Insurance Policies in Place

Alhamdulillah, this past weekend, I was driven to Houston, TX.  I slept most of the way there and most of the way back so I do not recall the travel aspect of the trip much.  My main purpose of going was to meet a very senior scholar who is like a hidden gem.  Not many people know of him or his scholarship.  He wishes to remain hidden so it is not really my place to go against his wishes.  We arrived at about 11p.m. He was kind enough to receive us despite it being late and he also being sick with a really cough and cold.

During our initial conversation, he was speaking about how he had met Hazratwala (DB) in Hyderabad, India, many times, amongst other senior shuyookh.  During our conversation, we were speaking about the great scholars that are still alive (I pray that Allah preserve them).  I being the insolent fool that I am, began mentioning isolated opinions of a few of them that are seemingly contrary to the methodology of their teachers and the other senior shuyookh.  So this particular scholar gave me an example of that and said, “Sometimes something viral goes around and which many are not immune to.  These scholars are also not immune to these things either.”

I had thought about what he said for a moment and then I presented the following in his service:

Alhamdulillah, by the fadhl of Allah, and the barakah of my Shaykh (DB), I have learned to not see the actions of the majority as a source of evidence or credence.  My insurance policy that I have in place, that will protect me from straying and swaying away from the method of our shuyookh is to see if my Shaykh (DB) or his shuyookh (RA) have condoned a particular thing or action.  I will see if my teachers or shuyookh practice it or not.  If many scholars are okay and fine with a particular thing, that is their thing, and they are entitled to their opinion.  I however, will strictly follow what my Shaykh (DB) wants me to do because I know that he would only desire that which is most beneficial for me, and nothing less than the best.  I will not find excuses to make things my shaykh (DB) has not condoned as actions that can be done.  The excuse presented forth for a sin is often times worse than the sin itself.

This scholar heard me out and agreed with what I had to say, and commented, “The shadow of our elders (meaning the company and presence of our elders) is indeed a great bounty.  Regardless of how grateful we are, we can never do justice to thanking Allah for giving us the chance to be in their company for even a moment.

I pray that Allah allows us all to benefit from the company of our elders.

 

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