A seeker presented a letter to sayyidi wa sanadi Shaikh Mufti Mohammed Taqi Usmani (Allah protect & preserve him) in which he sought advice regarding some worldly matter.

Shaikh excused himself, saying Hakim al Umma Thanwi (Allah have mercy on him) would excuse himself from offering advice related to worldly matters. He would say that you can ask me whether something is permissible or impermissible in Shariah, but don’t ask me whether I should do this or that.

Shaikh related that once someone asked him for advice and, with many related details and conditions. Advice was given to him. This individual later went around telling people that I am doing this with Shaikh’s orders, to the extent that he said the same to Shaikh himself, i.e. I did this with your explicit command.

Soon after, Shaikh clarified to this seeker (who presented the letter), probably to allay his fear that his Shaykh is displeased with him, that this reply does not mean that I am angry with you, rather advice regarding these matters requires detailed knowledge about the matter, the individual’s temperament, preferences, etc, so I’m not in a position to give correct advice.

Ramadan 1439, malfuzaat collated by Br KaiserNizamani #5