Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Twelve Qualities of the True Ulama - Fourth Quality (Part One)
4. Not Being Inclined and Interested in the Dunya
The fourth distinguishing quality of the true Ulama is that they are not found to be interested and concerned about beautiful clothing or delicious foods. Rather, the true Alim is the one who exercises moderation in these matters and follows the example of his pious seniors.
One should remember that the more disinterest he shows towards clothing and food, the more he will progress in gaining the special proximity of Allah Ta‘ala, and the higher his rank will escalate among the Ulama-e-Aakhirah (the Ulama who are only concerned about the Hereafter).
There is an interesting incident about Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) which is narrated by one of his students, Hazrat Abu Abdillah Khawaas (rahimahullah). He says:
Once, I was with Sheikh Haatim (rahimahullah) in a place called Rayy. There were three hundred and twenty people with us, and we were all going for Haj. We were a group of Mutawakkileen, and we had no food or luggage (rather, we had faith in Allah Ta‘ala to fulfil our needs).
In Rayy, we came across an ordinary businessman who was very simple in his ways. He invited the entire group for a meal and hosted us for the night at his home.
The next morning, he said to Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah), “There is a certain Alim who is sick. I need to go and visit him. If you wish, you may accompany me.” Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) replied, “To visit a sick person is an act of reward, and to visit an Alim is a also an ibaadat. I will definitely come with you!”
This Alim was Sheikh Muhammed bin Muqaatil (rahimahullah), the Qadhi of that village. When Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) reached his house (and saw its splendour), he was lost in thought. He exclaimed to himself, “Allahu Akbar! An Alim living in such a grand house!”
Nevertheless, we knocked on the door and requested entry. After going inside, we saw that its interior was also splendid, spacious, neat and clean, with curtains hanging all round. Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) gazed upon all these things and remained in deep thought.
We then came to the Qadhi and found him lying on an extremely soft bed. A slave boy was standing at his head side, fanning him.
The businessman greeted him with salaam, sat beside him, and enquired about his health, but Hazrat Haatim remained standing. The Qadhi gestured to Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) to sit down, but the Sheikh refused to take a seat.
The Qadhi said, “Do you need something?” The Sheikh said, “Yes, I want to ask you a certain mas’alah (a question about a religious matter).” The Qadhi said, “Go ahead, ask your question.” However, Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) said, “Would you mind sitting up in bed?” At this, (the servants helped him to sit up as he was too weak, and) the Qadhi sat up in bed. After this, the following conversation took place:
Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) asked the Qadhi, “From whom did you acquire your deeni knowledge?” The Qadhi replied, “I learnt it from the reliable Ulama.” Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) then asked, “From whom did the Ulama acquire their deeni knowledge?” The Qadhi responded, “They acquired their deeni knowledge from the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum).”
Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) thereafter asked, “From whom did the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) acquire their deeni knowledge?” The Qadhi answered, “They acquired their deeni knowledge from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” Then, Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) asked, “From whom did Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) acquire his deeni knowledge?” The Qadhi said, “He acquired his deeni knowledge from Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam).”
Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) then enquired, “From whom did Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) acquire his deeni knowledge?” The Qadhi responded, “He acquired it from Allah Ta‘ala.”
Thereafter, Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) asked, “The knowledge which Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) brought from Allah Ta‘ala to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) conveyed to the the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), and which the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) transmitted to the reliable Ulama, through which you acquired your knowledge – is it mentioned anywhere in this knowledge that the more splendid and large a man’ house is, the higher his rank will be in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala?”
The Qadhi replied, “No, this has not been mentioned in this knowledge.” Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) asked, “If this has not been mentioned, then what has been mentioned in this knowledge (in this regard)?”
The Qadhi replied, “In this knowledge, it has been mentioned that the one who is disinterested in the dunya, and yearns for the aakhirah, and loves the poor, and continues to send treasure to Allah Ta‘ala for his aakhirah (by spending his wealth in charity) – it is this person who enjoys a high rank in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala.”
Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) asked, “Then whose example are you following? Are you following the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)? Are you emulating the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and the pious Ulama? Or are you following in the footsteps of Fir’aun and Namrood? O you evil Ulama! When the ignorant people of the world, who blindly chase after the things of the world, see men like you, then they say, ‘When this is the condition and plight of the Ulama, then we can certainly be more immersed in the dunya than them.’”
Saying this, Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) went away. Thereafter, on account of Hazrat Haatim’s (rahimahullah) admonition and advice, the Qadhi’s condition deteriorated, and people began to speak of what had happened.
Someone then said to Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah), “Tanaafisi, another Alim who lives in Qazween (a city situated at a distance of eighty-one miles from Rayy), is leading a far more luxurious life.”
Thus, Hazrat Haatim (rahimahullah) set out on a journey to Qazween, with the intention of advising and correcting him.
(To be continued)
(Fazaa’il-e-Sadaqaat [English] pg. 437-439, [Urdu] pg. 482-484)
