Acquiring true religiosity
Hakeemul Ummat Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi ra said:
“It is from suhba (pious companionship) that deen (religion) is acquired.
I swear to it that deen can not be obtained from books!
Formal religious knowledge may be achieved via reading, but true religiosity can never be obtained without serving eagerly at the footsteps of a master.
Akbar (Allahbadi ra) who was a fine poet and his verses had wisdom in them, said
دین ہوتا ہے بزرگوں کی نظر سے پیدا
Awaj e Qanowj, page 82