Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmani (may Allah lengthen his shadow over us) writes regarding Hadhrat Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya (may Allah enlighten his grave):

”This lowly one’s honourable father, Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Muhammad Shafi’ (may Allah sanctify his secret) had a special relationship with Hadhrat Shaykh (rh). Whenever he would visit Karachi, my respected father (rh) would take us brothers to him. In spite of his illness and preoccupations, it was impossible that Hadhrat (rh) would leave Karachi without having visited Darul ‘Uloom Korangi at least once. Then, even when he would be far away, he would write to my father (rh), and they would discuss many problems relating to society. And it was due to Hadhrat’s (rh) boundless compassion that he would, in every letter, mention my respected brother Hadhrat Mawlana Mufti Rafi’ sahib (may Allah lengthen his shadow over us) and this worthless one with great love. He would offer us precious advice and would counsel our respected father (may Allah sanctify his secret) with regards to our islah (spiritual rectification) and upbringing. 

He once arrived in Karachi at a time when my father (may Allah sanctify his secret) was bedridden. Due to heart problems he was unable to move. Hadhrat Shaykh al-Hadith (may Allah sanctify his secret) also had fever, and in spite of this, he did not break his habit of visiting Darul ‘Uloom. When he entered my respected father’s room (rh), my father tried to stand to meet him. However, Hadhrat (rh), said from his place:

Look Mufti sahib! It will not be good if you attempt to stand. The truth is that you are ill, and so am I. Neither of us have the strength to remain seated. I will lie down and we will remain in conversation while lying down.

Accordingly, Hadhrat (rh) lied down on a bed next to my father’s. Both elders remained in conversation for a long time in this state. Allahu Akbar! Where are such heart-penetrating portraits of simplicity, informality, spontaneity, sincerity and love to be seen in this day and age?”

Nuqoosh-e-Raftagan, Page 179 (Maktabah Ma’arif al-Qur’an Karachi)