Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah was a special student of Hadrat Maulana Asghar Hussein Saheb Rahimahullah. Due to them enjoying an extremely close relationship, they were very informal in their discussions.
One day Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah told Hadrat Maulana Asghar Hussein Saheb Rahimahullah, “You repair your house on a yearly basis, as a result of which you experience difficulty, and you have to incur expenses as well. If you get it fixed properly, then you will not have to repeatedly experience such difficulty.” (The houses were made of mud and due to heavy rains the mud plastering would be washed away.)
Hadrat Maulana Asghar Hussein Saheb Rahimahullah was an extremely tolerant and big-hearted person. On hearing this, he praised Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah and expressed his happiness saying, “You advised me very intelligently. I spent my entire life here, yet these thoughts never occur to me.”
Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah says, “He repeated this statement again and again, resulting in me feeling ashamed. I then said, “Do tell me, why didn’t you build a proper structure in spite of having the financial ability of doing so? Please explain the reality to me!”
Hadrat Maulana Asghar Hussein Saheb Rahimahullah avoided the answer initially but when Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah insisted then he held the hand of Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah and took him to the door (of the house) and said, “Look to your right and left! Do you see any solid structures?” Hadrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah replied in the negative. Then Hadrat Maulana Asghar Hussein Saheb Rahimahullah said, “If all the homes in the area are mud homes, then how can I build a solid home and be outstanding (from the rest?) I didn’t prefer to be outstanding from the rest of the neighbourhood, hence I refrained by building a solid structure.”
How much did they consider the feelings of other human beings! How much did they care for their neighbours! Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “None of you can be a true believer until you love for your brother that which you love for yourself.” We, as followers of the master, should be considerate of others and their feelings, particularly when a huge portion of the Ummah is experiencing financial constraints and difficulties. Adopt a life of simplicity in line with the Sunnah of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, for verily simplicity is from Imaan.
Published by: Darul Ifta Ibn Masood Publication Department Address:- 15 Carbis Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa, Mobile:- 084 584 2198, mailto:- iftapmb@gmail.com, Website:- fataawa.co.za
