Mufti Zaheerul Islaam (rahmatullahi alaih) described Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi Sahib’s (rahmatullahi alaih) punctuality.
He says, “I joined Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alaih) in September 1956 and remained with him until April 1960. Thereafter, I began teaching at several institutions but in all those years, I never saw Hadhrat change his routine in any way.”
Madrasah commenced at 6:30 a.m. daily. Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alaih) would enter the classroom promptly at 6:00 a.m. Never did the changing of the seasons or even any valid excuse affect his routine in any way.
In 1365 A.H., Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alaih) moved to Deoband. He ensured that even on his last day at the Madrasah he completed his time. If Hadhrat was delayed from class for a legitimate reason, or he had to speak to someone during class hours, or someone came to ask amas’alah, or someone arrived requesting du`aas, or if someone came to make mashwarahwith him, he would calculate the number of minutes utilised in this way and would record it in his diary. It was his habit that whenever he went to receive his salary he would take this diary with him. He would calculate the time in hours and days not used for the madrasah. Thereafter, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alaih) would repay that amount of his salary back to the madrasah although this directive did not come from the authorities.
Madrasah classes ended at 11:00 a.m. All the asaatizah would leave their classrooms at this time but Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alaih) would remain in class until 1:00 p.m. Thereafter, he would have meals and rest for a while. Zuhr Salaah was at 3:00 p.m. and classes commenced again at 3:15 p.m.
Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alaih) would complete his Zuhr sunnats and proceed straight to the classroom. He continued with lessons until someone informed him that salaah was about to commence. Asr was at 5:30 p.m. He would only stop teaching just before this time and join the salaah. He would never leave the classroom to relieve himself during lessons but would make all the necessary preparations beforehand. He would also never leave the class to fulfil any of his personal obligations during the madrasah time.
He always advised those asaatizah who were close to him to adhere strictly to the madrasah times and regard every minute as an amaanah.
(Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi (rahmatullahi alaih), his life and works p. 55)