care of people, establishing friendship with ordinary and special people and being aware of the situations the ordinary people. To the extent that when you leave after acquiring knowledge, then that advice (of mine) serves you as such a tool that is required by ‘ilm [knowledge], it beautifies ‘ilm [knowledge] and protects it from becoming faulty.’ (Then he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said): ‘When you enter Basra, people will greet and come to behold you. They will recognise your status you rightfully deserve; so you should respect them in view of their status. Dignify the noble people, honour the people with knowledge, respect the elders and be affectionate towards the young ones.’ (Imam-e-A’zam ki Wasiyyatain, pp. 25-27)

Dear Islamic brothers! You have just heard that while advising his student, the great leader of millions of Hanafis, Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه commanded him to respect the elders and be affectionate towards the young ones. Remember! The one respecting elders is not only considered to be honourable in the society but at times, even grave sinners are also blessed with forgiveness due to respecting the elders.

Attained forgiveness due to respecting a saint

Once, a sinner was sitting at a riverbank and washing his hands and face. In the meanwhile, the great leader of millions of Hanbalis, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه arrived there, sat at a short distance from him and started performing ablution [Wudu]. When that person noticed that the water used by him was flowing in the direction where a great saint of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ was sitting and performing ablution, he did not feel it to be appropriate and sat on the other side of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه where water used by him (Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه) was flowing towards him (the sinner).

How greatly he was rewarded for this blessed act of respecting a blessed saint of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! When he passed away, someone saw him in his dream and asked how he was dealt with. He replied: By the blessing of showing respect to Sayyiduna Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgave me. (Tazkira-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 196)