From the book 'Adab aur Ikhtilaaf-e-Rai' - Respect and Differences of Opinion, being a rendering of a speech delivered by the vice principal of Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband, Shaykh Muhammad Tayyib:
Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahimahullah) and Shaykh Ahmad Raza Khan Barelwi (rahimahullah)
I have witnessed the fact that Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahimahullah) differed on numerous subjects from Shaykh Amad Raza Khan Barelwi (rahimahullah). Their differences covered the topics of Qiyaam, Urs, Meelad etc. But in spite of this, whenever his name happened to be mentioned in a Majlis (gathering), he used to say, "Moulana Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib."
On one occasion an individual sitting in the Majlis mentioned his name without adding the title Moulana to his name saying, "Ahmad Raza Khan." Shaykh Thanwi (rahimahullah) became angry and scolded him saying, "He is an Alim after all in spite of the fact that there are differences of opinion between us, you are disrespecting the position he has been granted. How can this be correct? Differences of opinion is another matter altogether. It is a seperate issue that he considers me to be upon error pertaining to certain issues. What is the meaning of such condescension, such disrespect for him?"
Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi (rahimahullah) was among the Ahl-ul-ilm, the people of knowledge. If and when someone's name occurred he used to consider respect for that person to be necessary. Even if it was a person who bore absolute enmity towards him, he never allowed respect to leave his side.
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