EARLY CIRCUMSTANCES

~ 15 ~ career which will convey the hardship that he experienced in taming this unyielding nation. Once, during one of his preaching missions, Maulana Ilyas put his hand lovingly on the shoulders of a Mewati, only to have him fly into a rage and shout at him. “If you ever touch me with your hand again, I’ll give you a good beating.” The cool and calm Maulana immediately bent to his feet saying, “You did not forbid me to touch your feet, did you?” Similarly, once, when he was impressing upon a Mewati the importance of leading a religious life, the Mewati, instead of paying heed to the message, dealt him a hard blow. The Maulana was so frail physically that he collapsed. When he regained consciousness, he got up and caught hold of his assailant’s shirt. “You have done your job,” he said, “now listen to me!” Here was someone who, instead of taking revenge, asked only the favour of being listened to with patience. The Mewati was touched. He fell at his feet and begged his forgiveness saying that if he were not to be forgiven, he should be eternally condemned.