"It is also narrated that another characteristic of Moulana was that he was very fond of little children and very old women; and gave extra thought to them, showing courtesy and love to them. He carried this practice towards everyone, irrespective of religious association or race or station in life; and treated them even with respect; for instance, once a very aged Christian Armenian woman crossed his path. Seeing her bent form, Moulana stopped and bared his head before her in respect, and bowed towards her seven times; whereupon the aged woman did the same towards the master sage.
"It is narrated also that Moulana used to show the utmost politeness to little children and old women, even if they were not of the faith, and used to bless them; thus it was that one day an Armenian by the name of Tumbal ('lazy') crossed his path, and Moulana showed a very respectful attitude towards him, and he saluted him seven times, so did Moulana an equal number of times.
"Likewise, it is narrated that one day Moulana was passing through a street, and saw a group of children there at play; who, seeing Moulana, ran up to him and saluted him, to which Moulana responded with affection. One small child seeing Moulana and not having joined the group, shouted that they might wait until he arrived. Moulana awaited the small urchin's convenience.
"People used to accuse Moulana of having strayed from the Right Path in his mystical practices; and strongly objected to the plays and song and music of his meetings; but to all these objections Moulana said nothing, and these objectors have disappeared from the scene of life as if they never have been; whereas the teachings of Moulana will remain to the end of Time.
"It is also narrated that, one day a disciple held a meeting of spiritual song in honour of Moulana; and Moulana, upon arriving at the gateway of his host, waited until everyone had entered, then Moulana entered the house; and the meeting was held with great effect and zest; and Moulana stayed the night at his host's house; who greatly rejoiced that such a Master had honoured him.
"The saintly Hisamuddin had asked why Moulana waited outside until everybody else had gone in; to which he replied that he did so because if he had gone in first, then the gatekeepers would have stopped others from entering the house out of respect to him.
"His poorer disciples would thus have been prevented from having access to him and profiting from his preaching and prayers. He added that if he could not get his poorer disciples entry into the houses of his rich disciples, how could he hope to gain admittance for such men with little material influence into paradise? What he actually meant was that in this life where materialism is predominant, men are measured according to their wealth and riches; and that men with less wealth if not admitted to his meetings because these men were poor, would be deprived of the blessings of prayer and devotion to be performed at his meetings and at which these poor men could not take a part — if they, thus, did not take part, it is obvious that their chances of admittance to paradise would be less. Moulana, therefore, gave a chance to these poorer elements of his fraternity to gain virtue by joining him in prayer and devotional audition-meetings; and waited for them to enter the hall of the rich man first, fearing that if he went in first, the door would be shut and the poorer people would not be allowed in. The disciples, appreciating the consideration given to the humblest of them by Moulana, thanked him greatly."
