During his stay at Darul Uloom Deoband for religious studies Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi requested Qutub e ‘Alam Mawlana Raseed Ahmad Gangohi (Allah have mercy on them) for bayaih (oath of allegiance to traverse the Sulook).

Mawlana Gangohi did not accept it. He considered (formal) spiritual involvement (that requires sincere dedication and time allocation) a distraction in acquisition of religious knowledge.

Ashraf us Sawanih, volume 1, page 236

The rules, like this one, are set by pious elders (akabir) based on their fruitful experiences. Ignoring them will be a great loss for the naive juniors.

It was only after graduation that he would accept such request.

A serious islahi ta’luq is encouraged and more beneficial during the period of study.