books he was studying. Due to this constant hard work, his eyes were affected. One day, he was engaged in scholarly work in the afternoon but decided to perform ghusl because of the intensely hot weather. As soon as he poured water over his head, he felt as if something fell from his head and entered his eye.

The imam visited an optician, and after a thorough examination, the optician said, “Your eyes have become dry because of your reading. Do not read anything for 15 days.” Thousands of people sought religious verdicts and solutions to religious issues from the great imam. The doctor advised him not to read, but he could not leave his books for 15 minutes, let alone 15 days! Anyhow, when an herbal medicine expert examined the eye, he said, “There are signs of water damaging your eyes. Allah forbid, this could lead to cataracts after 20 years.”

This would be a matter of concern for us, but Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān could not leave his books. If he stopped reading and writing, who would guide the ummah? But if he continued, his vision was at risk of deteriorating. اللہُ اَکْبَر In difficult times, who does a true devotee of the Prophet turn to? سُبْحٰنَ اللہ In this world, there is one court of mercy in which we take refuge.    

The Reviver of Islam, the Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه took refuge in the court of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He also recalled the following hadith: “Whoever sees an afflicted person and recites, اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْ عَافَانِیْ مِمَّا ابْتَلَاکَ بِہٖ وَفَضَّلَنِیْ عَلٰی کَثِیْرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفْضِیْلًا - he shall be saved from that affliction.”^[1]

The imam saw someone suffering from cataracts and recited this dua, making his heart relaxed.