The Letter
I sat down to write a letter rather hesitantly and fearful. At the same time, I wrote candidly. The letter was a full two pages long. The gist of it appears hereunder:
“I am an English-educated person. For a long time I was stumbling along the gorges of dhalaalat [deviation], nay ilhaad [heresy] produced by western philosophy. I was profane to Allah and his Rasool. After many years, I finally was blessed with Imaan and Islam. Much of this is through the barkat of Mathnawi, although I read it without much understanding. Akbar Ilahabadi’s company also steadily reformed me.
[Akbar Ilahabadi was a poet who had tasted the bitterness of secular education and had smelt the stench of western culture. His poetry highlights the inferiority complex of modernist Muslims and calls them to return to the Deen. He says:
بندوں نے بھلادیا وہ عہد الست
نافہمی وحرص میں ہیں اکثر بدمست
The servants of Allah have forgotten that Covenant of Alast
Intoxicated in misconception and greed are they for the most
جو مرغ ِصبح کی آواز کو بانگِ اذان سمجھا
اسے بیدار دل نے دلبر کا رازِ نہاں سمجھا
He who understands the rooster’s crow to be the Call of Azaan
His vigilant mind understands it to be the cryptic secret from Heaven
جو اپنی زندگانی کو فقط اک امتحان سمجھا
اسی نے راحت وتکلیف کا رازِ نہاں سمجھا
Whoever understands his life to be just a test
He understands the hidden secret of comfort and rest
طالبِ دنیا کو وقتِ نزع کیوں ہوتی نہ یاس
تھا جو ظاہر ہوگیا وہ ختم ، باطن کچھ نہ تھا
Why won’t the one who hankers for the world in the pangs of death be despairing?
The material world has come to an end, and his spiritual life is nothing
End of note on Akbar Ilahabadi.]
Now, through the weekly Sach I am engaged in service to the Deen, according to my ability and effacing my past.
Setting aside mention and account of my past farces, my greatest concern is the present. Allah alone knows how far I am from Siraat-e-Mustaqeem. I have neither gained the good fortune of becoming bai’t to any Buzrug yet, nor extensive suhbat [company].
After the author of Mathnawi my heart is inclined to the Shaarih of Mathnawi, Haji Saheb Muhaajir-e-Makki. Among the living Buzrugs, my eyes keep going to Moulana Husain Ahmad Madani. Some friends suggest Moulana Anwar Shah Saheb.
Where can I get a greater counsellor and someone with more insight than you? I have just recently looked at Janaab’s compilations on Sulook and my heart started throbbing. Hitherto I only knew you as a Molvi. Now your Aarifaanah state [that is Hazrat Thanwi being an Aarif Billah] has become apparent.
Forgive my impudence, but Janaab’s political views remain a riddle to me.
Be that as it may, I am requesting direction in the following matters:
1. Among the contemporary Buzrugs, who should I select for Bai’t and Suhbat?
2. For my Islaah-e-Qalb (self-reformation), I seek permission to correspond with Janaab and come to Thanabawan.”
This summary was not written by heart. I wrote it after looking at the original copy.
I only wrote the Hijri date on the letter. It was dated 23rd Jumaadal Awwal 1346 Hijri. Examining the calendar, it corresponds to 18th November 1927 AD.
