Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
In the Mubaarak Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had explained the rights that we owe to the servants of Allah Ta‘ala and commanded us to fulfil those rights. Through fulfilling the rights that we owe the servants, we will be rewarded, and through not fulfilling the rights, we will become sinful.
Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was very particular about fulfilling every person’s rights. He showed respect to his seniors, he saw to the comfort of his guests, and avoided causing any inconvenience to any person.
Adab (Respect) for His Sheikh
Hazrat Hajee Imdaadullah (rahimahullah) was the Sheikh of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah). Though he was not a formal aalim, Allah Ta‘ala had bestowed him with deep understanding and knowledge, due to which many Ulama referred to him for their islaah (self-reformation).
On one occasion, Hazrat Haaji Imdaadullah (rahimahullah) gave his kitaab, Dhiyaa-u-Quloob, to his mureed, Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah) to proof read.
When reading the kitaab, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) came across a mistake in one of the words which was dictated by Hazrat Haaji Imdaadullah (rahimahullah) when preparing the kitaab. However, he did not correct the mistake of his Sheik.
When he met Hazrat Haaji Imdaadullah (rahimahullah), he respectfully said to him, “When reading the kitaab, there was one word which I did not understand.”
On looking into the kitaab, Hazrat Haaji Saheb (rahimahullah) realised that the word had been written incorrectly, and thus immediately took a pen, scratched out the incorrect word and wrote the correct word saying, “I made a mistake while dictating the kitaab, and that is why the wrong word was written down.”
It is mentioned that Hazrat Haaji Saheb (rahimahullah) would thereafter often recount this incident and praise Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) saying, “Subhaanallah! Moulana possesses a very high level of adab! Despite him being a very great Aalim, he did not make the correction himself, rather, out of respect, he merely indicated towards it so that I myself may correct it.”
Commenting on this incident, Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah) mentioned, “In this incident, we see that Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) did not go to the extreme in revering his Sheikh, to the extent that he was not prepared to accept the mistake of his Sheikh as being a mistake. At the same time, he did not show any disrespect by personally correcting his Sheikh and telling him, ‘You made a mistake here, and I corrected it.’ Rather, he adopted a subtle approach to alert his Sheikh to his mistake so that he could correct it himself.” (Hazrat Thaanwi ke pasandeedah waaqi’aat pg. 120-121)
Honouring the Poor Guest
One of Hazrat Nanotwi’s (rahimahullah) mureeds and khaadims (attendants), named Haaji Muhammed Yaseen Saheb mentioned, “On one occasion, there were certain guests at the home of Moulana Nanotwi rahimahullah). Before eating, the guests needed to wash their hands, so one person present came to each guest with a jug of water in order to pour the water for him to wash his hands.
However, among the guests was an old man who was shabbily dressed. The person pouring the water did not come to the old man for him to wash his hands.
On seeing this, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) immediately realised that perhaps, the old man was left out because of his shabby condition. Immediately, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) himself went forward, took the jug and helped him to wash his hands.” (Ml Muhammed Qaasim Nanotwi – Hayaat aur Kaarnaame pg. 184-185)
Consideration for People
It was the practice of Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) that he would not accept gifts from people while traveling. Once, while he was traveling, a certain person came to him, when he was alone, and said, “I have a request.”
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) immediately realized that this person wished to give him a gift. Hence, he said to the person, “I also have a request. Please listen to my request first. It is my practice that when I am traveling, then I do not accept gifts from anyone.
“The reason and benefit behind this practice of mine is that at times, a person may have something with him to give as a gift, and at times, a person may not find anything to give. When traveling, I will definitely meet my friends. Now, if one of my friends had given me a gift the last time I met him, but this time, he does not have anything to give me, then he will either avoid meeting me, or if he does meet me, he will do so while feeling embarrassed. Hence, in order to avoid causing inconvenience and embarrassment to people, I do not accept gifts while traveling.” (Arwaah-e-Thalaathah pg. 183-184)
