THE DECEPTION OF THE WORLD (Part 8) – Hazrat Maulana Thanvi رحمه الله

Hakeemul Ummah Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi Sahib رحمه الله mentions that we often hear people saying; “Don’t you know who I am?”

A pious servant of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله provided an appropriate answer when an individual was walking with arrogance. He advised him; “Do not walk with such pride, brother. Rather, adopt humility and meekness in your stride.” The individual commented; “Don’t you know who I am?” The pious servant replied; “I do know full well who you are. Firstly, you were a congealed speck of impure sperm and your end result will be a decaying corpse while presently you carry a quantity of faeces within you.”

Man must reflect; surely it is amazing that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله has kept a host of different impurities within the body of this human being along with orifices whereby they reach the outside yet these orifices do not allow the odour to reach the outside at all times. If these odours were to be constantly emitted, living a social life would have been impossible.

Hazrat Thaanwi رحمه الله adds another example where a person suffers from the disease of bad breath. We can relate to this that standing next to this person would be a torture. The Fuqahā have explained that if a person suffers from the disease of bad breath, he should not perform his Salaah with congregation but should do so individually. Yes, he will receive the full reward of having performed his Salaah with congregation. Bad breath is due to a problem with the stomach. So then, how can man say; “Don’t you know who I am?” A person who reacts this way is involved in the spiritual maladies of pride and ignorance. Again, let us understand that a small stomach complaint can cause such enormous problems; how then can we attach importance to ourselves?

(To be continued ان شاء الله)