The Awesome Meeting
The story has run into pages. How many twigs have issued forth from the boughs?!
Namaaz was over. Salaam was made. After making Du’aa, just as Hazrat got up his gaze fell on Moulana Husain Ahmad Saheb in the First Saff. He [Hazrat Thanwi] instinctively moved to him [Moulana Madani] exuding affection and met him with great consideration.
People used to say that he [Hazrat Thanwi] was a dry natured person. What!!! Are dry natured people like this? Can this gentle, cheerful countenance; this smiling and joyful face be of a dry natured person?!
People also used to say that the two are sour at each other. “There is bitterness between them.” My ears undoubtedly heard these things, but at that moment the eyes witnessed two friends embracing each other, not two enemies.
Moulana Husain Ahmad Saheb typically offered respect and regard as is his nature and on account of being younger, but we observed that on the other side [that is from Hazrat Thanwi] there was no lack of respect and customary honour.
Laa Haula Wala Quwwata! What false rumours people spread!!! And which people? Not the Awaam kal an’aam [the ignorant masses]; the so-called good and educated.
Alhamdulillah, today both reports were proven to be false.
Moulana introduced both of us. Cheerful character and due consideration were shown to us as well.
Coincidentally, a few weeks prior to this I was overcome with typhoid fever. With extreme compassion Hazrat referred to it and enquired about my wellbeing. I was astounded! How did he know about it?! Accounts of my sickness were only reported in Hamdard (Delhi), Hamdam (Lucknow) and in my own Sach. Where do these papers or such reporters pass here?!
There you have it! All the rumours and tales that were going around turned out to be fictitious, or at the minimum over-exaggerated. [In other words, people had spread false and exaggerated reports of the character of Hazrat Thanwi.]
I never ever thought that Hazrat would know me by name. In so far as the once or twice I corresponded with him, such correspondence Hazrat receives on a daily basis and innumerable. Whose names are going to be remembered?! But no, where being unacquainted; here, even my recent sickness was known!
