Chosen Saints of God and the Bigoted Mullas — Page 28
The Sheikh then recited the Sayings and explained its meanings which he said Khwaja Sayyad Imam had told him. He further added that while the Holy Prophet sat listening to the songs, Hazrat Umar happened to come there and promptly stopped the girls from singing. At this the Holy Prophet said, "Do not stop the girls from singing. It is their festival today. . All the people have their festivals”. . When the Chief Mufti heard this Saying of the Holy Prophet he got into a rage and said, "What have thee to do with. Traditions and the Sayings of the Holy Prophet? Thou followeth. Imam Abu Hanifa. So let us have an evidence from Abu. Hanifa in your support”. . The Sheikh replied, "God alone is Holy. I have brought an evidence from our Master. But you want me to bring an evidence from his servant-a follower. Who is Abu Hanifa to supersede the Holy Prophet? How could I give preference to Abu Hanifa over his master the Holy Prophet? Those who prefer the saying of a follower over his master must fear from the curse of banishment. They could be punished by famine: and are in danger of their cities being laid waste and coming to ruins". . Hearing this, the Chief Mufti and Sheikhzada Farhaam, in order to excite the King and all those who were present, said, "We take refuge in God. This man has the audacity to belittle the Upholder of the Sharia (Abu Hanifa) and insult the Supporter of Abu Hanifa's Jurisprudence (the Chief Mufti). He says, 'Who is Abu Hanifa?' and only a few moments before this he had claimed to be a follower of Abu Hanifa". . The Mufti succeeded in exciting all the Ulemas (Mullas) who began shouting, "Oh! he is insulting Imam Abu Hanifa”. "This man is a backslider". "He is most insolent”. (Anwar-iAuliya: p. 297-8) (4) HAZRAT IMAM IBN-I-TIMIYA (born 661, died 728 H. ). . Imam Ibn-i-Timiya was a highly distinguished scholar and a very 28