aware of the situations the ordinary people face. When you leave after you have gained knowledge, you should always follow my advice which will improve your knowledge and protect it from faults. When you enter Basra, people will greet you and will come to see you. They will recognise your status you rightfully deserve; you should also show respect and honour to them in view of their rank and position. Show respect to the noble people, reverence to the knowledgeable people, veneration [i.e. honour and respect] towards the elders and affection towards the young ones. (Imam-e-A’zam ki Wasiyyatain, pp. 25-27)

Dear Islamic brothers! You have just heard that the great spiritual guide of hundreds of millions of followers of Hanafi school of thought, Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه advised his student to show respect towards the elders and affection towards the young ones. Remember! Those who show reverence towards the elders are also considered honourable in society. And sometimes, even big sinners are blessed with forgiveness for respecting elders.

Attained salvation due to respecting Waliyyullah (saint)

A sinner was once washing his hands and face, sitting at a riverbank. In the meantime, the great spiritual guide of millions of Hanbali Muslims, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه arrived there and sat at a short distance from him, making Wudu. When that person noticed that the water used by him was flowing towards a great blessed saint of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, he did not like it and sat where water used by Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was flowing towards him. 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 treated. He replied: By the blessing of showing respect to Sayyiduna Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has forgiven me. (Tazkira-tul-Awliya, vol. 1, pp. 196)

کروں عالموں کی کبھی بھی نہ توہین

بنا دے مجھے با اَدب یا اِلٰہی

Dear Islamic brothers! It is learnt that the act of disrespecting the elders results in our own loss and the act of respecting them results in our benefit. It