Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in response to an irrelevant question of a spiritual aspirant;

“To ask such question is against the etiquette (adab).

Seeker (talib) has two commitments to fulfill (in regards to self reformation (islahi) correspondence with the Sheikh).

First, is to inform (the Sheikh) of his spiritual condition.

The other is to inquire about the actions to be performed.”

Tarbiyat us Salik, volume 1, page 99