9.4 Attention Directed to Him by the Buzrugs in Absentia

The result of maintaining passionate love and faith in Awliya-Ullah was that they started loving him and caring for him behind the scenes. This is supported by the following incidents:

a. Hazrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmad Saheb (Rahmatullahi alaih), who was a great Buzrug, would say: “I had love for Ashraf, from even before he was aware of it.”

b. Shaikhul Arab wal Ajam Hazrat Haji Imdaadullah (Quddisa Sirruhu) Muhaajir-e-Makki, who made Hijrat from Hindustan many years before Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi’s birth and settled in Makkah Mu’azzamah, called him to Makkah Mu’azzamah in his student days.

c. During that time there was a Buzrug by the name of Hazrat Khaleel Pasha who would reside in Makkah Mu’azzamah. Many Ulama who proceeded for Haj would present themselves in his service. Hazrat Moulana Thanwi, however, considered it to be unwise to visit any other Buzrug during Haj right in the presence of his Shaikh, Hazrat Haji Imdaadullah. Hence he did not present himself in the service of Hazrat Khaleel Pasha. At night he saw in a dream someone telling him: “Are you not going to meet Khaleel Pasha!” In that realm of dreams he answered:
“There is no need. Its similitude is like people come for Haj. The goal is the Ka’bah Shareef to which there are many routes. Some come from the route of Bombay, some via Karachi. Similarly in this Path of Sulook the goal is Haq Ta’ala and the Shuyookh are the routes. When we have taken Haji Saheb as our Shaikh of Tareeqat then it obviates the need to go to any other Shaikh. He is sufficient for realization of the goal.”

According to Hazrat Thanwi the person kept quiet at this answer. The next morning he mentioned the dream to Hazrat Haji Saheb. Hazrat Haji Saheb replied: “Why is there any harm? He is a saintly person. Go and meet him.” Thus he went to meet him.

d. Not only was the tawajjuh of earthlings on him, in fact the tawajjuh of souls from the next world was also on him with the Permission of Allah. In this regard, on the occasion of his marriage when he gave his first wa’z, one night in a dream Hazrat Moulana Shaikh Muhammad Saheb Muhaddith-e-Thanwi (Rahmatullahi alaih) came to him and after congratulating him over his marriage he said:
“The attention I had for you in my life has remained unchanged even now.”

These realities testify to the fact that his position, work, innate prodigy and natural capacity became revealed to the Awliya-Ullah of that time by virtue of which they all were captivated by him.