Strange Love

Here Sheikhul Hadeeth (رحمة الله عليه) discusses one of his 'bad habits', that is, to ask his guests the duration for which they intended to stay with him and to enforce that upon them. This was the case even with his elders, as we shall see. In fact, in this case, his guest was not allowed to even stay for the time that he had requested. The following extract is with regard to Hazrat Raipuri (رحمة الله عليه):

He arrived with the mail train and as soon as I had shaken hands, I asked him: "Hazrat, what is the programme?"

He replied: "I have decided to stay in Saharanpur tomorrow and the day after tomorrow - two days. The third day will be according to what your instruction is."

I replied: "There will not be permission even to stay tomorrow. As soon as the fajr azaan is heard perform your own jamaat and leave. You will find some tea ready to drink. Please leave before the madrassa jamaat commences fajr."

Hazrat replied: "I am very tired. At least give me permission for one day."

I said: "There is no permission to stay longer than half an hour after the azaan for fajr."

You can just imagine the anger which the Tableeghi brothers must have felt. I will always remember the anger on the face of Bhai Altaf. The whole world Hazrat to stay with them. Here Hazrat himself offers and in fact asks to stay and I refuse permission. In spite of everything I saw him off early in the morning. At that time I told him: "Hazrat this is June, the heat is extreme. If you stay here you will not experience any comfort. Furthermore, these Tableeghi brothers will come to me to ask of you to attend the jalsa - even for a while. The day after tomorrow the jalsa will end in the morning. At the time of Dhuhr, Maulana Yusuf and myself will come to Raipur for two days."

After Hazrat had sat down in the car, Shah Masood Saheb begged him to come and stay at Bahut, but he replied, "When Sheikh has not given permission to stay in Saharanpur, I will not stay anywhere else."

He arrived at Raipur at the time of sunrise. After his arrival there, I heard from everyone coming from there that Hazrat had made a lot of dua for me. I also heard from many townspeople as well as villagers that he had said:

"I had asked to stay for two days. Sheikh did not even allow me to stay for a day. That is what is called love. Love should be learnt from such people. Can anyone possibly accept that Sheikh did not want me to stay? But he considered my comfort above his desire. May Allah grant him high rank. May Allah also grant him comfort and ease... ."

For two days he continued to make dua for me and even now when I think of how I practically forced him away, I feel great joy for the duas I received. Anyway, two days later Maulana Yusuf and myself arrived in Raipur on Monday afternoon after the jalsa.