A UNIQUE INCIDENT DEPICTING THE EMULATION OF THE SUNNAH
Sheikhul Hadith Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat Sahib حفظه الله shares an amazing perspective detailed below:
Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi Sahib رحمه الله mentioned in one of his lectures that it is Sunnah to eat bottle-gourd because Sayyidina Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to enjoy eating it. Hazrat’s wife was listening to the lecture from her house. Coincidentally, bottle-gourds were in season at that time. When Hazrat Thaanwi رحمه الله went home, he found bottle-gourd prepared for him. When he had the next meal, bottle-gourd was again presented to him. This continued for the afternoon and evening meals. Hazrat رحمه الله asked his wife: “What is the matter?” She replied: “You had mentioned the other day in your lecture that Sayyidina Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to like bottle-gourd, and it is Sunnah to eat it. So I thought to myself that since bottle-gourds are in season, we should take maximum benefit from this opportunity. When the season ends, we will not be able to practice on this Sunnah.”
الله اكبر كبيرا
Look at this woman’s love for the Sunnah and the desire to practice on it. Hazrat Thaanwi رحمه الله continues: “On hearing these words of my wife, the thought came to my heart that this woman is so enthusiastic about following the Sunnah; I ought to take stock of my life and see how much of the Sunnah is in my life.”
My dear friends! Look at how these personalities had obliterated themselves.
سبحان الله!
Our minds are left astounded. Hazrat رحمه الله was such an erudite scholar and a great Sheikh, yet he takes a lesson from the statement of his wife. My dear brothers! These were the real fuqahā. They did not possess knowledge alone but rather it was accompanied with intense love for Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله . We read the saying:
السعيد من وعظ بغيره
“Fortunate indeed is the one who takes admonition (and draws a lesson) from others.”
We read these sayings in the kitābs but personalities like Hazrat Thaanwi رحمه الله practised on it. On seeing his wife’s enthusiasm in following the Sunnah, Hazrat رحمه الله decided to take stock of his life for one week. Hazrat رحمه الله relates: “I continued keeping check on myself for one week to see whether whatever I do from morning to evening and evening to morning is in line with the Sunnah or not. After doing this for one week, I concluded that (Alhamdulillah), there is due consideration for the Sunnah in every task of my life, and there is nothing against the Sunnah.”
الله اكبر الله اكبر
My dear brothers! We always take their names, we always consider ourselves to be aligned to pious personalities but examine with sincerity the major difference between them and us. Look at their actions, and look at ours….
(Who is an ‘Ālim-e-Rabbānī? – Sheikh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat Sahib حفظه الله)
We learn from the above advices that the demand is that we live the Sunnah. Furthermore, we also note that if sincere advice is given from our wives or juniors, we should reflect and ascertain whether our actions need to be rectified. May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله adorn our every facet of our lives with the fragrance of the Sunnah!
امين يا رب العالمين
Hafez Qaasim Paruk Saab Hafizahullah