Moulana Abdul Baari Nadwi (rahmatullahi alayh) was once seated in the gathering of Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahmatullahi alayh). The gathering was such that on Moulana Thanwi’s (rahmatullahi alayh) right the Ulama were seated, on his left were the mashaaikh and in the front of him was the general public. On that occasion Moulana Thanwi (rahmatullahi alayh) spoke on a topic that was very deep and delicate, due to which the entire gathering was struck motionless in astonishment. Moulana Nadwi (rahmatullahi alayh) noticed tears flowing from the eyes of the general public who were common laymen and it could be gauged from their faces that they were not literate.
Thus Moulana Nadwi (rahmatullahi alayh) asked the question: “Hazrat! We have failed to understand this that the topic you discussed was so deep that the Ulama with great difficulty understood it, but these laymen were so affected that tears flowed from their eyes. Today you have eliminated an incorrect perception that I harboured.”
Moulana Thanwi (rahmatullahi alayh) replied: “Man is affected by companionship and friendship. These people have love and faith in me. Thus in my gathering, such effects take place in their hearts that tears begin to flow from their eyes.”