The Eternal Journey

The Eternal Journey M aulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (1859-1943) was on his way to Azamgarh by train. A railway guard, who was a disciple of his, came to meet him at a station. Just then a villager appeared and presented the Maulana with a bundle of sugarcane. The gift was accepted, and the Maulana asked one of his companions to have it weighed, and book it in the luggage compartment. “There is no need to have it booked,” the guard volunteered; “I’ll speak to the guard on this train. He will look after it.” “But the guard will only accompany this train,” the Maulana replied, “And I am going on further.” The guard thought that Maulana Thanawi would be changing trains at some station. “Never mind,” he said. “I will tell the guard to inform the guard on the next train. You won’t have to bother about it.” “But I am going on still further,” the Maulana repeated. Astonished, the guard asked: “Where are you going? You told me a moment ago you were going to Azamgarh.” Maulana Thanawi remained silent for a moment or two, and then replied: “I am going on to eternity. Which guard will accompany me there?” The same is true, not only of rail journeys, but of all matters in life. Every affair should be looked at in its eternal context. A “guard” may give someone temporary support in this world, but when he reaches the next world, there will be no one to lend a helping hand. If he keeps in mind that he is on the way to the hereafter, then he will consider everything which will become