Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
There were two brothers living in Raampur whom Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) knew from his childhood. Whenever Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would go to Raampur, he would go to visit and meet them.
Later on, these people, among others, were involved in sending messages to the oppressive British government, alleging that Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) had started a madrasah in Deoband for the purpose of training the youth in jihaad so that they could rise and rebel against the government.
These accusations were baseless and only a means of sparking fitnah. However, the British took the allegations seriously and conducted a formal investigation. Hence, some of the British officers came to Nanota to meet Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah).
On arriving in Nanota, they found that Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was in the musjid. They came to the musjid and requested permission to enter. Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) gave them permission to enter, but instructed them to first remove their shoes before entering the musjid.
The officer in charge entered the musjid, and instead of sitting down, he remained standing respectfully and silently in front of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah). After standing in this manner for a few moments, he turned and departed.
On his return, he submitted the following in his report of the investigation. He said, “The people who have accused such a saintly personality of treason, rebellion and wishing to spread mischief – those people themselves are the ones causing mischief. All of this is nothing more than the mischief of certain mischief makers.”
After this incident transpired, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) mentioned, “Most of the time, I see Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in a dream coming to me and covering me with his blessed shawl. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is enveloping me in his shawl.”
On hearing this dream of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), many people felt that the meaning of this was that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was showing Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was protecting him from the fitnah of these fitnah mongers.
However, Hazrat Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi (rahimahullah) said, “No, the dream does not indicate towards this!” Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) then explained that the dream indicates that the lifetime of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) is nearing its end and soon he will pass away.
Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) also explained that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) enveloping Moulana Nanotwi (rahimahullah) with the shawl means that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is showing that when these people are causing takleef to Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), then it is better that Allah Ta‘ala take him away from the world.
Accordingly, the explanation of Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) materialised, as Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) passed away shortly thereafter.
Nevertheless, it is mentioned that even after these two brothers had made these accusations against Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), he would still meet them with mahabbat whenever he would travel to Raampur.
When coming to Raampur, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would generally stay at the home of Hakeem Dhiyaauddeen Saheb. When Hakeem Saheb would see Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) going to meet these two brothers, he would become upset and think to himself, “Why is Hazrat going to meet these people when they have made such serious allegations against him?” Nevertheless, Hakeem Saheb would keep these thoughts to himself and would not express this before Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah).
Once, it so happened that Hazrat Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi (rahimahullah) was in Raampur together with Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah). On this occasion, when Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) went to meet the two brothers, as per his habit, Hakeem Saheb turned to Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) and said, “Look! Even now, Moulana Nanotwi does not refrain from visiting them!”
Hearing this, Hazrat Gangohi (rahimahullah) smiled, and when Hakeem Saheb continued to object, he said to him, “Hakeem Saheb! What are you saying? You are not looking at the condition of his heart (i.e. he does not have ill-feelings in his heart for anyone and he is prepared to forgive one and all).” (Arwaah-e-Thalaathah pg. 186-188)
