Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)Al-Baz-al-Ashhaab
Al-Ghaus-ul-Azam Part 1
Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u
ta'ala anhu)- also known as al-Ghaus-ul-Azam or the Supreme Helper, Sultan-ul-Awliya,
Qutb-ul-Azam, Piran-e-pir( the Pir of Pirs), Mehboob-e-Subhani (the one who is
the Beloved Of ALLAH (SWT)), Sayyedina 'ash-Shaykh (Our Master, the Sheikh),
Muhy-ud-din( Reviver of the religion), Al-Baz-al-Ashhaab (The Gray Falcon)- are
amongst a few of titles and honorifics bestowed upon this legendary saint- who
is blessed to be a Hassani-Hussaini Sayyed.
But first mention of Huzoor Sheikh Sayyed Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) - the Sultan-ul-Awliya
would be incomplete without the mention of Imam-ul-Awliya-Sayyedina
Amir-ul-Momineen-Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) and
mention of Imam-ul-Awliya is incomplete without mentioning about Sarkar-e-do
aalam-Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Beloved Prophet (PBUH) ,Maula Ali (AS) & Tasawwuf
The roots of tasawwuf lie embedded in Islam itself. There are numerous passages
in the Qur'an al-karim which are of a mystical character. The Beloved Messenger
of ALLAH Salla ALLAH –u- ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam himself displayed
mystical inclinations and he very often retired to the cave known as Hirah for
the purpose of devotions,
meditation and contemplation. The Beloved of ALLAH - Salla ALLAH u ta’ala 'alayhi
wa 'aalihi wa Sallam- was the recipient of two types of revelations, one
embodied the Qur'an al-karim, and the other illuminated his heart. The former
was meant for all, the latter for those selected few whose hearts could be
illuminated with the Divine Light. The knowledge of the Beloved Messenger of
ALLAH - Salla ALLAH u ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam- was thus both book
knowledge (Ilm-i-Safina) and heart knowledge (Ilm-e-Sina).
Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) received his heart
knowledge from the Beloved Prophet- Salla ALLAH u ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa
Sallam. It is related that after the Ascension, the Beloved Messenger of ALLAH -
Salla ALLAH u ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam- awarded a mantle to Sayyedina
Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) which led to the illumination of
his heart.
Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) was endowed with all
the qualities that make a man great. He was not only great; he was regarded as a
superman, an ideal man. He was the paragon of virtue. He enjoyed fame for his
piety and religious devotions. He was the embodiment of Islamic values.
In his love of God and His Beloved Messenger- Salla ALLAH u ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi
wa Sallam, he was second to none. When praying to God, his absorption was so
intense that he often lost consciousness. His mind was so sure that he could
hold communion with God. He had learned the Noble Qur'an by heart, and he could
quote appropriate verses to suit every occasion. He was most truthful and
honest. He was most humble. He was simple in his habits. He avoided display and
luxury. He lived the life of an ascetic. Even when he was Caliph he lived in an
ordinary house. The door of his house remained open to everyone at all times. He
was most generous. He was most liberal in giving charity. He always came to the
help of those who were distressed and involved in any difficulty. He looked
after widows and orphans as if they were members of his own household.
Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) was the most learned
man of the age. He was a living encyclopedia of knowledge. The Beloved Prophet
Salla ALLAH u ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said,
"I am the City of Knowledge, verily Ali is the Gate of it."
He was the first person to have learned the Qur'an al-karim by heart. He
possessed a prodigious memory and he was a keen observer; he was a deep thinker;
he had an enlightened mind and he carried a vast storehouse of knowledge in his
brain. He was a versatile genius and he exhibited extraordinary talents in all
disciplines of knowledge. He was a master of philosophy and rhetoric. He was a
distinguished poet. He was a great teacher and preacher. His knowledge extended
to such disciplines as logic, mathematics, physics, astronomy, medicine and
history.
Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) held that the principal
aim of knowledge was the inculcation of virtue, promotion of faith, and
understanding of God. He held that knowledge enlivens the soul, for it kills
ignorance. He defined knowledge as the sum total of excellence. He held that the
pursuit of knowledge is better thanthe pursuit of riches, that knowledge is the
ornament of the rich and the riches of the poor and that knowledge is better
than riches. He held that the learned live even after their death. He maintained
that the learned were the living ones in the dead mass of ignorance. He observed
that to respect the learned was to respect God. With regards to the respect of
the teacher, he held that one who teaches you a letter binds you with the fetter
of gratitude. He maintained that the talk of the learned man carried within it
the fragrance of the garden of Paradise.
'Amir al-Momineen' (Leader of the Faithful) Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU
wajha-hul-kareem), is acclaimed as the father of Sufism [tasawwuf]. Most Sufi
orders claim their descent from Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU
wajha-hul-kareem).
According to 'Data Ganj Baksh'; UTHMAN 'ALI AL-HUJWIRI [d.469H] Radi ALLAH u
ta'ala anhu, the rank of Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem)
is very high in the lineage of Sufis. According to Sayyed-u-ta’aifa Hazrat
JUNAYD AL-BAGHDADI [d.298H] Radi ALLAH u ta'ala anhu, Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU
wajha-hul-kareem) is the Shaykh as regards to the principles and practices of
tasawwuf.
Introduction
Mehboob-e-Subhani, al Ghaus al A'zam Sayyedina Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir
Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) was a noted Hanbali
preacher, Sufi Shaykh and the eponymous founder of the Qadiri Sufi order (silsila).
He was born in Ramadan AH 470 (CE 1077) and as per some narrations in the month
of Rabi-ul-thaani also known as Rabi-ul-aakhir. But the more stronger tradition
states which is accepted by most Awliya around the world- is the celebration of
his birth in the blessed month of Rabi-ul-thaani (Rabi-ul-aakhir). He was born
in the Persian province of Jilan (Iran) south of the Caspian Sea. His
contribution and renown in the sciences of Sufism (tasawwuf) and Sharia (Islamic
Law) was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of all time, al-Ghaus
al A’zam (the "Supreme Helper" or the "Mightiest Succour").
The most universally acclaimed saint of all times and the most celebrated in all
the aalameen (worlds), amongst jinn and men as well as amongst the arwaah
(souls), the malaaika (angels), and the rijaal-ul-ghayb (men of the unseen), the
beloved of ALLAH (SWT) who throughout history has been showered the titles of
Muhy-ud-din (reviver of the faith), Qutb Rabbani (the spiritual axis established
by the Lord), and Ghaus al-A'zam (the greatest helper, the greatest saint),
Sayyadi wa Imami Abu Muhammad Abd'al-Qadir al-Jilani- Radi ALLAH u ta'ala Anhu-
was born in Ramadan 470 A.H/1077 C.E and as per other traditions in the month of
Rabi-ul-thaani (rabi-ul-aakhir) in Jilan, Persia. His father, Abu Salih (RA),
was a man of taqwa (piety) and a direct descendant of Sayyedina Imam Hassan ibn
Ali Radi ALLAH ta’ala Anhu. His mother, Ummul Khayr Fatima was a saintly
daughter of a saintly father Shaykh Abdullah Sawma'i (RA) who was a direct
descendant of Sayyed ash-shuhadaa Imam Hussein ibn Ali-Radi ALLAH u ta’ala Anhu.
Thus Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi
ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) was both Hassaniand Hussaini, a descendant of the Beloved
Prophet Muhammad -Salla ALLAH u 'alayhi wa Sallam from his beloved daughter
Sayyedatina Fatima-tuz-Zahra (RA). For this reason, the Sindhis for example,
lovingly call him "putar mithe mahbub jo" (the blessed son of the sweet Beloved
Prophet - Salla ALLAH u ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam).
The genealogical roots of Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal
Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu)can be traced to Habib ul-A'zam Sayyaduna
Muhammad-Salla ALLAH u ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam- as follows:
Ghaus al A'zam Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi
ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu), son of
As-Sayyed Abu Salih Musa, son of
As-Sayyed Abdullah al-Jili, s/o
As-Sayyed Yahya as-Zahid, s/o
As-Sayyed Muhammad, s/o
As-Sayyed Dawud, s/o
As-Sayyed Musa, s/o
As-Sayyed Abdullah, s/o
As-Sayyed Musa al-Jawn, s/o
As-Sayyed Abdullah al-Mahd, s/o
As-Sayyed al-Hassan al-Muthanna, s/o
Sayyedina al-Imam al-Hassan, Radi ALLAH u Anhu, son of
Imam ul mashariqi wal magharib, Sayyedina Amir-ul-Momineen-Sayyedna Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU
wajha-hul-kareem) and
Sayyedatina Fatima -tus-Zahra, (Radi ALLAH u Anha) the blessed daughter of
Khaatam an-Nabiyyin Habibi Rabbil aalameen Sayyedina wa Mawlana Muhammad ibn
Abdullah, Nurin min Nurillah, ALLAHumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik alayh.(Cited
by Shaykh Abdur Rahman ibn Shaykh Umar Ali al-Qadiri, in Al-Jawhar un Nafis, The
Most Precious Pearls, p. 29).
What better way is there to end this section and indeed all the remaining
sections than with this hymn which is full of blessings and mercy of ALLAH (SWT).
Yaa Hayyu Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyum
Yaa Hayyu Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyum
O The Ever-Living, O The Ever-Living, O The Self-Subsisting by whom all subsist
O The Ever-Living, O The Ever-Living, O The Self-Subsisting by whom all subsist
Blessed Parentag
Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u
ta'ala anhu) is not only known as the greatest of all helpers, but was also a
great preacher, a great educationalist, a great moralist and a great doctor of
Muslim law. He was the glory of the learned and the light of Islam; the
Spokesman of theologians, the Interpreter of men of spiritual knowledge, the
unique Leader of Leaders; the Leader of nations; the Chief of the chiefs; the
Succour of men and the Jinn; the Reviver of Religion; possessed of very high and
perfect spiritual knowledge; and hailed as the Honour of Religion
In Persia, in a place called Naif in the district of Jilan, in the South of the
Caspian Sea, there lived a pious and God fearing man. He was Hazrat Abu Saleh
Jangi Dost (RA). He used to spend most of his time in the contemplation and love
of ALLAH (SWT).
Once he was sitting on the bank of a river in deep contemplation, when upon
opening of his eyes, he saw an apple floating down the river. The apple, which
reached him near the bank, was taken up and eaten by him. Soon after, his
conscience questioned the propriety whether the apple eaten by him was lawful.
He got up and walked along the bankof the river towards the sides from where the
apple had come, in order to find out the owner of the garden where from the
apple had fallen into the river. Hazrat intended to pay him the price for the
apple in order to make the energy derived from that apple lawful, since he had
eaten it, without his permission.
After a long journey, he reached a spot where appeared a large garden on the
bank of the river, which convinced him that the apple eaten by him had fallen
from that garden. Upon inquiry he learnt that the garden belonged to Hazrat
Abdullah Sawmai (RA). Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) approached him and begged his pardon
for eating the apple of his garden without his prior permission. Such an
approach made Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA) to perceive that Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA)
was a pious and a noble man. He therefore, asked him to pay the price of the
apple before his request for pardon was considered. The price was to serve under
him as long as he desired. Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) agreed to serve Hazrat Abdullah
Sawmai (RA) for as long a period as his service was considered necessary.
After a few years service, Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) asked the owner of the garden
to grant him pardon and release him. Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA), before
pardoning and allowing him to leave, asked Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) to agree to
marry his daughter who, he was told, was blind, deaf, lame and paralytic of
hands. After marriage he was also to stay with them until a child was born to
them. These were the qualifying conditions of his release.
In order to obtain his pardon, Hazrat Abu Saleh Jangi Dost (RA) agreed to the
proposal and the marriage was accordingly fixed up. When he entered the chamber
of the bride, he saw instead a beautiful and healthy lady. He turned his eyes
from her assuming that he had entered a wrong chamber because the lady before
him did not tally with the description given to him.
By his Kashf (Clairvoyance) Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA) understood the
predicament of Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) about his bride. He called him and
explained to him that he had stated that his daughter was blind, because her
eyes never fell upon any outsider other than members of their family; she was
said to be deaf, because she had never heard untruthful statements; she was
supposedly lame, because she never undertook and stepped on towards committing
acts, alien to the laws of Islam.
Such a description of his wife enlightened Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) with a new
light and he began to live happily with his wife whose name was Ummul Khayr
Fatima (RA). She was the pious daughter of Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA), who was
himself a great Sufi and Saint of his time and was a direct descendent of Hazrat
Sayyeda-as-Shuhadaa Imam Hussein (RA)
In this Sayyed family of Saints, Hazrat Ummul Khayr Fatima (RA)gave birth to a
son in 470 Hijri during the month of Rabi-ul-Aakhir. The child was named Abu
Muhammad Abdul Qadir. Abu Muhammad was his Kuniet- that is the name by which he
was familiarly called by relatives and neighbours.
Some of the Saints of the time foresaw the birth of Imam-ul-Awliya Hazrat
Sayyedina Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)Hazrat Abu Bakar Bin Hawara (RA) once
told some of his disciples that in the near future a great Wali (Saint) would be
born in Ajam- a non-Arab country – who would be God fearing and highly respected
by the people of his time and thereafter. His foot will be on the neck of all
Walis (Saints) and Walis of his time would testify to the truth of his claim.
Another Saint, Hazrat Ahmed Abdullah Bin Ahmed (RA) stated around about 468 AH,
that shortly a child would be born in Ajam whose miracles (karamat) would be
numerous and whose rank among Walis (Saints) would be very high.
From the above details, it will appear that Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir
Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) was a direct
descendent of Hazrat Sayyed Imam Hassan (AS) on his father’s side. From his
mother’s side he descended from Sayyedina Imam Zainul Abedin (AS) son of
Sayyeda-as-Shuhadaa Hazrat Imam Hussein (AS). He was therefore both a Hassani
and Hussaini Sayyed tracing his lineage thereby to the two grandsons of
Nabi-e-kareem Muhammad Mustafa (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).
All the historians agree that the age of Hazrat’s mother was much above the
normal age of child bearing, when this great Saint of Jilan was born to her.
Despite having taken birth in such an advanced age of his mother, he was
nevertheless, possessed of all the good faculties normally expected of a healthy
child. The child was a born Wali (Saint). From the very birth, he was endowed
with gems of Psychic powers. His Wilayat was obviously felt from his infancy.
Early life- Blessed Childhood
His first Karamat was witnessed, when as an infant child during the month of
Ramadan, he would take his mother’s milk only at night and not during daytime.
This fact has been proved on the evidence of his mother. Once the new moon of
the month of fasting was not visible in the evening on account of clouds. In the
morning people came to his mother to inquire whether the day was the first of
Ramadan. She replied that her child did not take her milk during daytime, which
indicated that the day was the first of Ramadan.
As a child, Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi
ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) would not play with other children. The Psychic powers,
which were exhibited by him in his infancy, naturally developed as he grew up,
and were visible in all the stages of his holy life. Once the children of the
vicinity, where Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi
ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) with his mother was living, invited him to play. He led the
game and asked all the children to say IL-LAL-LAH, when he would recite LA-ILAHA.
This play of the children reciting LA-ILAHA-ILLALLAH (There is no God but God)
could very well show the inclination and pursuits of the Leader.
He was quiet and sober from his early childhood and was generally disposed
towards contemplation. His mother and his maternal grandfather, who themselves
were, Walis (Awliya-e- karaam) naturally gave him the training that was
necessary for a Wali. It may be said, that he was brought up in the cradle of
Sufism. Whenever he thought of playing,he would hear a voice questioning him
where he was going. At this, he would be frightened and would run back to take
shelter in his mother’s lap.
At the age of ten, however, he attended school. The angels would ask his fellow
students to make room for the Wali of ALLAH to sit in the class. He lived in
Jilan up to the age of 18 years. In one day Hazrat would learn by heart as much
of his lessons as others would take a week to master. One day, he was going to
the fields for an excursion. A plough bullock was ahead of him. The animal
suddenly turned round and told him that he was not born for the purpose of
utilising his time on excursions. Frightened at this incident, he turned back to
his house and climbed its roof. With his spiritual vision, he saw a vast
assembly standing on Jabl-ul Arafat.
He then requested his mother to dedicate him to ALLAH and also allows him to
proceed to Baghdad, which was then famous in the Muslim World as a great seat of
learning for the acquisition of knowledge. The desire to acquire knowledge was
intensely burning in the Hazrat’s heart and he overcame the love of his mother,
his hearth and home, for the sake of ALLAH (SWT). He was not deterred by the
prospect of hardships of a long and dangerous journey, and residence in a remote
city without friends or relatives.
When his mother heard the proposal, she shed silent tears as she perceived that
on account of her old age, she was not destined to see her dear son again, whom
she had brought up so carefully and tenderly, after the death of her husband
long age. But the Saintly Lady would not stand in the way of his devotion of
ALLAH (SWT).
She sewed forty dinars (Gold Coins) into his garment, so that they might not
easily be lost. It was his half share of the money left by his father. The other
half was kept for his brother. He soon joined a small caravan, which was going
to Baghdad.
From the time of his childhood, he had never uttered falsehood, but despite this
trait of his character, his mother at the time of parting, took a vow from him
that he should not tell even one lie under any circumstances. They then parted
with heavy hearts. The separation between the son and the mother was sad and
sublime. It was no less similar to that of the leading of Hazrat Ismail (AS) by
his father, Sayyedina Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) for sacrifice under divine orders, as
the separation in either case was not for wealth, rank or fame, but for the sake
of ALLAH (SWT).
The caravan passed quite safely as far as Hamadan, but beyond that place, a gang
of sixty robbers fell upon the caravan and plundered it, but none laid violent
hands upon Hazrat, taking him to be a penniless, religious youth. One robber
however, questioned him whether he had anything with him. He readily said he had
forty dinars sewed into his garment. The man took it as a joke and went away.
Another robber also asked the same question from Hazrat, and on receiving the
same reply, moved off. They reported the incident to the leader of the gang, who
ordered the production of the youth before him. Accordingly, when he was taken
before the gang leader, he said the same thing, which he had stated before. The
garment was then cut open and the forty dinars were foundOn seeing the "dinars"
the leader was astounded and asked Hazrat what had made him to tell the truth
when he knew that he too would be robbed. He replied that he had promised his
mother not to tell a lie under any circumstances. Hazrat added that if he had
told a lie on the very first stage of his journey undertaken for the sake of
acquiring knowledge of religion, he would obviously have no chance of acquiring
any real knowledge of religion at subsequent stages of his career. Upon this,
the robber realizing the felonious life he and his companions had led, burst
into tears and said that he had been breaking the commands of ALLAH (SWT)
throughout his life, while a youth was so conscientiously fulfilling his vow
made to his mother.
By placing his hands upon the hands of Hazrat, the leader of the robbers
solemnly vowed to give up robbery. The other robbers also followed their leader
and repented. The robbed belongings were returned to their owners. The
conversion of the gang of robbers was not only due to Hazrat’s strict adherence
to truth but to his psychic powers also. Most of the authorities are of the
opinion that this incident showed the greatness of Sayyedina, in the making. Had
his nature not been truthful in origin-such a courageous and unwavering stand
for truth in the face of such heavy odds- this would not have been possible for
him.