Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
In the Mubaarak Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “What relationship do I have with this world? My condition in the world is like that of a traveller who (during his journey) stops beneath a tree to rest under the shade. Thereafter, he continues on his journey and leaves the tree (and travels until he reaches his destination).” (Sunan Tirmizi #2377)
From this Hadith, we understand that a believer should not make the world his actual goal, where his main aim and focus is to amass the wealth of the world. Rather, he should make preparing for the Hereafter his main goal in life, as this worldly life will soon come to an end, and one day, he will have to leave for the journey of the Hereafter.
When we examine the life of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah), we find that he possessed this sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) – the quality of zuhd (abstinence of the world). He led a life of simplicity and gave preference to the Hereafter over the dunya.
Declining a Teaching Post Despite the Salary Being Lucrative
Moulana Ameeruddeen (rahimahullah) was a contemporary of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Nanotwi (rahimahullah). He mentions that once, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) received an offer from Bhopal to teach deen. The salary which he was being offered was five hundred rupees a month (which was an extremely large amount at that time).
Moulana Ameeruddeen (rahimahullah) encouraged Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) to accept the offer saying, “Qaasim! Why don’t you go?” To this Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) replied, “They are only calling me and offering me this teaching post as they regard me to be a highly qualified Aalim, and based on this, they are offering me the salary of five hundred rupees. However, the reality of the matter is that I do not regard myself to be a highly qualified Aalim. Therefore, how can I accept the offer?”
Moulana Ameeruddeen (rahimahullah) mentions, “I persisted in trying to make Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) accept the teaching post, but he refused and did not accept it.” (Arwaah-e-Thalaathah pg. 174-175)
From this incident, we see the quality of zuhd (worldly abstinence) in his life, that had he accepted this teaching post, he could have acquired so much of wealth, but he was not interested in the wealth of the world. Rather, he made his goal in this world striving for the life of the Hereafter.
Similarly, we see the high level of humility of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), that despite being a renowned Aalim among the people, he did not think anything of himself.
Rejecting the Dunya
Haafiz Anwaarul Haq Saheb of Deoband mentions that on one occasion, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was seated outside his room, receiving a haircut, when a wealthy person by the name of Abdul Kareem came from Meerut to meet him.
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) had seen Abdul Kareem coming from afar and realised that Abdul Kareem wanted to give him some money as a gift. However, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) did not want the money. Therefore, as Abdul Kareem reached him, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) turned away, pretending as though he had not seen him.
Abdul Kareem came and stood before Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), and in his hands was a large bundle of rupees wrapped in a shawl. Abul Kareem remained standing like this for a little while, after which Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) eventually turned towards him, greeted him and asked him how he was.
After replying to the salaam of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), Abdul Kareem left the parcel of money at his feet. Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) did not want the money, so he gently declined accepting it and moved it away. Seeing this, Abdul Kareem begged him to accept the gift, yet Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) still refused.
Finally, Abdul Kareem placed the bundle of money on the shoes of Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), which were placed nearby, and then departed. After having his hair cut, when Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) stood up, he took his shoes and removed the parcel of rupees on it, causing the rupees to fall onto the ground.
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) then wore his shoes and addressed Haafiz Anwaarul Haq saying, “Haafizjee! We also acquire the dunya, and the people of the world also acquire the dunya. The difference is that we turn away from the dunya and it falls at our feet, while the people of the world run behind it, yet the dunya turns away from them.”
After saying this, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) distributed the rupees among the poor people who were present there. (Arwaah-e-Thalaathah pg. 209-210)
Being Mistaken for a Simple Cotton Weaver
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) would wear very simple clothing. He would wear a kurta made from coarse cloth and a blue lungi. On account of his extremely simple clothing, the people seeing him often did not realise that he was a great Aalim of deen.
Once, Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) had disembarked from the train at the station and was going to Nanota. As was his habit, he was dressed in a kurta of coarse cloth and was wearing a blue lungi.
Seeing Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah), a cotton weaver thought that he was also a cotton weaver like him, because of the simple manner in which he was dressed. Thinking that Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was returning from the market, after selling his cotton, he asked him, “What is today’s price of cotton in the market?”
Hazrat Nanotwi (rahimahullah) was not insulted or offended in the least and responded saying, “Bhai, I did not get a chance to go to the bazaar today, so I do not know the price of cotton today.” (Ml. Muhammad Qaasim Nanotwi – Hayaat aur Kaarnaame pg. 178 & Sawaanih-e-Qaasimi 1/138)
