Lifestyle of Ulama-e –Kiraam
The lifestyle of the Ulema have to be distinguished from the awwam (general masses)
The way we live our lives should be a reflection of who we are. This is why the Holy Prophet salallaahu alaihi wasallam in many traditions would say “be different from the polytheists.” This is because muslims and non muslims lives should have a distinction.Just as there is a distinction between muslims and non muslims,similarly the lifestyles of the Ulema should be different from the Awaam (general masses).
Hazrat Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi rahmatullahi alaih once mentioned:
“Our lives have to be distinguished from the awwam .Onlookers should be able to fully understand that these people are not seekers of the world, and wealth and riches are not their goal in life. Our goal should be merely for the sake of Allah Ta`ala as was the way of our aslaaf (pious predecessors).As long as a mark difference does not appear in the akhlaaq of our Ulema fraternity and they do not instill within themselves the quality of serving others, they will not be able to influence others nor will they be respected. They will not be able to implant within the minds of others the respect and honour of Deen. The respect of Ulema will never be created by reporting the size of the madressas they run and the large number of students studying under them. Rather, the honour for the Ulema is created by the way they portray themselves .When the awwam will notice that these Ulema consider it as taboo to lay their hands on that which they (awwam) will sacrifice their lives for (ie. The material possessions etc.),nor do they show any concern for it, they will eventually say to themselves that we thought that riches were the ultimate in life but, in the eyes of the Ulema riches hold no weight.”(Tuhfat-ul-Aimmah p. 77) (Taken from a gift to the Ulema pg 97)
This is just one of the many sayings highlighting how Ulema should live their lives. As students and Ulema we need to understand more than anyone else that this is not the life, rather the Hereafter and Allah should be our aim and we should demonstrate externally and with immence internal belief that the afterlife is more dearer to us than the present.