Hereunder are some incidents of our elders who were true lovers of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. Following in the footsteps of the Sahaabah RadhiAllaahu Anhum, they held even those things connected to Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam in great esteem.
1.) It was the habit of Shah Abdul Qaadir Raipuri Rahimahullaah that when going to Madinah Munawwarah that he would tell the people at the last manzil (stage) of the journey,
“Tell me as soon as you see the enlightened Raudah. From there we will walk barefoot.”
He used to emphasise to his companions to recite Salawaat (Durood Shareef), remain silent and present oneself with honour and respect. During his last illness, as soon as he would hear mention of Madinah Tayyibah, he would become emotional.
At times, he would begin crying in a loud voice. Moulana Muhammad Saheb Rahimahullaah was proceeding for umrah. He came to meet Moulana. When mention was made of Madinah Tayyibah, he began crying uncontrollably.
Moulana Mohammad Saheb Rahimahullaah states that he never heard Shah Abdul Qaadir Rahimahullaah crying so loudly.
2.) Moulana Madani Rahimahullaah had planted an Acacia tree in the Daarul Uloom Deoband garden. People were wondering as to the reason for this, as the tree did not produce fruits or flowers, it did not give off any fragrant smell, nor did it add beauty to the garden.
After investigation, it was established that Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam had sat under the Acacia tree and taken a pledge of allegiance from the Sahaabah named Bai’at-Ridwaan.
This tree was planted as a memorial of that incident.
3.) Moulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi Rahimahullaah possessed a green piece of cloth from the covering (ghilaaf) of the Hujra Shareef.
At times, he would allow those present to view these blessed artefacts. He would open the box with his hands, then remove the ghilaaf, place it on his eyes, and then place it on the heads of people.
If any person had to present to him dates from Madinah Munawwarah, then he would keep these dates with great honour and feed them to others in blessed gatherings.
Once, on receiving dates, he said to one of his students, “Distribute these dates amongst our close companions after dividing them.”
After making portions, the student remarked in surprise, “Such a small piece will be given as a gift!”
Moulana became upset and remarked, “The blessings (tabarrukaat) of Madinah are the bounties of Allaah Ta’ala, and the bounty of Allaah Ta’ala can never be insignificant.”
Moulana used to keep the date seeds with great care.
He would not even allow others to throw them away. In fact, he would advise others to pound these seeds and utilize the powder derived there-from.
Once, some person handed over to Moulana some dust from the Hujrah Shareef as a gift. Moulana placed this dust in his antimony container. Daily after Ishaa, it was his habit to apply this antimony (surmah).
Amongst his associates, one of them sent to him some cloth from Madinah Munawwarah.
One student remarked, “Hadrat! What blessings will be in this clothing? It seems to have been made in a foreign country.”
Moulana answered, “The winds of Madinah Munawwarah have at least touched it. This is sufficient honour for me.”
4.) When Hujjatul-Islam Moulana Qasim Nanotwi Rahimahullaah went for Hajj, he could not bear to wear shoes in the city of his beloved.
His companion in the journey, Hakeem Mansoor Ali Khan said regarding Moulana, “As our caravan came closer to Madinah Munawwarah from where we could see the Raudah, Moulana removed his shoes, placed them under his arms and began walking barefoot. In this way, he eventually reached the Haram in the darkness of the night barefooted.”
Moulana Madani Rahimahullaah writes regarding this journey, “Moulana Nanotwi Rahimahullaah did not mount a camel for a few manzils, whereas his conveyance was present and moving about with none riding it. Moulana’s feet were injured, thorns pricked him. Blood began flowing from his feet as he knocked into stones. All of this was borne as Moulana felt, “How could Qasim Nanotwi walk with shoes on that ground upon which the beloved of Allaah Ta’ala treaded.”
Moulana Madani Rahimahullaah has written in Shihaabun Thaaqib that in Nanota, green leather shoes were fancied by people. People used to wear these shoes to functions.
One devotee presented these shoes to Moulana Nanotwi. To satisfy him, Moulana accepted this gift, but did not wear it.
After some time had passed, someone asked him, “Moulana, why do you not where these shoes?”
He replied, “How is it possible that the Raudah Aqdas of my beloved is green, and Qasim Nanotwi places green shoes on his feet?”
On the other hand, if disrespect is showed to those items connected to Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, then there is great fear for a person.
Once, during a lesson of Bukhari Shareef, Moulana Madani Rahimahullaah mentioned that a Haji Saheb remarked that the yoghurt (dai) of Madinah Munawwarah is sour.
On that night, he was blessed with the vision of Rasulullaah SallAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, who said, “When the yoghurt (dai) of Madinah Munawwarah is sour, why have you come here? Go away from here!”
This person woke up and was afraid. He asked the ulamaa as to what he should do. Somebody said to him, “Go to the grave of Hamzah RadhiAllaahu Anhu and make duaa there. It is possible that Allaah Ta’ala will have mercy on you.”
This person went to the grave and crying, made a lot of duaa to Allaah Ta’ala. That night, he saw Hamzah RadhiAllaahu Anhu in a dream, who said to him, “Leave Madinah Munawwarah, otherwise there is a fear that your imaan will be snatched away.”
After narrating this incident, Moulana Madani Rahimahullaah remarked, “Never ever take out faults in any item of Madinah Munawwarah. In fact, regard difficulties encountered there to be a source of comfort.”
مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وسَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ