Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Uthmani (Daamat Barakaatuhum) writes regarding their father Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shafee` Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh):

“Our honourable father had an inherent aversion for quarrels and disputes. As long as there was no genuine Shar`ee need he never engaged himself in any type of dispute in order to secure a personal right. I cannot recall the innumerable occasions when he forfeited his personal valuable rights merely for the sake of avoiding a dispute. He would very often quote the Hadeeth of Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in relation to this:

أنا زعيم ببيت في وسط الجنة لمن ترك المراء و هو محق

I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for that person who leaves out disputing despite being correct.

In the light of his practice on the above mentioned hadeeth a very amazing incident had transpired (in connection to a land that was allotted for Darul Uloom Karachi – to be mentioned in the next issue).

Besides this, it is unknown as to how many people deceived him in his personal dealings. Many had tried to bring up cases against him. There were those who attempted to defame him through newspapers and the media. However, in the face of all these incidents he never resorted to the tactics that are nowadays adopted when replying to such propaganda. Instead, in most cases he relinquished his right and came out of the predicament. He always avoided any type of confrontation and dispute irrespective of whether it related to academic issues or a discussion with people of opposing ideologies. He would quote the statement of one of the pious (perhaps it was Imaam Zuhri Rahmatullahi Alayh):

المراء يذهب بنور العلم

Disputes eliminate the noor (light) of knowledge.

The daughter of Hadhrat Mufti Shafee` Sahib (Rahmatullahi Alayh) writes:

“Once whilst still in Deoband, he purchased a plot to build a home. After the commencement of the construction some of the neighbours approached him and said that a portion of the land belonged to them since their drainage went through it. However, according to the municipal title deeds and the various records they had no right to the land and the land entirely belonged to my father. However, in order to avoid any type of quarrel he handed over to them that part of the land which they had laid a claim to which resulted in the building that was being constructed to be restricted in size. However, he preferred having a restricted home instead of quarrelling. Nevertheless, after some time these neighbours came back to him and offered to sell that part of the land to him. He accepted the offer, paid them for that land and then extended the home.” (Al Balaagh – Mufti A`zam Number, vol. 1, p. 466/ vol. 2, p. 1068)