By Mufti Ahmad Khanpuri
Edited by ‘Abd Allah bin Muhammad al-Afriqui
A summary of an ‘Ulama address by Mufti Ahmad Khanpuri (Allah protect at him) of Jami’ah Islamiyyah Dabhel at Madrasah Talim al-Din, Isipingo Beach on Sunday, 1 Sha’ban 1434; 9 June 2013.
We all take pride in linking ourselves to our akabir (elders) who had laid the foundations of the various dini (religious) works that we are involved in.
However, what is required of us is to see what were the sifat (qualities) that they possessed which enabled them to achieve success and progress. There were two outstanding qualities in their lives that are decreasing in our ‘ulama presently.
Narrated by Muhammad bin Abu Bakr al-Thaqafi; While we were going from Mina to ‘Arafat, I asked Anas bin Malik (Allah be pleased with him), about talbiyah, “How did you use to say talbiyah in the company of the Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace)?” Anas said: “People used to say talbiyah and their saying was not objected to and they used to say takbir and that was not objected to either.” (al-Tajrid al-Sarih, hadith 535)
Translator’s Foreword: In this era many young Deobandis, while claiming to love and follow the Akabir (elders), are falling prey to participating in those actions that the elders of Deoband frowned upon and which are considered contrary to their minhaj.
