Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) said: “I never stretched out my legs in the direction of my teacher Imaam Hammaad’s (rahimahullah) house, out of respect for him. This is despite the fact that there were seven side streets between my house and his house. Every salaah that I offered after Imaam Hammaad passed away, I sought forgiveness for him together with my parents. I certainly seek forgiveness for all those under whom I studied or all those who taught me something.”
Imaam Abu Yusuf (rahimahullah), the leading student of Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah), said: “I certainly supplicate for Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) even before I supplicate for my parents. And I heard Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah) saying: ‘I certainly supplicate for Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) together with my parents.’” (Risaalatul Mustarshideen pg. 203)
Lesson: One of the many great values which are nowadays becoming extinct is respect. Among the many forms of respect is showing respect to those who impart deen to us and are a means of us becoming more committed to the commands of Allah Ta‘ala. This includes the Aapa who taught us in the maktab, the Moulana who tutored us thereafter, the Imaam of our local musjid, every Aalim of deen or scholar of the past. No matter what strides we make in life, we will always be indebted to these individuals. How irrational it is that today a person does some “research” on the internet, watches a few You-Tube videos and then considers himself to be eligible to challenge scholars who have spent decades in learning and imparting deen.