If Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah Khan Sahib (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) saw any piece of paper lying on the floor, he would immediately pick it up with respect and place it in some respectful place. Dr. Tanweer Ahmad Khan Sahib (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned that Hazratjee (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) used to say: “We must respect paper because it is a means of us attaining knowledge.”
In fact, the entire theme of his life was adab (respect). He used to often say: “Everything in this world is engaged in the zikr of Allah Ta‘ala. When something is making the zikr of Allah Ta‘ala then it is worthy of respect. Remember! Never throw anything down as this is contrary to adab.”[1]
A student once mentioned that Hazratjee (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) would not even throw or fling dirt into the bin. He would place it inside with utmost care saying: “This was a favour from Allah Ta‘ala which we enjoyed for some time. Now that there is no use for it, do not just throw it away. Instead place it in the bin in a respectful manner rather than just throwing it away.”
He would respect the children and grandchildren of his asaatizah. He would also respect anything that was linked to Madeenah Munawwarah and Makkah Mukarramah or anything related to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). In fact, Hazratjee’s adab and respect would reach out to as far as the pens, papers, inkpots and desks in his possession, as these were the means of attaining knowledge.
(Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah Khan Sahib [rahmatullahi ‘alaih] – A Brief Biography, pg. 122)
[1] One example of this is when one removes one’s shoes from the shoe rack in order to wear it. One should not throw one’s shoes down onto the ground. Rather one should respectfully place the shoes on the ground and then wear them.