Hadhrat Moulana (Rahmatullahi Alayh) lived by this rule - to
always treat one’s relatives well even though they are indifferent to one. On
many occasions a relative came and spoke harshly to Hadhrat Moulana
(Rahmatullahi Alayh). The general response in such situations was that before
the person had left Hadhrat Moulana (Rahmatullahi Alayh) would have given him
some mithai (sweetmeats) to eat. Some people actually joked about it, that if
anyone wanted to eat some mithai, he should say some harsh words to Hadhrat
Moulana. On one occasion a relative spoke harshly to him. Hadhrat Moulana
(Rahmatullahi Alayh) placed a hundred rupees in an envelope and together with
one set of clothing presented it to the person who spoke harshly to him.
Hadhrat Moulana’s practice was in conformity to the Sunnah. In fact, this was the practice of all the lovers of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) was one such Aashiq (true lover of Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)). He had a neighbour who used to regularly abuse him verbally. The day the neighbour had abused him, Imaam Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh) would send him a gift. After many days had passed in this manner, and after having received many gifts from Imaam Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh), the neighbour felt that the Imaam had great affection for him. He therefore stopped his abuse. However, he noticed that the gifts had also stopped coming. Hence he came to Imaam Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh) and asked: “What type of recompense is this? As long as I abused you, you sent me gifts. When I stopped abusing you, you stopped sending me gifts!” Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) replied: “Brother, as long as you abused me, I made sabr (exercised patience). Thus, you were actually building my paradise for me (by giving me the occasion of making sabr and thereby enabling me to attain great rewards). Therefore in return I was giving you some worldly benefit. When you stopped building my paradise, I stopped your worldly benefit!”
Hadhrat Moulana’s practice was in conformity to the Sunnah. In fact, this was the practice of all the lovers of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) was one such Aashiq (true lover of Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)). He had a neighbour who used to regularly abuse him verbally. The day the neighbour had abused him, Imaam Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh) would send him a gift. After many days had passed in this manner, and after having received many gifts from Imaam Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh), the neighbour felt that the Imaam had great affection for him. He therefore stopped his abuse. However, he noticed that the gifts had also stopped coming. Hence he came to Imaam Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh) and asked: “What type of recompense is this? As long as I abused you, you sent me gifts. When I stopped abusing you, you stopped sending me gifts!” Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) replied: “Brother, as long as you abused me, I made sabr (exercised patience). Thus, you were actually building my paradise for me (by giving me the occasion of making sabr and thereby enabling me to attain great rewards). Therefore in return I was giving you some worldly benefit. When you stopped building my paradise, I stopped your worldly benefit!”
Allahu Akbar! Look at their mindset. If only we develop the same mindset, we will also enjoy peace within ourselves and spread peace and happiness around us as well.
All the three advices mentioned by Hadhrat Moulana (Rahmatullahi Alayh) have been greatly emphasized in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Those who lived by it prospered and flourished. Those who abandoned it deprived themselves and eventually fell into destruction.
It is therefore the duty of every Muslim to make his utmost effort to live by these great lessons and to also pass it on to others.
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Beautiful lessons. JazakAllah khair for such a valuable reminder.
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