Some Stories

Hazrat Maulana Qasim Nanotwi Rahimahullah used to work initially in the Ahmadi Press in Meerut.This press was established by his Ustaz,Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Ali Saheb Rahimahullah.It was his job to correct manuscripts and it was during the time that he was thus occupied that he laid the foundations of darul Uloom,Deoband.At first,Hazrat used to work and at the same time supervise the work at Darul Uloom.As the Madresa grew,he became so involved in teaching and in the management of the Madresa that he had to leave his work in Meerut and applied himself fully to the supervision of Darul Uloom.However,it is noteworthy that throughout the whole period of lecturing,teaching and rectorship of Darul Uloom,he never accepted any form of salary for his labours(SAWANIH-E-QASMI p.536).

Similarly,Syaikhul Hind Hazrat Maulana Mahmoodul Hasan,Hazrat Maulana Asyraf Ali Thanwi and Hazrat Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri Rahimahumullah all used to teach and lecture in early stages and later stopped teaching as a full-time occupation.Hazrat Maulana Syed Hussain Ahmad Madani Rahimahullah,on the other hand,he used to accept a salary until the end.But so many people,visitors and guests used to be fed in his house daily and so much used to be given by him in charity,his complete salary used to be utilized for that.My late uncle,Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandahlawi Rahumahullah also used to work for salary in Saharanpur before moving to Delhi to settle there.Once he said to me:"Many times have I started some form of business and many times I bought some sheep in company with some Meerutees,but always their total could not reach one hundred,thay died.So in the end,I was forced to leave the business field."Even our Nabi Sal'am used to be a shepherd for the people of Makkah for a salary of a few qeerat.He also managed the business of Sayyedah Khadijah ra;before the advent of his prophethood,but becoming a Messenger of Allah,he stopped that work.Nabi Moosa as.herded the sheep of Nabi Syuaib as.for a number of years for compensation(see Durr-e-Manthur where it is reported that someone asked Imaamul Mufassirin,Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas ra;"Which of the two periods(in which he had to choice)if eight years or ten did Nabi Moosa as.complete(according to the agreement with Nabi Syuaib as. as a shepherd)?".Ibnu Abbas ra.replied:"The period which seemed better and more complete(ten years)"(Fadhail e Tijarat)