26. It is narrated that the practice of Imam Mahdi (AS) and his migrant-companions (RZ) was to go to the Jami' Masjid or Eid Gah (for preaching) briskly, without casting glances hither and thither, even if kings were coming behind them. And we (the author) have found the practice of the migrants (muhajir-followers) to be the same.

27. Imam Mahdi (AS) has said: "We have neither any work with anybody. Nor do we put any burden on anybody. Nor do we count anybody."

28. Imam Mahdi (AS) used to be very kind to the indigents (fuqara) in the daira and used to be very hospitable to them, as Allah has said: "And be gentle to the faithful who follow thee" (S. 26 : 215 SAL). Allah has again said: "... humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers..." (S. 5 : 54 MMP).

29. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) used to go to the houses of the seekers of Allah. Further, the migrants of Imam Mahdi (AS) used to go to the houses of each other; as Allah has said: "Muhammad (SLM) is the Apostle of Allah (SLM): and his comrades are stern towards the unbelievers, though full of tenderness among themselves. Thou mayst see them bowing (in prayer) touching the ground with their foreheads, imploring blessings from Allah and His approbation." (S. 48 : 29 SAL)

30. The way the venerated and aged people (of the group of Mahdavis) were indifferent to the rich among the conformable, is evidenced in this incident: one day in Khanbel, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) was standing near the banyan tree in front of the Jamaat Khana. Malik Fakhruddin, Malik Lateef and Malik Sharfuddin came to meet him. Every one of them severally touched the feet of Bandagi Miyan (RZ) with their foreheads. Bandagi Miyan (RZ) was indifferent. A few moments later, he lifted the heads of the visitors from his feet with his hands.

31. On many occasions, I (the author) have seen that, at the time of delivering the sermons, the rich people used to sit behind the brothers of the daira. But among them, the persons with understanding and the literates were asked to come forward and sit in the front rows, irrespective of whether they were indigents (faqirs) or the rich.

32. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) had said that the person with understanding should be called to sit in the front rows (during the delivery of sermons). The Imam (AS) himself used to call such people to occupy the front rows and used to ask the brothers of the daira to make room for such people. This author was present on many such occasions. Allah has said: "O ye who believe! When ye are asked to make room in your assemblies (for fresh-comers), then make ye room. Allah will give you ample room. Likewise, when ye are asked to rise up, then rise ye up..." (S. 58 : 11 SAL)

33. It is narrated that one day in Jalor, Haider-ul-Mulk came to the congregation where a sermon was being delivered on Quran after the Asr (late afternoon) prayers one day; neither any of the brothers of the daira nor his own employees got up on his arrival to receive him cordially, nor did anybody ask him to come near. He sat down a little distance away from the group of audience. When the prayer call (azan) was made at the time of sun-set (Maghrib) prayers, he came within the lines (saf) of the worshippers when everybody stood up for prayers, said his prayers in the congregation, and while he was going home, some of his kin and employees went to salute him. He took them to task for not honouring him when he came, saying: "You are my employees. Why did you not honour me?" Apologetically, they said: "Believe it to be true, that the greatness of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) had so overwhelmed our hearts that we could not come round to honour you." After this, he rebuked Miyan Aman Khojan (RZ), saying: "You are my kin, and you are taking your salary from me, but even you did not get up to honour me. How will you get your salary now?" After this, Miyan Aman (RZ) did not go to the house of Haider-ul-Mulk ever after this incident. He did not even salute Haider, who often sent the salary to the house of Miyan Aman (RZ), who refused to receive it and returned it. This author was present during the episode.

34. One day, a brother of the daira told Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) that Miyan Aman (RZ) goes with Miyan Hasan Bhatti beyond the limits of the daira. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) politely (as an elderly person advising a junior) rebuked him: " One should not be so courteous to the rich people." Miyan Aman (RZ) said: "We are not courteous for the sake of bread." Bandagi Miyan (RZ) asked: "Does a servant of Allah become courteous (to the rich) for the sake of bread?" Then he added: "This servant of Allah tells you to get employed, but do not be courteous to the rich. Hold me responsible even if you suffer a worldly loss. Be indifferent to the worldly people and others and do not ask for anything from them." (It may be mentioned here that) Miyan Hasan Bhatti was the father of Miyan Ali, a relative of Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) and a muafiq (sympathiser) of Imam Mahdi (AS).

35. It is reported by Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) that Imam Mahdi (AS) had said a number of times that people are such that they bring a salik (seeker of Allah) down to earth from high heavens. When they see that the salik does not become attentive to them by their opposition, they fully conform (muwafiqat) with him. And when they celebrate a function at their home, they go to the salik and beseech him " to come to the tasmiah-khwani of the son of this slave of yours. When your exalted self steps on the floor (of the house), your foot is not on the floor but it is on the head and eyes of this slave." The salik makes many excuses to avoid the visit. The person, who invites, makes humble entreaties to the salik and says: "How can the tasmiah-khwani be celebrated unless your good self comes for the function?" The salik willy-nilly goes (under compulsion) to his house. A few days later, somebody else comes with a similar invitation and he also makes similar humble entreaties and says: " Your good self had gone to the house of so-and-so and we are not worse than him. If your good self were to auction us in the village, we would willingly be sold." The salik, perforce, goes to the house of the second person who invites. After that, everybody invites the salik to his house. Thus, Imam Mahdi (AS) said, the salik begins to think that all these people had become submissive and obedient to him and no work of theirs would be accomplished without him. However, he does not understand that he (the salik) had himself become submissive and obedient to them. He thus goes from door to door. He abandons his abode of seclusion and goes from house to house. He is now afraid that the people would become annoyed if he did not go to their houses and that they would give up meeting him.

36. Know it for certain that Imam Mahdi (AS), his son Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ), Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ), Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) and Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) were not happy in going to the houses of the sympathisers or the opponents to join their feasts or for any other worldly purpose. When others went to the houses of such people, they were rebuked sternly. Some such people were often expelled from the daira.

37. If you ask me (the author), I can cite numerous such instances. Many of the revered elders have abstained from going to the houses even of the muwafiqeen (sympathisers).

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