Mention was made of a pious Shaikh who had become independent paying absolute regards to his personal opinions (zauq/dhauq)* and looking down on others who dared to differ.

An individual inquired,

‘I feel extremely anxious about this incident. It seems very dangerous. How can a person who had several years of islahi relationship fall like this? What can I do to safeguard myself from such disaster?’

Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani (Allah preserve him) replied,

‘It is good to be afraid. Anticipation of such calamity makes you more careful.

Never ever consider yourself to be anything.

Giving absolute preference to these personal (zauqi/dhauqi) opinions is sign of arrogance. Stay away from it.

Always consider yourself to be insignificant and remain under the close supervision of a pious Elder (Shaikh).

I heard multiple times from my respected father (Mufti Mohammad Shafi’, Allah have mercy on him) an individual who becomes independent (bi-dhzat) actually becomes absolutely corrupt (bad-dhzat).

Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) used to say that one should always keep himself under the supervision of senior pious Shaikh. However, when they are no more such individuals available than he should seek mentor-ship from the contemporary pious and eventually when they also cease to exist then one should not be ashamed to seek council from those who appear to be junior to himself. For only Allah knows in reality who is a senior or a junior (in level of proximity, piety, etc) .’

Walking towards Makkah Tower #2 from Bab Abdul Aziz, 3rd January 2012 after esha.

*Those issue which are controversial between the pious scholars. Some scholars consider them permissible whereas others advice to stay away from them.