Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said:

‘I tell you* what I have learnt in my whole life to be the end result of this path (tariqat).

It is annihilation (fana) and servant-hood (abdiyet).

Therefore, one must annihilate himself as much as possible.

All the spiritual exercises (riyadath) and struggles (mujahida) are done to achieve this.

One should spend his whole life trying to attain this annihilation and servant-hood.’

Basair e Hakim al Ummat ra, page 208

* This was stated on request of Allamah Sayyid Suleman Nadwi (Allah have mercy on him) on his first visit to Thana-Bhawan.