*Malfoozat (Sayings) of Hakeem-ul-Ummat Mujaddid-ul-Millat Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah Alaih)*
*Safety lies only in staying close to the elders (spiritual mentors)*
He stated: Today a letter arrived. It was written: "I wish to fast for forty days purely for the sake of Allah's pleasure, and to stay in a place where no one comes." The answer given to this was that two things hinder it: first, unbearable hardship, and second, fame (publicity); this should be considered. Then he said: What is even the need for this? I do not know why people detest creation (other human beings)? Is anyone going to consume them? The result of this will be that they will become famous as a 'pious elder' who is undergoing a forty-day spiritual seclusion (Chilla), and this is a great trial (Fitnah). Once, a certain Maulana said to me: "I wish to live in an unknown place where no one recognizes me." I replied: "What is the need for that? Who even recognizes you while living with your elders? If you live separately, you will become famous as a great saint, which is a huge trial. True wellbeing lies only in lying at the feet of your elders."
