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About
Shaikh Âbd al-Qadir al-Jilani radiiya'llahu
ânh - may Allah
be pleased with him'.
The
information presented here is copyright of Al-Baz
Publishing, Inc.
Through the mists of legend surrounding the life of Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, it is possible to discern the outlines of the following biographical sketch: In A.H. 488, at the age of eighteen, he left his native province to become a student in the great capital city of Baghdaad, the hub of political, commercial and cultural activity, and the center of religious learning in the world of Islam.
The
Shaikh's Life in Baghdaad
Through
the mists of legend surrounding the life of Shaikh Âbd al-Qadir al-Jilani, it
is possible to discern the outlines of the following biographical sketch:
In A.H. 488, at the age of eighteen, he left his native province to become a
student in the great capital city of Baghdaad, the hub of political, commercial
and cultural activity, and the center of religious learning in the world of
Islam. After studying traditional sciences under such teachers as the
prominent Hanbalii jurist [faqiih], Abuu Sa'd Âlii al-Mukharrimii, he
encountered a more spiritually oriented instructor in the saintly person of
Abu'l-Khair Hammaad ad-Dabbaas.
Then, instead of embarking on his own professorial career, he abandoned the
city and spent twenty-five years as a wanderer in the desert regions of 'Iraaq.
He was over fifty years old by the time he returned to Baghdaad, in A.H.
521/1127 C.E., 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. He moved into the school [madrasa]
belonging to his old teacher al-Mukharrimii, but the premises eventually proved
inadequate.
In A.H. 528, pious donations were applied to the construction of a residence
and guesthouse [ribaat], capable of housing the Shaikh and his large family, as
well as providing accommodation for his pupils and space for those who came from
far and wide to attend his regular sessions [majaalis].
He lived to a ripe old age, and continued his work until his very last
breath, as we know from the accounts of his final moments recorded in the
Addendum to Revelations of the Unseen.
In the words of Shaikh Muzaffer Ozak Efendi: "The venerable Âbd
al-Qadir al-Jilani passed on to the Realm of Divine Beauty in A.H. 561/1166 C.E.,
and his blessed mausoleum in Baghdaad is still a place of pious visitation.
He is noted for his extraordinary spiritual experiences and exploits, as well as
his memorable sayings and wise teachings. It is rightly said of him that
'he was born in love, grew in perfection, and met his Lord in the perfection of
love.' May the All-Glorious Lord bring us in contact with his lofty
spiritual influence!"
The
Shaikh's Names and Titles
A
rich store of information about the author of these discourses and Sufficient
Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth is conveniently available, to those
familiar with the religious and spiritual tradition of Islam, in his names, his
surnames, and the many titles conferred upon him by his devoted followers.
It is not unusual for these to take up several lines in an Arabic manuscript,
but let us start with the short form of the author's name as it appears on the
cover and title page of these books.
Shaikh -
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. (The spellings
Sheikh and Shaykh may also be encountered in English language publications.)
Âbd al-Qadir -
This is the author's personal name, meaning "Servant [or Slave] of
the All-Powerful." (The form Âbdul Qaadir, which the reader may come
across elsewhere, is simply an alternative transliteration of the Arabic
spelling.) It has always been a common practice, in the Muslim community,
to give a male child a name in which Âbd is prefixed to one of the Names of
Allaah.
Al-Jilani -
A surname ending in -ii will often indicate the bearer's place of birth.
Shaikh Âbd al-Qaadir was born in the Iranian district of Giilaan, south of the
Caspian Sea, in A.H. 470/1077-8 C.E. (In some texts, the Persian spelling
Giilaanii is used instead of the arabicized form al-Jiilaanii. The
abbreviated form al-Jiilii, which may also be encountered, should not be
confused with the surname of the venerable Âbd al-Karim al-Jiilii, author of
the celebrated work al-Insaan al-Kaamil, who came from Jiil in the district of
Baghdaad.)
Let us now consider a slightly longer version of the Shaikh's name, as it
occurs near the beginning of Al-Fath ar-Rabbaanii [The Sublime Revelation]:
Sayyidunaa 'sh-Shaikh Muhyi'd-Diin Abuu Muhhammad Âbd al-Qaadir (Radiya'llaahu ânh).
Sayyidunaa 'sh-Shaikh -
"Our Master, the Shaikh." A writer who regards himself
as a Qaadirii, a devoted follower of Shaikh Âbd al-Qaadir, will generally refer
to the latter as Sayyidunaa [our Master], or Sayyidii [my Master].
Muhyi'd-Diin -
"Reviver of the Religion." It is widely acknowledged by
historians, non-Muslim as well as Muslim, that Shaikh Âbd al-Qaadir displayed
great courage in reaffirming the traditional teachings of Islam, in an era when
sectarianism was rife, and when materialistic and rationalistic tendencies were
predominant in all sections of society. In matters of Islamic jurisprudence [fiqh]
and theology [kalaam], he adhered quite strictly to the highly
"orthodox" school of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Abu Muhhammad -
"Father of Muhhammad." In the Arabic system of
nomenclature, a man's surnames usually include the name of his first-born son,
with the prefix Abuu [Father of–].
Radiya'llaahu ânh -
"May Allaah be well pleased with him!" This benediction
is the one customarily pronounced–and spelled out–in writing after
mentioning the name of a Companion of the Prophet (Allaah bless him and give him
peace). The preference for this particular invocation is yet another mark
of the extraordinary status held by Shaikh Âbd al-Qaadir in the eyes of his
devoted followers.
Finally, we must note some important elements contained within this even
longer version: al-Ghawth al-A'zam Sultaan al-Awliyaa' Sayyidunaa 'sh-Shaikh
Muhyi'd-Diin Âbd al-Qaadir al-Jiilaanii al-Hasanii al-Husainii (Radiya'llaahu ânh).
Al-Ghawth al-A'zam -
"The Supreme Helper" (or, "The Mightiest Succor").
Ghawth is an Arabic word meaning: (1) A cry for aid or succor.
(2) Aid, help, succor; deliverance from adversity.
(3) The chief of the Saints, who is empowered by Allaah to bring succor to
suffering humanity, in response to His creatures' cry for help in times of
extreme adversity.
Sultaan al-Awliyaa' -
"The Sultan of the Saints." This reinforces the
preceding title, emphasizing the supremacy of the Ghawth above all other orders
of sanctity.
al-Hasanii al-Husainii -
"The descendant of both al-Hasan and al-Husain, the grandsons of
the Prophet (Allaah bless him and give him peace)." To quote the Turkish
author, Shaikh Muzaffer Ozak Efendi (may Allaah bestow His mercy upon him):
"The lineage of Shaikh Âbd al-Qaadir is known as the Chain of Gold, since
both his parents were descendants of the Messenger (Allaah bless him and give
him peace). His noble father, Âbdullaah, traced his descent by way of
Imaam Hasan, while his revered mother, Umm al-Khair, traced hers through Imaam
Husain."
As for the many other surnames, titles and honorific appellations that have
been conferred upon Shaikh Âbd al-Qadir al-Jilani, it may suffice at this point
to mention al-Baaz al-Ashhab [The Gray Falcon].
Some o
Please
click on one of the main topics below for further reading.
Futuh
al-Ghaib
(Revelations
of the Unseen)
78 discourses, fairly short and to the point but very powerful.
Al-Fath
ar-Rabbani
(The
Sublime Revelation)
62 discourses definitely longer, given in the Ribaat and Madrasa in Baghdad
AH 545-546.
Jala'
al-Khawatir
(The
Removal of Cares)
45 discourses, also in the same locations, given in the year AH 546.
Malfuzat
(Utterances
of Shaikh Âbd al-Qadir)
This is a collection of various sayings and short sections of what the
Shaikh said.Generally it is found at the end of the hand copied Arabic
manuscripts of Fath ar-Rabbani.
Al-Ghunya
li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq
(Sufficient
Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth)
also known in the Indian sub-continent as Al-Ghunya li-Talibin
These five volumes, written by the Shaikh at the request of one of his murids,
is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of Islam, both the inward and the
outward.
Khamsata
Âshara Maktuban
(Fifteen
Letters)
These are 15 letters originally written in Persian by Shaikh Âbd al-Qadir
to one of his murids.
Al-Fuyudat
al-Rabbaniyya
(Emanations
of Lordly Grace)
Bashair
al-Khairat (Glad Tidings of Good Things)
A Salawat by Shaykh Abd al-Qadir by way of inspiration from Allah
.
Answers
to Various Important Questions by Shaikh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani
Contains many concise answers to very important questions regarding a
variety of topics.
Special
Prayers by Shaikh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani
Contains many special invocations taught to us by the Shaikh for their
special blessings.
Shaikh
Abd al-Qadir - Gate of Poverty
Contains the story excerpted from Necklaces of Gems of the Shaikh's struggle
with the Devil Armies, Iblis himself, and his lower self (Nafs)
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