deprived of the Islamic knowledge and righteous company, neither do parents give Islamic upbringing to their children nor do children serve their parents.

In short! Lack of moral values has led to the destruction of our social and family life. Whereas, when we look into the blessed lives of our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی and the blessed Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُم, we learn that they used to show utmost respect towards their elders.

Respect of Peer-o-Murshid [spiritual guide]

‘Allamah Imam Abu Qaasim ‘Abdul Kareem Qushayri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه used to appear in the court of his Peer-o-Murshid (spiritual guide) observing great respect. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: ‘In my early days, whenever I would be privileged to go in the gathering of my Peer-o-Murshid (Sayyiduna Abu ‘Ali Daqqaaqرَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه), I would observe Sawm on that day and then perform the ritual bath. Only then would I gather the courage of going in the gathering of my Peer-o-Murshid. Many times it happened that I would reach the door of the Madrasah but would return out of shyness. If ever I would gather the courage and enter the Madrassah, then as soon as I would reach the middle of the Madrasah, then such a sensation would pass through my body that even if a needle was pierced through my body, I perhaps would not feel anything.’

(Ar-Risala-tul-Qushayriyyah, pp. 328)

Dear Islamic brothers! Have you seen how the people of the past era used to respect their Peer-o-Murshid? It was as if the respect of their Peer-o-Murshid was running in their veins. Their parables full of surprising acts of respect and devotion make us speechless thinking whether a Peer-o-Murshid could also be respected in such a manner as well? It is for this reason that they attain utmost blessings of their Peer-o-Murshid.

Remember! It is obligatory upon every disciple to show respect and reverence towards his Peer-o-Murshid. The respect of parents, teacher and elder brother has its own importance; but Peer-o-Murshid is that great personality by the virtue of whose company, one attains the mind-set of protecting his Iman, identifies corrupt beliefs, learns the purpose of life, has