islam is a classical title of Islamic Scholarship and it doesn’t have the darkness associated with all these newly innovated and exaggerated titles”
The simplicity of our Akabir was such that a villager came in such circumstances that someone was massaging the feet of Shaykh (Maulana) Gangohi (RA) so he retorted, “Maulana! You are loving it aren’t you that someone is massaging your feet?”
Shaykh (Maulana) Gangohi (RA) replied, “It is natural to be happy in a state of physical comfort”.
Villager asked, “Maulana! Don’t you feel that you are superior (to all) and better?”
Shaykh (Maulana) Gangohi (RA) replied, “Alhumdolillah! Even the thought of being better and superior hasn’t cross my mind”.
Villager replied, “Then it’s permissible for you to have your feet massaged!”
This incident reflects the simplicity and straightforward nature of Shaykh (Maulana) Gangohi (RA) and people of today should take heed. I call today’s culture (and supposed etiquettes) a punishment (of imposing false habits and putting on a false display).
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on kissing hands (of a Shaykh)!
Shaykh (RA) responds on page 300 to someone who wrote that his heart desires to kiss his hand, “Have you ever asked what my heart wants?”
And this is the response to (imposing) Takalluf!
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on softness in dealing with Ismaili (Shias)!
After a long discussion...
In summary after having these heretical (Kuf'r) beliefs if the person is declared a believer then the in the eyes of less (educated) Muslims the (Kuf’r) of these beliefs will be diminished and they will easily fall into misguidance. So to accept (such) Kaafirs into Islam will result in Muslims leaving Islam! There is no Maslahah (public interest) which will counter the Mufsida (harm) which is produced as a result.
This is in effect amongst the last Fatwaas of Hazrat Thanwi (RA) on Shias printed roughly 2 weeks before his passing away.
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on continuity also being doing an action sometimes!
Shaykh (RA) responds on page 237 to a question and writes that a person should continue to do something (remain active) and this will result in everything!
A man complained to Shaykh (Maulana) Yaqoob that he is unable to gain continuity in his actions as he sometimes does it and sometimes misses it. Hazrat (RA) replied that apply the principle of continuity on this pattern of sometimes doing it and sometimes missing it and become consistent in this pattern.
I say that this saying of Hazrat (RA) is full of deep wisdom because of course this is not really consistency (or continuity) but it encourages the student, gives him heart (and prevents him from giving up entirely). This isn’t a response but a tremendous prescription for people (to adhere to) i.e. if you can’t be consistent (and continuous) in Tahajjud Salah then become consistent (and continuous) in offering it sometimes.
When you get the Tawfeeq (sit up from lying down) then this Tawfeeq will enable to do little Dhik’r, read a little dua, recite Kalimah 3 times and next day it will become easier to get up (again).
These are little titbits which enable people to develop the habit to carry out good deeds (consistently).
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on someone who frequently admits mistakes!
Shaykh (RA) responds on page 239 that when a Mureed frequently admits his mistakes then this has an effect on the Shaykh. The Shaykh has hopes for his Islah (reformation). In opposition is the state of the one doesn’t admit his mistakes and offers explanation for his errors; the Shaykh loses hope in his Islah (reformation) and also doesn’t direct his attention to this (second type of) person.
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] respecting Ulama
Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahimahullah) and Shaykh Ahmad Raza Khan Barelwi (rahimahullah) by Shaykh Muhammad Tayyib al-Qasimi (RA)
I have witnessed the fact that Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahimahullah) differed on numerous subjects from Shaykh Amad Raza Khan Barelwi (rahimahullah). Their differences covered the topics of Qiyaam, Urs, Meelad etc. But in spite of this, whenever his name happened to be mentioned in a Majlis (gathering), he used to say, "Moulana Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib."
On one occasion an individual sitting in the Majlis mentioned his name without adding the title Moulana to his name saying, "Ahmad Raza Khan." Shaykh Thanwi (rahimahullah) became angry and scolded him saying, "He is an Alim after all in spite of the fact that there are differences of opinion between us, you are disrespecting the position he has been granted. How can this be correct? Differences of opinion is another matter altogether. It is a seperate issue that he considers me to be upon error pertaining to certain issues. What is the meaning of such condescension, such disrespect for him?"
Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahimahullah) was among the Ahl-ul-ilm, the people of knowledge. If and when someone's name occurred he used to consider respect for that person to be necessary. Even if it was a person who bore absolute enmity towards him, he never allowed respect to leave his side.
acted in that manner. But we possess nusoos in our condition , so we cannot use that example.
to say that if you don't have the power to change it with your tongue, then hate it with your heart? This proves isti'taah means that as well as having the physical power to do it, there is no danger that one faces harms that one would be unable to repel (As far as normal cause and effect expectation and prediction goes)
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on the matter that Ulama shouldn't reply to every question!
Shaykh (RA) responds in Volume 2 on page 213 that Ulama should not respond to every question and this is an undesirable trait of the Ulama that they consider every query to be responded to. The query which deserves to be answered should be responded to and the one which needs to be ignored, should be ignored. I say that if someone is foolish (to do so) then us (those with intellect) shouldn’t be expected us to behave in the same way. There should be someone (with intellect) to point out the errors of these arrogant ones otherwise those with arrogance wouldn’t realise their error until the day of judgement. Some people are apprehensive and afraid of these (reminders) but I say why did you step on this path of (Tassawuff)? You want to become something but don’t want to do anything so on what grounds did you step onto the playing outfield?
If you are scared of a pinprick then how would you take the pain of being (scrubbed) clean?
Shaykh (Maulana) Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) [1863-1943] on the matter that response should be satisfactory and merely responding is not enough!
Shaykh (RA) responds in Volume 3 on page 51 that merely responding is not enough rather, the response should (make sense) and this is the criteria for judging a response (and not just that a response is given). A Ghair-Muqallid saw one of my booklets and commented that if I would have seen his booklet then I would have retracted my words. I say that if he would have seen (this publication) of mine then he would have retracted his booklet. Academic discussions and research are matters which if not known are not harmful but the real crux of the matter is action. Without action everything (else) is futile! Action completes the religion ...Look at the lives of Sahaba (RA) they acted which superseded every other quality, they had more action then they had knowledge.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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