THE USTADHS
The student who recognizes the significance and the importance of Deeni knowledge, who regards knowledge as a priceless treasure, in whose heart there is embedded the love of Allah Taala and Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), will most certainly honour the Ustadhs and have love in his heart for them. Their respect will rank uppermost in his mind. Ustadhs, in fact, are the links in the chain of transmission, instruction and guidance of Allah and His Rasul (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). That Chain links up with Allah Taala via the agency of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Ustadhs ensure that such lofty and noble instruction and guidance reach the student.
Rasulullah [(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) described as his Khalifa (Representative) one who transmits his Shariah and Sunnah to others. Therefore, respect and honour accorded to the Ustadhs are in reality respect and honour for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). In Abu Dawood Shareef appears the following narration of Hadhrat Taa-oos (rahmatullah alayhi):
Of the Sunnah is to honour four persons: an Aalim, an aged man, a sultan and ones father.
The hadith brands as a munaafiq the person who scorns at the Ulama and considers them as being insignificant. Allaamah Sharaani (rahmatullah alayhi) writes in Uhood-e-Muhammadiyyyah:
A general promise has been taken from us by the direction of Rasulullah [sallallahu alayhi wasallam] that we honour, respect and revere the llama and [that we acknowledge that] we can never compensate their favours even if we had to hand over to them all the wealth we own or even if we have to labour for them all our lives.
The majority of students have failed to uphold this pledge and so have the mureeds in the path of Tasawwuf. This degeneration has reached the level where we cannot find a single one among them [students and mureeds] who fulfils the wajib rights of his Ustadhs. This is a grave disease and it indicates that llm as well as Rasulullah [sallallahu alayhi wasallam] who commanded us to honour the Ulama, are being treated with contempt.
This should cause the student of the Deen to reflect. Allaamah Sharaani (rahmatullah alayhi) has demonstrated the high rank, importance and significance of the rights of Ustadhs. All our wealth and all our services can never be an adequate compensation for the rights which they have over us.
Honouring seniors was an outstanding feature of our Akaabireen (former senior Ulama). Once a publisher requested Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (rahmatullah alayhi) to write a review on the translation of the Quraan Shareef prepared by Hadhrat Shaikhul Hind (rahmatullah alayhi). Hadhrat Thanvi (rahmatullah alayhi) declined, saying that a review should be written by one who has the right of praising as well as the right to criticize. But, since Hadhrat Shaikhul Hind (rahmatullah alayhi) was the Ustadh of Hadhrat Thanvi (rahmatullah alayhi), he said:
Should I write a review and laud praises, it will imply that I have the right of criticism as well. This implication is evil [when related to ones Ustadh].
The high degree of respect for an Ustadh is evident from this noble attitude of Hadhrat Hakimul Ummat (rahmatullah alayhi) who could not tolerate even the idea of him criticizing or even possessing the right to criticize his Ustadh. He regards even this implication as a violation of the honour and sanctity of ones Ustadhs.
Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim (rahmatullah alayhi) said:
Whatever one gains [in knowledge], is by virtue of respect for the Ustadh. He who is disrespectful to his Ustadhs will never gain knowledge.
The authorities of the Shariah have therefore averred: He who has no adab has no ilm.
Respect is not confined to only the Ustadhs. All media and objects of knowledge have to be respected. On account of a relationship with Ilm, every Alim, Haafiz, kitaab and even instruments of knowledge, e.g. pen, paper, ink, desks, madressah buildings, etc., have necessarily to be respected.
{ILM & MADARIS :By Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Maseehullah Khan Sherwani(R.A.)}