Letter of Hazrat Shaykh (نور الله مرقده) to Hazrat Thanwy (نور الله مرقده)

Just reading these letters gives a brief example of how the strong attachment and love our Akaabir had for the Sunnah of our Beloved Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم

To Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwy

Assalamu Alaykum.

I hereby wish to present a little gift. In the Hadith, there is mention of a certain thing called talbeena, which Mullah Ali Qari says is made up of milk, honey and flour and I have added a little saffron for flavour and taste. Once, some time ago, I prepared it and it turned out to be very delicious and I got the feeling that perhaps Hazrat will also like it. Only Allah knows how it has turned out this time, but I have again mixed the same ingredients.

In Bukhari it is reported from Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha who says: "I have heard Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam say: "Verily talbeena cures the heart of the sick one and takes away his sorrows."" According to Bukhari, she ordered that talbeena be taken and that it is a beneficial medicine. Hafiz Ibn Hajar says in 'Fath', it is reported by Ahmed and Ibn Majah that Aisha Radhiallahu Anha reported: "Make use of talbeena, the beneficial medicine." And Nisai adds: "I swear by Him in whose hands is the life of Muhammad [sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam] that talbeena cleans the stomach in the same way as any of you uses water to wash dust from his face."

According to the Hadith it appears that it is prepared in a thin form, but I thought Hazrat will prefer it in a thick form so as to eat it like firny. For this reason, I have made it a thick mixture. I have also written its contents down for Hakeem Khaleel Ahmed Saheb and asked him about it, so as to ascertain that it will not be harmful to Hazrat's diet.

Zakariyya Kandhalwy.

Maulana Thanwi (نور الله مرقده)'s response

My beloved friend, Assalamu Alaykum.

Who is so fortunate as to recieve such a blessed present. Because of your love, you have not been very clever as was the demand of your love. Your reason should have told you that you should not have informed me what it was. When I expressed liking for it, [only] then should you have told me what it was. Now, I am worried that if I do not use it, it will be tantamount to turning away from the Sunnah. How will one accept it, that after eating it, you find yourself not liking it. Both these things will boil down to bad manners. Now I am putting this aside until such a time that you get me out of this difficulty.

Ashraf Ali.