Excerpts taken from Hazrat Shaykh Talha Qasmi Naqshbandi Damat Barkatuhum’s discourses:
This is the convocation ceremony, Allah says about the Ulama (Islamic scholars) those with knowledge and those without are not equal. Allah does not consider words as knowledge. There are numerous who can play with words (to mesmerize others) however Allah calls them uneducated. That which is considered knowledge is the light that comes in the heart. Sayyedina Imam Sha’fi (Rah) said to his tutor Imam Waki (Rah) , “Hazrat (revered) I forget lessons”. Imam Waki (Rah) gave an unusual advise, Imam Shafi (Rah) was a poet too and he narrates this entire incident in one of his poems
I said to my tutor Hazrat Waki Rahimahullah that I forget my lesson
Hazrat Waki Rahimahullah replied “leave sins”
This is because knowledge is Allah’s light and Allah’s light is not bestowed upon someone who sins. To learn words is done in the madrasa (Islamic institutions), the work of getting the light of that knowledge in the heart is done in Khanqah (place for spiritual reformation). Therefore, the name ‘divine connections of the blessed servants of Allah‘ is the amalgamation of Islamic schools and Khanqah.