is the saying of an Arabic poet: ‘مَاوَصَلَ مَنْ وَصَلَ اِلَّا بِالْحُرْمَۃِ وَمَاسَقَطَ مَنْ سَقَطَ اِلَّا بِتَرْکِ الْحُرْمَۃِ’ Whatever a person attained, is only due to virtue of showing respect and whatever a person lost, lost only due to not showing respect.

Undoubtedly, those who respect their elders from the bottom of their hearts are considered honourable and eminent in society. People begin to show devotion towards them and their admirers keep increasing and after all there is a time when those show respect towards the elders become dignified and distinguished in the world. Our teachers are also included in our elders. Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی used to show great respect and reverence towards their teachers, and in the presence of their teachers they would remain silent and would continue learning and some would show such a deep reverence for their teachers that they would not give ruling in the lifetime of their teachers as they consider it their disrespect. In this connection, let’s listen to two parables:

Halqah Dars of Imam Husayn

Appreciating the gathering of Islamic teachings of Sayyiduna Imam Husayn  رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ said to a Qurayshi: Go to Masjid-un-Nabawi, there you will see people sitting with utmost respect and concentration as if birds are sitting on their heads. Learn that this is the gathering of Sayyiduna Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. Further he  رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ commented: This gathering will be absolutely free from jokes and fun. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 14, pp. 79)

Similarly, when anyone would ask any question to Sayyiduna Sahl Bin ‘Abdullah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would not reply. Once he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه suddenly sat leaning his back against the wall and said to the people: Ask me today whatever you want. People humbly said: What is the matter today? You did not tend to answer any question. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: It was due to the respect of my teacher, ‘Sayyiduna Zunnoon Misri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه’ I used to avoid answering the question until he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was alive. People were greatly surprised to listen to him, because, as per their knowledge, Sayyiduna Zunnoon Misri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was still alive. Anyhow, upon this reply, date and