Also among them are those who seek funds from people through their sermons and orations wearing the garb of scholars. They hunt for their prey. They exhort others to follow the path of piety and righteousness but forget their own selves and think that this is the way of the wise. They do not consider the affairs of religion with a logical approach and never reflect on the basis of principles based on deep insight, nor do they follow the path of research. You will find them like animals, or even like inanimate objects. They make a show of piety and kindness as if they had been embellished with the traits of prophethood or saintliness, but whenever they see that their apparent gentle demeanour is not resulting in the desired outcome, they turn instead to uttering abuse and raising objections. They brand the godly men as sinful, excommunicating the pious. They label great saints as heretics and consider the enlightened to be ignorant, even though they themselves are ignorant and illiterate. They have no knowledge of what Islam is. They try to abase the learned people from their station, under the illusion that they themselves are great scholars. In their field of view, they seek only those who, after listening to their words, will fill their saddle bags. They go out at daybreak with the firm intention of finding someone who will benefit them financially. They frighten the general public with their admonishing sermons, but despite their sermonising, they themselves do not fear God. Through their poetry they earn platitudes in multiple gatherings, but then end their recitals by presenting their needs and destitution before the people, assuaging their anxious preoccupation with dirhams and dinars. They saunter into the presence of noblemen and masquerade as great scholars blessed by the Almighty God with abundant knowledge of the Holy Quran and Hadith. People seek from them all kinds of guidance to counter the mischief and trickery of Christian missionaries. They present themselves as if they are protectors of the Faith: among those who spend their wealth and efforts in the way of religion for the sake of the Almighty Lord; as if they are among those whose only preoccupation is to deliver sermons admonishing others to discharge their duties, guiding people and quenching their thirst. They say that it is not their habit to debase themselves in front of everyone by presenting their needs to them. In this manner it is they themselves who speak with trickery. Often-times a nobleman will set aside a stipend for them or, when he sees them crying like beggars, give them some money. There is no doubt that these ‘scholars’ have crossed all limits in their exaggerations and have become impudent due to their arrogant way of thinking. They insist on their ignorant ways, and they have coloured the people in the hue of their falsehoods. Their ignorance has crossed all limits and their arrogance has destroyed the people. When they make a promise, they break it; when they are angry, they use foul language; and when they speak, they lie. Their arrogance resulted in them setting an appalling example, and their frivolous behaviour has severely damaged the Faith. As people became aware of the inner reality of these ‘scholars’ who are steeped in sins and debauchery, the hearts of the people hardened. They commit sin with such audacity as if they are invisible to God Who is All-Knowing, All-Seeing. Their steps have faltered, and their quills have ruined the people. They have become corrupted and their pure water has become polluted. Despite their excessive sins, they are not ashamed. They hope for a harvest without sowing any seeds, and they do not follow the paths of guidance. They do not show kindness to anyone except if it is for showing off. Although people of previous generations exhibited similar evil inclinations, none were as bitter in their persecution. Allah arouses them but they slumber on heedlessly. The truth tugs at them but they keep pulling away. They have built up prejudices due to various forms of ignorance, and they do not listen to the truth, as if they were isolated in a cave. They possess neither insight nor reason. They do not even realise that Satan has attacked them; hence he has entered into their veins and arteries and incited his helpers against them. They cannot tolerate hearing even a word of the Truth. It causes them to go into a frenzy as though they will burst with rage, jumping about like a flea and breathing as though they are in sweltering heat. They stare angrily at anyone who dares disagree with them, even if he was a close friend of their elders. You will find that for the sake of this wretched world, their resolve is very high. And when it comes to the basest desires their eyes are razor sharp. However, when they are faced with the matter of guarding the Faith, their fire burns out and their fervour grows cold. They are very flattering towards the rich, even if they be engaged in false innovations and sin, associating with them in order to feast on roasted venison and bread made from refined flour; not a word escapes their lips in contradiction to these people; they mingle with them merrily, as water mingles with wine, and happily extend their hands to shake theirs. In short, they try to please the government and its officials through various serpentine means, and bow down before everyone who is in a position of power, and do not take them to task. But as far as the poor and the weak are concerned, they are trampled under their feet and excommunicated by their pens. However, they remain oblivious to the heresy of anyone from whom they expect money or the removal of any difficulty. They do not ask who he is and just say, “Sir, you have surpassed all and sundry in terms of your countless abilities”. They seek ways to meet them and beseech that the closed doors be opened for them. And they do not leave that place until they have seen them. And when they do meet them, they bow down in greeting and speak humbly. These are the same evil religious scholars who were cursed by the tongue of the Holy Prophet sas. They seek the goods of this world and do not care for the hereafter. They have preferred the worldly life and have despaired of the Day of Judgement.
The long and short of it is that they are a people who employ every means to fill their vessel to the brim and dig every land wherein water may be found. In large gatherings they prey upon people through their lamentations. In fact, their poverty has further increased the effect of their lamentations. The only thing that ignites their eyes is greed which has melted them like wax, so they have wasted their lives away worrying about their livelihood and Satan has made them oblivious of the hereafter. Wherever they spy a prey, they set the trap of sermon and admonition. They only follow the agenda which they have hidden in their hearts, and that is to obtain money through fraud and deceit and fill the bellies of their children. They search for those who would cry and invite them to their gatherings so that they can use them like kindling. Even if a prostitute offers them money and presents to them the unlawful, and not the lawful, they accept it, and due to their care for this carrion, they do not raise any questions about it being unlawful. You will observe that their sons follow in their path and relate the same tales. Their hearts have become similar to those of their astray ancestors, with the exception of a few godly ones. The piety of heart has not even touched them. Allah has taken away their knowledge, so nothing is left in their hearts except the darkness of sin. There are those among them who know nothing of being a dervish and are unaware of the station of sainthood, and yet they are convinced that they are godly men following the right path. You will see that most of them experiment in the path of asceticism and righteousness. They only seek to create disorder and to mix false innovations with the Shariah. They have nothing in their hands except their claims of belonging to a family chain of godly men. If we examine this state of affairs with justice, then we can only conclude these afflictions are like shackles. Satan has stolen the light from their hearts and in its place deposited arrogance, pride and adulation. He has made their actions look virtuous in their own eyes, and hence they prefer pride and act impetuously. They are very happy when people come to them, and are beside themselves with glee when their companions shower praise upon them. They love to be praised for what they have not done, and desire that their sins are not called sins, even if they were to commit crimes. This is what has incited them to wilful blindness, barred them from accepting the truth, and made them lose their way in the wilderness. They show great zeal in matters of this wretched world, but fall down like the dead when faced with religious campaigns. They do not rise wholeheartedly for the tasks that have been ordained for them; whereas for their inciting self they stand firm like a clever and determined person. They devour anything that conforms to their base desires, even if it is from the hands of [Christian] missionaries; and they do not accept that which runs counter to their desires even if it is from their own ancestors. They know nothing about truth and cognition and have introduced a plethora of innovations in their words and deeds.