6.11 Shaikhul Hind Moulana Mahmood Hasan Saheb Deobandi

He was also among the elite Asaatizah of Hazrat by whom he studied many kitaabs in his student days. Moulana was the fourth most senior teacher in Darul Uloom Deoband. He progressed to become the most senior teacher. He was the righteous student of Hazrat Moulana Qaasim Saheb Nanotwi and the distinguished Khaleefah of Hazrat Moulana Rasheed Ahmad Saheb Gangohi.

Hazrat Moulana Thanwi also had much good thoughts and affection for him. Often he would extol his virtues. In fact, he compiled and published a treatise on his practical and academic excellences titled, Zikr-e-Mahmood. During the period of political campaigning, although Hazrat differed with him, he continued to speak well of him and their relationship was not ruptured or spoilt at all.

6.12 Extreme Loving-Care

Moulana also was greatly attached and fond of him. Since he was always eager in his student days to debate, therefore, whenever he heard of a challenge to debate he would take it up immediately.

Once, a European Christian set up tent close to Deoband Station for debating. When Hazrat came to know, he became restless and hastened to take up the debate. Somehow Moulana heard of this. Fearing that his pupil was yet young, new and inexperienced and will thus be disadvantaged he immediately set out to aid his dutiful student. Upon reaching there he took the seat of Hazrat and proceeded to debate. In just a few words he had the missionary packing up his belongings and leaving.

6.13 A Show of Utmost Respect

In Zikr-e-Mahmood Hazrat Thanwi writes with great regret:
“It was my neglect or weakness that very seldom did I correspond with Hazrat (Rahmatullahi alaih). Some occasions I did and he invariably bestowed me with replies, but necessary arrangements were not made to preserve it.

Now I can recall only three letters preserved. One is in connection with a question on Tafseer and its answer. It has been published in the supplement to Volume Four of Fataawa Imdaadiyah, p. 326. The other two [letters], I am reproducing hereunder for barkat. These are not less than two righteous witnesses to Hazrat’s temperament of humility and loving-care.

In the two letters Hazrat Shaikhul Hind addresses his righteous pupil with these titles:
a. Embodiment of virtue and excellence. May Allah Ta’ala honour you and place you above multitudes of people.
b. Gold-Mine of goodness and piety. May your shadow be extended.

Regarding the words used by Moulana for Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi to others, in Zikr-e-Mahmood Hazrat Thanwi writes:
“Hazrat used some words which are much loftier than my status. Hence I have not reproduced them as:
چہ نسبت خاک را  با عالم  پاک
What relation does sand have with the universe!