handed over to him. Once the caliph invited him and during the feast the caliph said putting forward the halvah of almonds and pure ghee and nice Faloodah: O Imam! Eat this halvah. It is not easy for us to get such halvah prepared everyday. Having heard this Imam Abu Yusuf رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه recalled the words of Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and started smiling. When the caliph asked he replied: My respected teacher Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said to my mother years ago: This son of yours will eat the halvah of almonds and pure ghee and Faloodah. Today the statement of my respected teacher has come true. He then related the whole event of his childhood to the caliph so he became very surprised and said: Undoubtedly knowledge definitely benefits and makes a person attain great status in the world and the Hereafter.

(‘Uyoon-ul-Hikayaat, pp. 278; summarized)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب              صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! This parable contains many Madani pearls for us. It has also been understood that pious saints can see the events that will take place in the future by virtue of their intelligence and wisdom. The special attention of a good teacher makes a person something very special. Further, it has also been learnt that Islamic knowledge brings about success in the world and the Hereafter both. Even renowned worldly people do not attain the status and rank which the devotees of knowledge easily attain. Therefore, we should not only gain Islamic knowledge ourselves, but we should also provide Islamic knowledge to our children for their good upbringing.

Remember! After death no other thing will help but righteous deeds. Wealth, bank balance, beautiful buildings, big cars, worldly status and rank all will be left here, nothing out of them will go into the grave with the dead. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘When a person dies, all his deeds are discontinued except for three deeds – (1) Sadaqah Jaariyah (permanent source of Divine reward) (2) the knowledge from which benefit is obtained and (3) righteous children who make Du’a for him.’

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 886, Hadees 1631)