Sayed Abdul Qadir Jilani
Sayed Abdul Qadir Jilani :The Great defender and the leader of the saints were
born of pious parents of Hasani lineage, in the year 478 Hijri at Gilan in
Persia. He was Syed from both sides, from father as well as mother. His father
Syed Abu Saleh, was an illustrious and God - fearing man. Once he was engrossed
in meditation by the bank of a river he saw an apple floating down the river. He
picked it up and ate it. It struck to him that he ate the apple without paying
for it so he set out in search of the owner, on the bank of the river and at
last reached the owner of the apple orchard, Abdullah Somai whom he requested to
tell him the price of the apple, Abdullah Somai replied that it was an expensive
thing. Syed Abu Saleh replied that he had not much by way of worldly material
but he, could serve him for its compensation. Abdullah Somai then asked him to
Work for a year in the orchard. In course of time the duration was extended
several times. In the end Abdullah Somai admitted that he had served him in
excess of the price and desired to reward him. Abu Saleh hesitated in accepting
it but when Abdullah Somai persisted, he relented. He said he had a daughter,
blind of eyes, handicapped of hands and feet and wanted to give her in marriage
to him. In this way Abdullah Somai was married to his daughter, Syeda Fatimah.
To his astonishment Abu Saleh found her wondrously beautiful and wholesome. He
complained to his father-in-law that he found her exactly the opposite to what
he had described her. Abdullah Somai insisted on the truthfulness of his
statement. She was blind because she had not seen a man who could marry her. She
was mute because she had not uttered a word repugnant to the Shairah. She was
deaf because she had not heard anything inconsistent with the Shairah. She was
handicapped of hand and feet because she had never moved in the direction of
evil. The Great defender's father died soon after and the little orphan was
reared up by his mother and under the benevolent care of his grand father,
Abdullah Somai.
Childhood
During infancy he never sucked milk during the day and had it after it was dark.
When hungry he never cried like other children but remained composed in the
cradle. As he was an orphan his initial education started under the supervision
of his mother. Having completed, his primary education he sought his mother's
permission to go to Baghdad for higher education. His mother was old still she
allowed him to go and thus he set out to Baghdad in the year 488 Hijri.
Some chroniclers say he was 14 when he set out to Baghdad. His mother sewed 40
gold coins in his quilt so that he might spend then when needed. The dacoits
struck the caravan on the way, and looted all the travelers of their belongings
and wealth. They asked him what he had. He replied that he had 40 gold coins.
The dacoits took his reply for a joke and took him to their chief. The Chief of
the dacoits asked him the same question and he again replied that he had 40 gold
coins on him. He demanded him to show, upon whom he tore away, the quilt and
produced the gold coins. He was surprised and asked him why he had given the
hidden gold coins. He could have kept them and they could have never known about
them. The boy replied that he was travelling to Baghdad to receive education.
His mother had instructed him to speak the truth and he had done it. This left a
deep effect on the Chief of the dacoits and he gave up looting.
Higher Education
He received lessons on Islamic Jurisprudence form Abu Said Makhzoomi, Tradition
from Abu-Bakra-bin-Muzaffar, and Commentary from the renowned Commentator, Abu
Muhammad Jafar. Having thus qualified he engaged himself in teaching.
Teaching
He became a teacher and took to teaching in the seminary of his teacher, Qazi
Abu-Said-Mubarak. Soon he became popular with his pupils. His fame spread far
and nears. Pupils flocked to him. In the morning he taught lessons on Tradition
and Commentary, and in the after-noon held discourse on Mysticism and the
virtues of the Qu'Oran. The number of students increased so much that the
seminary could no more contain them. He, therefore, decided to extend the
premises of the seminary. The students and the people willingly came forward
with their wholehearted contributions. The campus buildings were ready in 528
Hijri and thereafter it came to be known as Madarsai-e-Qadriya.
Judicial Sentences and Ermons
The Sheikh (The Great Defender) besides teaching engaged himself in Judicial
Sentences and Sermons in the service of the Religion; delivered his sermons
thrice a week. His oratory drew multitude of crowds, which sometimes exceeded
sixty or seventy thousand people.
Truthfulness and Fearlessness
The Sheikh was truthful and fearless. The Caliph Al-Muqtazi once appointed
Ibne-Marjam the Qazi. Ibne Marjam was known for his cruelties. The people were
panicked. They approached the Sheikh. He addressed the Caliph from the pulpit
that he had posted a man Qazi who was extremely cruel. When he reached before
his Creator on the last day what excuse he would put forward for appointing him.
God is merciful and kind to the people. The Caliph trembled and at once sacked
Ibne Marjam form the post.
Generosity
Whatever Presents, valuables his followers or disciples offered him he
distributed them among the poor and the needy and gave precedence to other's
needs to this own. None returned empty handed from his gate. He was therefore,
called leader of the saints, the Helper, the Great defender, and Darling of God.
God filled his heart with profound love for the poor, the needy, and the
helpless.
Propagation of Islam
He propagated Islam through his writings and speeches and remained aloof from
the government and politics. He, therefore, ruled over the hearts of the people.
The kings were envious of him. Not only did he propagate Islam through pen and
word of mouth but saved also the Muslims from complete extinction. The world so
remembers him with the little. Mohi-uddin, the life-giver
Books
He wrote a large number of books in defense and service of Islam. His book
Ganiat Ul Talibeen is on the orders from the Tradition. Mansharah-ul-ghaib deals
with Mysticism. Fateh-Rabbani is the collection of his sermons and addresses
Maktoob-e-Subhani comprises of his letters. In verse he wrote fourteen moving
odes and a Persian works.
Death
He busied himself for forty years in the service of the Faith from 521 to 561
Hijri During this period hundreds embarrassed Islam because of him and organized
several teams to go abroad for the purpose. He arrived in India in 1428 AD. And
stayed at Multan. His Qadriya order still exists in India. He died in 561 Hijri
at the age of 91 years.
His Sayings
Knowledge is useless without action. Be a doer and not an illiterate
deliberately. One who knows and acts accordingly is a viceroy of Allah.
Lo! On one who committed the Qu'Oran to memory but did not follow it.
Allah is such a name that eases every difficulty and relieves of all kinds of
worries and grief's and this is a great name.
Whoever keeps Allah his friend, he is under His protection and passes his lives
under His benign benevolence.
Beggar is he who perpetually engages himself in prayer and in contemplation. He
is truthful, capacious, and courageous; regards his self-the meanest; what he
does not know, tries to know; teaches the ignorant, and advises the careless.
The faithful is he who seeks lawful living, and is not a fatalist. If succeeds
in getting a job, he shall get lawful living and compensation for search of a
living.
For patience he said; the faithful perseveres in difficulty and distress and
does not forsake the Shairah; submits to the will; is not perturbed from poverty
and grief but remains composed, patient, and thankful.
The patience of a beggar as against the thankfulness of a rich man and the
beggar's thankfulness as against the rich man's patience is larger.
The war of the inner is better than that of the outer.
Don't complain of Allah's slave (men). Think great so long as you live.