SUFISM ::: Sufis

Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani

, Sufi sheikh and the eponymous founder of the Qadri Sufi order (selsela). He was born in Ramadan 470 A.H (About 1078 AD) in the Persian province of Jilan (Iran) some people call it Gilan south of the Caspian Sea with reference to Baij-Tul-Israr. His contribution and renown in the sciences of Sufism and Sharia was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of his time, al-Gauth al Azam (the "Supreme Helper" or the "Mightiest Succor").

Abdul Qadir Jilani (Persian:

Arabic:

was a Sufi master and Syed (descendant of the Prophet Muhammad) from both his father and mother. His father Abu Saleh Jangidost

means “fighter” was an illustrious and God-fearing man. Once while 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 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 Abu Saleh was married to Abdullah Somai's daughter, Syeda Fatimah.
To his astonishment 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 any Ghair Mehram (a man who could marry her). She was mute because she had not uttered a word repugnant to the Shariah (Islamic law). She was deaf because she had not heard anything inconsistent with the Shariah. She was handicapped of hand and feet because she had never moved in the direction of evil.

Abdul Qadir Jilani's father passed away soon after and the young orphan was reared up by his holy mother and his grandfather, Abdullah Somai.
Adult life

At the age of 18 he went to Baghdad on AH 488 (1095 AD), where he pursued the study of Hanbalite law under several teachers. His mother sewed 40 gold coins in his quilt so that he might spend them when needed. The dacoits struck the caravan on the way, and looted all the travelers of their belongings. 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, who asked him the same question and he again replied that he had 40 gold coins. 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 when he could have kept them hidden. Young Abdul Qadir Jilani replied that he was travelling to Baghdad to receive education and his mother had instructed him to speak the truth. This left a deep effect on the chief of the dacoits and he gave up looting.

Abdul Qadir

received lessons on Islamic Jurisprudence from Abu Said Ali al-Mukharrimi

, Hadith from Abu-Bakra-bin-Mustafa, and commentary (tafseer) from the renowned commentator, Abu Muhammad Jafar.
In Sufism, his spiritual instructor was Sheikh Abu'l-Khair Hammad

. From him, he received his basic training, and with his help he set out on the spiritual journey. Abu Shuja' was also a disciple of Sheikh Hammad, once he said: "Sheikh Abdul Qadir was in the company of Sheikh Hammad, so he came and sat in front of him, observing the best of good manners, until he stood up and took his leave. I heard Sheikh Hammad say, as soon as Sheikh Abdul Qadir had left: 'This non-Arab has a foot that will be raised, when the proper time comes, and placed upon the necks of the saints of that time. He will surely be commanded to say: This foot of mine is upon the neck of every saint of Allah. He will surely say it, and the necks of all the saints of his age will surely be bent at his disposal.'"

Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi

(passed away at AD 910), who passed away about 167 years before the birth of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, predicted about him on one occasion, when he was performing meditation & during that he said: "His foot will be over all Saints' necks." After finishing meditation, his disciples asked him about his words, he replied: "One Sufi would be born in the future, who would be greater than all saints." Thus, Sheikh Hammad proved the words of Hazrat Junayd as right. The historians say that, later Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani also repeated the same words on many occasion by himself.

Once someone asked your holy mother

that why does your son have a mark on his shoulder? So your mother answered because Hazrat Muhammad

put his holy feet on the same shoulder at the night for the journey of MEHRAJ (MEHRAJ is that night at which Hazrat Muhammad

meets GOD,

After completion of education, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani abandoned the city of Baghdad, and spent twenty-five years as a wanderer in the desert regions of Iraq as a recluse. He was over fifty years old by the time he returned to Baghdad, in AH 521 (AD 1127), and began to preach in public. His hearers were profoundly affected by the style and content of his lectures, and his reputation grew and spread through all sections of society. Not only Muslims, but also Jews and Christians, not only caliphs and viziers but also farmers, merchants and traders allegedly altered their lives in response to Abdul Qadir's perorations He moved into the school belonging to his old teacher al-Mukharrimii, there he engaged himself in teaching. Soon he became popular with his pupils. In the morning he taught hadith and tafseer, and in the afternoon held discourse on mysticism and the virtues of the Qur'an. 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 AH 528 and thereafter it came to be known as Madarsai-e-Qadriya.

Reference of Resala Ghosal-Azam:
Translation: God said, OH Ghous, Ghous pak replied to GOD, my lord I’m here then GOD said, say that I’m here HO GOD Ghous,

I’m more Karim than Akram; I’m more Arham than Rahim (I’m merciful of all merciful, I’m kind hearted of all)

Dewan-e-ghous:
Translation: HO beloved come through the gate of my heart without veil cause there is nothing in my house except your sweet pain…………..

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani was a Non-Arab (ajami), so he wasn't fluent in Arabic and was having some difficulties because of it. Once The Prophet Muhammad

came to him in a dream, before the time of the midday prayer (Zuhr), and he said to him: "O my dear son, why do you not speak out?" He replied: "O dear father, I am a Non-Arab man. How can I speak fluently in the classical Arabic language of Baghdad?" Holy Prophet said: "Just open your mouth!" He opened his mouth, and The Holy Prophet put his saliva seven times in his mouth. A few moments later,
Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib

also came & did the same to him six times. And from that time, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani spoke classical Arabic language with fluency, his memory increased and he felt some great positive spiritual changes in him.
Once someone asked Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani about Mansur Al-Hallaj, he replied: "His claim extended too far, so the scissors of the Sacred Law (Shari'a) were empowered to clip it."

He busied himself for forty years in the service of the Islam from AH 521 to 561. During this period hundreds embraced Islam because of him and organized several teams to go abroad for the purpose. He arrived in Indian sub-continent in AD 1128, and stayed at Multan (Pakistan). He passed away in AH 561 (AD 1166) at the age of 91 years, and was buried in Baghdad.

Dewan-e-ghous:
Translation: World is the pub of Qalandar for all lovers of GOD, and I go to that pub like lovers, devotee of GOD, and like Qalandar.

My Foot is on the Neck of All Walis
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani uttered these words from the pulpit in Baghdad. All awliya, present and non-present, bowed their heads in submission. Unlike shatahat of some awliya, these words of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani were uttered in a state of sobreity, sahw. With the exception of Sahaba and the Imams of Ahle Bait, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani's foot is on the neck of all awliya.

Ghausul Azam is amongst the saints As Muhammad Mustafa (SW) is amongst the messengers (of God)

” I am al-Jili and Muhiyiddin is my name
My banners fly on the mountain tops
I am Hasani and my station is the “secret chamber”
My feet are upon the necks of the men
Abd al Qadir is my well known name
My Grandfather (PBUH) is the source of perfection.”

Translation:
You said about your poetry book that people would read my poetry till judgment day like me; I have taught people in form of poetry, people can easily follow the path which I suggested them

Titles of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani
• Muhaiyudeen: the reviver of faith
• Piran-e Pir: the pir of pirs (master of masters)
• Mehboob-e subhani: the beloved of God
• Qutb-e Rabbani
• Meera'n: a title used for Sheikh Jilani by his devotees in Punjab
• Ghausul Azam: The Supreme Helper
• Hasani Hussaini: on account of being a descendent of Imam Hasan

on father's side and Imam Hussain's

descendent on mother’s side.
• Sultaan al-Awliyaa: The Sultan of the Saints.
• Sheikh: A term applied throughout the Islamic world to respected persons of recognized seniority in learning, experience and wisdom. Its basic meaning in Arabic is "an elder; a man over fifty years of age."

Roots of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani

Gawth al Azam Sayyidina Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani

, son of
Syed Abu Salih Musa

, son of
Syed Abdallah al-Jili

, son of
Syed Yahya as-Zahid

, son of
Syed Muhammad

, son of
Syed Dawud

, son of
Syed Musa

, son of
Syed Abdallah

, son of
Syed Musa al-Jawn

, son of
Syed Abdallah al-Mahd

, son of
Syed al-Hasan al-Muthanna

, son of
Sayyidina al-Imam al-Hasan

, son of
Imam ul mashariqi wal magharib

, Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Talib