Wasl Bilgrami and Qasdus Sabeel
It was September or October 1927 AD that this editor of Sach had just completed the draft of his paper when a journey to Safipur in the district of Anow in search of that Murshid came up. My travelling companion was Wasl Bilgrami Marhoom.
[Wasl Bilgrami was the Bishr Haafi during the time of Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat. He was an alcoholic who rehabilitated and became one of the most ardent devotees of Hazrat Thanwi, Rahmatullahi alaihim.]
On our return he spoke: “You have perspired much in search of a Murshid. Now try out our Moulana. You will forget about everyone else. If Thanabawan is far, Qasdus Sabeel, Tarbiyatus Saalik, etc. are by me. Read them.”
[Qasdus Sabeel is Hazrat Thanwi’s blueprint on the roads prescribed for different Saalikeen to reach the ultimate destination, whilst Tarbiyatus Saalik is Hazrat’s encyclopaedia on remedies for spiritual problems.]
“Haa!” I exclaimed. This ‘dry’ molvi has also written and authored something on Tasawwuf!!! Nevertheless, there is no harm in having a look, provided that the kitaabs are available somewhere.”
The next morning Wasl Saheb came to me with a whole bundle of kitaabs. After reading the kitaabs and closing them a whole new world dawned:
اب نہ کہیں نگاہ ہے ، اب نہ کوئی نگاہ میں
Now the gaze is not elsewhere; now no one else is in my gaze.
My ignorance reflected on my mirror. I realized that whatever I had hitherto read or heard or knew in this regard [that is Tasawwuf] was prattle. Today the reality of Tasawwuf and the definition of Tareeq for the first time came into my mind and heart.
With each line of Qasdus Sabeel the veils which were obscuring my vision were being lifted away. As I continued reading, I chided myself for not having read this before. Sixteen years is not a short time. To this day the revelation of my ignorance on that occasion is fresh in my mind.
