Nabi Sulaiman dan Ratu Balqis

Nabi Sulaiman bercita2 ingin mendirikan sebuah rumah suci di Sham, utk dapat dipergunakan sbg tempat ibadat menyembah Allah dan pula sebagai pengorbanan dirinya sendiri kpd Allah. Tiang2 yg besar dan tinggi lalu didirikan, dinding2 tembok yang lembang dan agung pun berdiri dan tidak lama kemudian rumah suci (Baitul Maqdis) yg dicita2kan Nabi Sulaiman itu pun jadi kenyataan. Sampai sekarang masih ada dan tetap ada serta masih tetap bernama rumah suci (Baitul Maqdis) atau Darussalam (Jerusalem).
       Kepada semua manusia yang beriman kepada Allah diperintahkan untuk datang berhaji ke tempat suci itu setiap tahun. Tetapi kemudian oleh bangsa Israel tempat itu dijadikan tempat menyimpang dari ajaran Allah, maka kpd Nabi Muhammad diperintahkan Allah untuk dipindahkan tempat suci itu di Mekah. Ke sanalah umat Islam menghadapkan muka dlm sembahyang dan ke sana pulalah umat Islam setiap tahun datang berkumpul melaksanakan ibadat haji mereka.
       Baru saja Nabi Sulaiman selesai mengerjakan rumah suci itu, Nabi Sulaiman
berangkat meninggalkan tempat itu memenuhi nazarnya sblm mendirikan rumah suci itu. Nazar (janji) akan mengembara disekitar muka bumi untuk melihat dan mengetahui kebesaran Allah yang mencipta bumi ini.
       Mula2 Nabi Sulaiman menuju ke tanah Yaman, lalu memasuki daerah San'ak. Di daerah ini beliau mengalami kekurangan air. Ke mana dicarinya tidak juga ada air ditemuinya. Ke puncak bukit yang tinggi, di bawah jurang yang dlm, kadang2 digalinya merupakan sumur yg dalam namun air tidak ditemuinya. Disaat hampir menemui jalan buntu utk mendapatkan air, tiba2 lalulah (terbang melintas di atas kepalanya) seekor burung hudhud. Burung itu segera dipanggil oleh Sulaiman dan kpd burung itu diperintahkannya utk mencari tempat yg ada airnya dan menunjukkan jalan kepadanya menuju ke tempat itu.
       Kerana burung Hudhud yg diutuskan itu lama tidak kembali, maka Nabi Sulaiman menjadi marah dan mengucapkan sumpahnya akan menghukum burung itu dgn menyembelihnya kerna tidak segera datang dan bila burung itu tidak dpt menerangkan sebab2 dari kelambatannya itu.
       Baru saja Nabi Sulaiman mengucapkan sumpahnya itu, burung Hudhud yang ditunggu2nya itu pun datanglah dgn merendahkan kepala dan menggerak2kan ekornya tanda minta maaf dan ampun kepada Nabi Sulaiman atas kelambatannya itu.
       Akhirnya Hudhud bercerita kpdnya: "saya sudah dpt melihat tempat yg jauh di sana sesuatu yg blm pernah engkau ketahui. Sebuah tempat yg belum pernah tunduk di bawah kekuasaanmu dan engkau sendiri tak mengetahui tentangnya.
       Alangkah kagetnya Nabi Sulaiman mendengar khabar ini sebab belum pernah dia mendengar kabar yg demikian. Kepada burung Hudhud diperintahkannya utk melanjutkan ceritanya itu dan alasan apakah yang menyebabkan kelambatannya.
       Hudhud melanjutkan ceritanya: "Ada pun negeri itu bernama Saba' dan yg menjadi rajanya adalah seorang perempuan. Ia sgt berkuasa atas rakyatnya dan
istananya besar sekali. Tetapi sayang sekali penduduk dlm negeri itu rupanya dipengaruhi setan dan iblis kerana ternyata mereka sudah tidak dpt membezakan antara yg halal dan haram, antara darah dan daging, begitu pula antara kebenaran dan kepalsuan. Penduduk negeri itu umumnya buta dan bodoh serta tidak mempunyai pemikiran dan kemajuan sama sekali. Mereka menyembah matahari dan bkn menyembah Allah. Saya merasa sedih melihat keadaan mereka yg demikian, tetapi apakan dayaku kerana penduduk negeri itu kuat2 dan besar2 badannya. Pada pendapatku, alangkah baiknya bila mereka diperintahkan menyembah Allah iaitu tuhan yg sebenarnya yg mempunyai kerajaan yg Maha Agung dan Maha Besar.
       Nabi Sulaiman sungguh terkejut mendengar berita ini tetapi dia tidak mau mengejutkan Hudhud yg telah bercerita itu. Dia hanya berkata: "Akan kuselidiki dulu khabar yg kau bawa ini. Aku ingin mengetahui apakah engkau berkata benar atau berkata bohong dlm hal ini. Kalau memang benar apa yg kau katakan tadi, maka inilah sepucuk surat dariku segera kau sampaikan surat ini kepada raja dan bangsa yg telah kau ceritakan itu. Aku akan menunggu khabar jawapannya selekas mungkin.
       Surat itu segera diambilnya dari tangan Nabi Sulaiman lalu burung itu terbang melayang menyampaikan surat itu ke alamat yg sudah ditentukan. Iaitu raja(Ratu) dan rakyat Balqis di negeri Saba'.
       Hudhud terbang menyusup ke atas mahligai istana Ratu Balqis. Dengan melalui sebuah jendela, surat itu dijatuhkannya dlm istana itu tepat dihadapan Ratu Balqis sendiri.
       Surat tersebut jatuh lalu diambil dan dibaca Ratu Balqis: "Surat ini dari Sulaiman. Dengan nama Allah yang Maha Pengasih lagi Penyayang. Janganlah kamu meninggikan diri terhadapku dan hendaklah kamu mendatangiku dengan menganut agama Islam.
       Baru saja membaca dan melihat surat yg ajaib serta isinya yg mengejutkan itu, Ratu Balqis segera mengumpulkan semua menteri kerajaan, pembesar2 dan ahli2 cerdik pandai utk bermusyawarah guna meminta pertimbangan mereka tentang isi surat yg baru diterimanya itu, apakah akan menyerah dan tunduk kepada apa yg dimaksud oleh Raja Sulaiman atau tidak akan mempedulikan sama sekali isi surat itu.
       Mereka sama berkata: "Kita ini adalah suatu bangsa yg berani dan ahli perang, bukan suatu bangsa yg hanya pandai berunding dan mengalah saja. Kami sudah menetapkan dirimu ya Balqis, utk memutuskan segala sesuatu dan memerintah kami. Tetapkanlah apa yg hendak kau putuskan, kami akan menjalankannya dengan penuh rasa taat dan tunduk kepadamu. Bila engkau perintah kelangit, kami mau terbang. Ke laut kami menyelam, ke lurah kami menurun dan ke bukit pun kami akan mendakinya.
       Setelah Balqis mengetahui tanda2 dari para menteri dan pembesar2 yang menghendaki perang itu, segera ia mengemukakan pendapatnya yg bertentangan dengan pendapat mereka. Dengan tenang berkatalah Ratu Balqis: "Fikiran yg menghendaki perang itu, adalah fikiran yg salah selama jalan damai belum ditempuh sedapat2nya kerana perdamaian lbh baik dari perang. Begitulah menurut fikiran orang waras. Bila tentera telah dapat mengalahkan musuhnya dimedan perang, negeri yg dikalahkannya itu pasti mereka rusak dan mereka hancurkan, segala harta kekayaannya mereka rampas, orang2 yg mulia mereka hinakan sebaliknya orang2 hina dimuliakannya. Akhirnya mereka memperbudak lalu menjalankan tangan besi, kalau dpat berabad2 lamanya atau untuk selama2nya.
       'Aku' kata Ratu Balqis selanjutnya, "ingin mengutus sebuah delegasi yg terdiri dari orang2 yang terhormat dari bangsa kita sendiri untuk menghadap Raja Sulaiman dan pula utk memberikan hadiah yg paling berharga."
       Khabar ini sebagai jawapan terhadap surat Sulaiman itu dituliskan dalam sebuah surat lalu diserahkan kepada burung Hudhud itu untuk disampaikan kepada Sulaiman.
       Untuk menyambut kedatangan delegasi Balqis itu, Sulaiman mengadakan persiapan seperlunya. Sulaiman ingin memperlihatkan kegagahan dan keluarbiasaannya. Semua jin dipanggilnyadan diperintahkan untuk mendirikan sebuah istana dari segala macam batu dan perhiasan yang berada diperut bumi dan di dalam laut.
       Dalam waktu yg singkat saja gedung besar, iaitu istanayg terindah yg blm pernah ada tandingannya di muka bumi Allah ini sekarang menjelma. Dindingnya terbuat dari kaca yg beraneka warna, lantainya drpd emas dan perakserta pasirnya dari intandan berlian serta berbagai2 batu berharga lainnya.Semua itu dikemukakan dan didirikan oleh segala jin dengan petunjuk Nabi Sulaiman sendiri.
       Delegasi yg ditunggu2 itu pun datanglah. Kedatangan mereka disambut dengan sambutan yg hormat dan meriah. Alangkah kaget dan kagumnya mereka melihat kemewahan yg tak dapat dibayangkan dengan kata2 itu. Dengan rasa malu, mereka menyerahkan hadiah besar yg dianugerahkan Ratu Balqis kepada Raja Sulaiman.

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Abu Al-Mughis Hussein Bin Mansur Al-Hallaj

Fariduddin Attar memulakan ceritanya tentang sufi agung ini dengan ulasannya demikian, "Alangkah sedihnya seorang sufi yang agung ini tidak difahami oleh orang-orang sezamannya. Anda boleh hormati pokok jika ia berkata Anal-Haq (Akulah Yang Benar), tetapi kenapa seorng manusia yang mengucapkan kata-kata itu disalib pula. Anda patutlah tahu bahawa perkataan seperti itu adalah diucapkan oleh orang-orang sufi yang agung yang dalam keadaan mabuk Allah atau fana diri, dan mereka berucap seperti itu melalui Allah atau dengan perkataan lain, Allah yang bercakap melalui lidah-lidah mereka. Diri mereka itu telah 'MATI'. "
          Al-Syibli berkata bahawa meskipun beliau sendiri dan Abu Al-Mughis Hussein mengeluarkan kata-kata yang sama, tetapi beliau dibiarkan begitu sahaja kerana orang menyangkanya gila, tetapi Abu Al-Mughis Hussein disalib kerana orang menganggap dia bukan gila dan bijak pula.
          Abu Al-Mughis tinggal di tempat bernama Tustar semasa berumur 16 tahun dan tinggal di situ selama 2 tahun. Kemudian beliau pergi ke suatu tempat bernama Doharqa di mana beliau tinggal selama setahun setengah. Di situ beliau tinggal bersama seorang sufi agung juga bernama Umar bin Uthman Al-Makki. Di situ beliau berkahwin dengan anak perempuan Ya'kubAl-Aqta. kemudian beliau pergi tinggal bersama Al-Junaid di Baghdad. Dari sana beliau pergi ke Hijaz dan beliau bertemu dengan sekumpulan orang-orang sufi dan dengan mereka beliau kembali ke Baghdad untuk menemui Al-Junaid.
         Beliau bertanya kepada Al-Junaid sesuatu dan Al-Junaid meramalkan dengan katanya, "Satu hari kelak tuan akan warnakan palang kayu dengan wana merah." Ini berarti Abu Al-Mughis akan disalib. Mendengarkan itu, Abu Al-Mughis Hussein berkata, "Apabila perkara itu terjadi, tuan akan memakai pakaian orang biasa dan menanggalkan pakaian sufi." Ramalan itu benar-benar terjadi beberapa lama kemudian. Semua guru-guru ugama tidak mahu menandatangani surat hukuman bunuh ke atas Abu Al-Mughis Hussein itu hingga Al-Junaid terlebih dulu menandatangani surat hukuman tersebut. Al-Junaid enggan juga menurunkan tandatangannya apabila khalifah menyuruh beliau berbuat demikian. Tetapi akhirnya Al-Junaid menanggalkan pakaian sufinya itu dan memakai pakaian guru biasa, lalu menandatangani surat hukuman itu dan ditulisnya perkataan-perkataan berikut: 'Saya nyatakan pendapat saya tentang zahir Abu Al-Mughis Hussein bahawa dia patut disalib.
         Apabila Al-Junaid tidak menjawab soalan Abu Al-Mughis Hussein dan memarahinya, Abu Al-Mughis Hussein pergi ke Tustar bersama isterinya. Di sana beliau tinggal setahun lamamya. Penduduk tempat itu hormat kepada beliau. Di situ beliau selalu mengkritik orang yang pura-pura berugama dan mereka itu pulasangat marah kepada Abu Al-Mughis Hussein.
        Mereka yang anti kepada Abu Al-Mughis Hussein ini disokong oleh Amru bin Uthman, seorang tokoh ugama yang mahsyur juga. Abu Al-Mughis tidak tahan lagi mendengar kritik-kritik mereka itu. Beliau pun menanggalkan pakaian sufi dan memakai pakaian orang biasa. Pada masa itu beliau telah maju benar dalam bidang keruhanian ini. Keadaan keruhanian yang tinggi ini menguasai beliau selama 5 tahun penuh

SHEIKH HAJI FADHIL BANTEN

PENYEBAR WIRID KHAUJAKAN DI JOHOR

APABILA riwayat Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Hasan Muar tersiar dalam Ruangan Agama, Utusan Malaysia, penulis menerima panggilan daripada beberapa orang di Muar, antaranya Cikgu Haji Muhammad. Beliau menyatakan bahawa sezaman dengan ulama Muar itu ada lagi beberapa ulama yang sangat besar pengaruhnya dalam bidang kerohanian di kerajaan Johor, iaitu Syeikh Kiyai Haji Fadhil bin Haji Abu Bakar al-Banten. Daripada hasil wawancara, sebuah buku berjudul Amalan Wirid Khaujakan dan Huraiannya, susunan Ustaz Haji Ahmad Tunggal diterbitkan oleh Badan Kebajikan Jamaah Khaujakan Johor Darul Takzim, serta beberapa catatan. Maka ulama berasal dari Banten yang menaburkan baktinya di Johor dapat diperkenalkan. Beliau lahir di Banten, Jawa Barat sekitar tahun 1287 Hijrah/1870 Masihi dan meninggal dunia di Bakri, Muar, Johor pada 29 Jamadilawal 1369 Hijrah/18 Mac 1950 Masihi, dikebumikan di Batu 28 Langa, Muar.Sebelum riwayat ini diteruskan, dirasakan perlu menjelaskan nama `Banten' kerana ada orang memperkata bahawa ulama yang diceritakan ini berasal dari `Bentan'. Hal ini terjadi hanyalah kerana ada orang yang tidak dapat membezakan antara Banten dengan Bentan. Banten, kadang-kadang disebut juga dengan Bantan, kadang-kadang Bantam. Banten pada zaman dulu mempunyai kerajaan sendiri. Setelah Indonesia merdeka ia dimasukkan ke dalam Propinsi Jawa Barat dan setelah reformasi, menjadi propinsi sendiri yang dinamakan Propinsi Banten.Ada pun Bentan adalah sebuah pulau di Kepulauan Riau, yang kedua terbesar sesudah Pulau Natuna. Bentan sangat penting dalam sejarah dan geografi, sama ada zaman kerajaan Melaka mahu pun zaman pembentukan kerajaan Riau-Lingga-Johor dan Pahang dan takluknya, zaman Riau-Johor dan terakhir sekali menjadi Riau-Lingga.Ulama yang dikisahkan ini berasal dari Banten bukan dari Bentan. Banten memang ramai melahirkan ulama yang terkenal, antara yang terkenal di seluruh dunia Islam ialah Syeikh Nawawi al-Bantani yang diakui oleh dunia Islam dengan gelar Imam Nawawi ats-Tsani (Imam Nawawi yang ke-2). Sedang dari Bentan hingga kini belum diketahui nama ulamanya, yang ada hanyalah ulama Riau yang berasal dari pulau-pulau lainnya. Antara ulama Riau yang mengajar di Mekah peringkat guru pada Fadhil ialah Syeikh Ahmad bin Muhammad Yunus Lingga .

PENDIDIKAN
Selain mendapat pendidikan dari kalangan keluarga sendiri, Fadhil juga memasuki pelbagai pondok pengajian di Banten. Sekitar usia tiga puluhan, barulah beliau melanjutkan pendidikannya di Mekah. Sewaktu masih berada di Banten lagi, Fadhil telah mengenal beberapa thariqat yang berada di Banten, antaranya ialah Thariqat Qadiriyah yang tersebar di seluruh Jawa yang dibawa oleh murid-murid Syeikh Ahmad Khathib bin Abdul Ghaffar Sambas (lahir 1217 Hijrah/ 1802 Masihi, wafat 1289 Hijrah/1872 Masihi). Salah seorang khalifahnya yang paling terkenal, yang berasal dari Banten ialah Syeikh Abdul Karim al-Bantani (wafat 18 Safar 1315 Hijrah/19 Julai 1897 Masihi). Thariqat Naqsyabandiyah yang tersebar di Banten juga berasal daripada ulama Sambas tersebut melalui Syeikh Abdul Karim al-Bantani. Oleh itu dipercayai bahawa Fadhil telah ditawajjuh dengan kedua-dua thariqat tersebut oleh Syeikh Abdul Karim al-Bantani, ulama Banten yang sangat terkenal itu. Setelah berada di Mekah, Fadhil menerima pula Thariqat Tijaniyah, walau bagaimana pun tidak jelas daripada siapa beliau menerima thariqat itu. Selain belajar, di Mekah beliau membantu saudara sepupunya Hajah Halimah mengurus jemaah haji.

DATANG KE JOHOR
Penghulu Mukim Langa bernama Haji Daud sangat tertarik pada keperibadian, keilmuan dan kerohanian yang ada pada Fadhil, maka penghulu itu berusaha memujuk ulama yang berasal dari Banten ini supaya datang ke Johor. Akhirnya hasrat Daud tercapai juga. Maka dalam tahun 1915 Masihi, Fadhil Banten sampai di Johor. Beliau mengajar di Kampung Langa, Muar. Selain pelbagai ilmu Islam yang asas seperti fardu ain, Fadhil lebih menekankan Wirid Khaujakan atau Khatam Khaujakan yang sangat terkenal dalam ajaran Thariqat Qadiriyah dan Thariqat Naqsyabandiyah.Fadhil melebarkan sayap dakwahnya bukan hanya di Kampung Langa tetapi juga termasuk dalam Bandar Maharani (Muar), Bakri, Bukit Kepong dan tempat-tempat lainnya. Pendek kata banyak surau dan masjid yang menjadi tempat beliau mengajar. Ajaran beliau dapat diterima oleh semua pihak termasuk Sultan Johor.

SULTAN JOHOR PERLU PERTOLONGAN
Perang dunia kedua meletus antara tahun 1939 hingga tahun 1945. Dalam masa darurat itulah Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan Johor merasa perlu menyelamatkan Kerajaan Johor, termasuk diri peribadi dan keluarganya dengan apa cara sekali pun. Atas nasihat beberapa insan yang arif, baginda mendekati seorang ulama sufi yang sangat mustajab doanya. Ulama yang dimaksudkan Syeikh Fadhil. Beliau tidak perlu didatangkan dari luar kerana beliau memang telah bermustautin di Johor. Baginda menitahkan Datuk Othman Buang, Pegawai Daerah Muar ketika itu untuk mencari dan menjemput ulama sufi itu datang ke istana baginda. Hajat Sultan Ibrahim itu dipersetujui oleh Syeikh Fadhil, namun walaupun sultan telah menyediakan sebuah rumah dekat dengan istana di Pasir Pelangi tetapi beliau lebih suka tinggal di Masjid Pasir Pelangi. Pada waktu malam beliau hadir di sebelah bilik peraduan Sultan Ibrahim membaca wirid untuk menjaga keselamatan sultan. Walau bagaimana pun untuk lebih mudah melakukan pelbagai amalan wirid dan munajat kepada Allah, beliau memilih masjid yang lebih banyak berkatnya dari rumah. Oleh itu Fadhil lebih banyak melakukannya di dalam masjid.
Akhirnya Sultan Ibrahim memperoleh ketenangan jiwa kerana keberkesanan dan keberkatan doa Syeikh Fadhil. Selanjutnya perang dunia kedua selesai dan baginda memberikan anugerah kepada ulama sufi tersebut. Ustaz Haji Ahmad Tunggal dalam bukunya menyebut, ``Sultan telah menganugerahkan pangkat kepada Haji Fadhil, iaitu ia dilantik sebagai Mufti Peribadi Sultan. Jawatan ini berbeza dengan Mufti Kerajaan. Mufti Peribadi adalah bertanggungjawab kepada sultan. Ia memberi nasihat dan fatwa jika dikehendaki oleh sultan.''Selain anugerah yang berupa kedudukan itu, Sultan Ibrahim juga membiayai Fadhil dan isterinya menunaikan ibadah haji, dan memberikan hadiah-hadiah yang tidak terkira besar dan banyaknya. Sumbangan yang tiada terhingga besarnya kepada Sultan Ibrahim ialah beliau telah membuka pintu kebebasan seluas-luasnya kepada Kiyai Syeikh Fadhil untuk menubuhkan kumpulan-kumpulan Wirid Khaujakan di seluruh Kerajaan Johor tanpa sebarang halangan. Berdasarkan tulisan Ustaz Haji Ahmad Tunggal, peringkat awal pembentukan kumpulan tersebut di Pontian diketuai oleh Haji Ahmad Syah. Di Batu Pahat oleh Kiyai Saleh. Di Muar oleh Haji Abdul Majid dan di Mersing oleh Haji Siraj bin Marzuki.

KETURUNAN DAN MURID
Daripada isteri yang pertama, Syeikh Fadhil memperoleh empat orang anak; seorang lelaki dan tiga perempuan. Anak lelakinya ialah Orang Kaya Penghulu Haji Abdul Hamid. Setelah isteri pertamanya meninggal dunia, beliau pindah ke Bandar Muar dan berkahwin lagi dengan seorang janda beranak dua. Kedua-duanya ialah Haji Othman bin Haji Azhari dan Haji Ali bin Haji Azhari yang meneruskan perjuangan Syeikh Fadhil. Antara murid Syeikh Fadhil ialah Sahibus Samahah Haji Ahmad Awang yang pernah menjadi Mufti Kerajaan Johor. Murid dan anak tirinya, Haji Othman Azhari, dalam buku Amalan Wirid Khaujakan dan Huraiannya, pada tahun 1994 adalah sebagai Yang Dipertua Badan Kebajikan Jamaah Khaujakan, dan ramai lagi. Daripada buku Amalan Wirid Khaujakan dan Huraiannya oleh Ustaz Ahmad Tunggal yang memperoleh pendidikan di Universiti Al-Azhar, Mesir itu banyak perkara yang dapat kita ketahui. Antaranya bahawa terasasnya Badan Kebajikan Jamaah Khaujakan yang sangat meluas di seluruh Johor adalah bermula daripada Syeikh Fadhil. Amalan Wirid Khaujakan masih subur dan berkesinambungan di Johor seperti juga di beberapa tempat lain di seluruh dunia Islam.Pada pandangan penulis, walaupun ada golongan anti amalan sufi yang menuduh bahawa orang-orang sufi mengamalkan perkara-perkara bidaah dan khurafat, tuduhan melulu seperti itu tidak berasas sama sekali kerana Wirid Khaujakan dan beberapa amalan golongan sufi selainnya juga bersumberkan al- Quran dan as-sunah. Mereka yang beramal dengannya bukan terdiri daripada golongan awam saja tetapi juga termasuk ulama-ulama besar terkenal yang mampu membahas al-Quran dan hadis. Ia bukan diamalkan oleh orang-orang di dunia Melayu sahaja tetapi juga di tempat-tempat dalam belahan dunia. Penulis tidak sependapat dengan beberapa pandangan yang menuduh bahawa apabila beramal mengikut sufi mengakibatkan ketinggalan dalam membina kemajuan duniawi, kerana ternyata tidak sedikit golongan sufi yang menghasilkan karya, mencetuskan pemikiran yang bernas maju, menghasilkan sesuatu pemikiran baru pada setiap zaman dan lain-lain. Kebijakan Sultan Ibrahim yang memahami keadaan zaman darurat menghadapi huru-hara perang dunia kedua yang sukar diatasi dalam bentuk zahiri semata-mata, sehingga baginda memerlukan insan takwa seperti Syeikh Fadhil, patut dicontohi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin kita masa kini dan zaman-zaman yang akan datang. Setelah kita mengetahui dalam dunia sekarang bahawa nyawa seolah-olah tiada harganya, situasi dunia yang tiada ketentuannya, termasuk dunia Melayu juga, maka patutlah umat Islam Melayu memperbanyak zikir, wirid, selawat dan lain-lain sejenisnya demi kebaikan dan ketahanan diri Muslimin dan dunia Melayu sejagat.

Haji Mohd Salleh bin Abdul Karim (Kiai Salleh)

Haji Mohd Salleh bin Abdul Karim dilahirkan di Tanjung Olak Panchur, Bukit Pasir, Muar, Johor pada tahun 1916. Masa mudanya banyak dihabiskan dengan menuntut ilmu daipada beberapa orang guru termasuklah guru di kampung isterinya, Hajah Esah Haji Abdul Rashid, di Ara Pasung, Pontian, Johor.

Antara guru-guru Haji Mohd Salleh ialah Haji Hussein (belajar agama dan al quran), Haji Alias, Haji Adam dan Haji Ahmad. Dan ada yang mengatakan dia juga turut belajar daripada Sykeih Fadhil Banten yang membawa ajaran Wirid Khaujakan di Johor selepas mendapat perkenan Sultan Ibrahim.

Haji Mohd Salleh atau lebih dikenali sebagai Panglima Salleh merupakan seorang pahlawan Melayu yang bangkit menentang kekejaman komunis semasa selepas kekalahan Jepun semasa Perang Dunia II.

Kepimpinan Haji Mohd Salleh terserlah semasa kekalahan pihak Tentera Jepun di tangan pihak Tentera Berikat pada pertengahan bulan Ogos 1945. Di Semenanjung Tanah Melayu, peristiwa tersebut menimbulkan apa yang dinamakan tempoh Kekosongan Kuasa. Tempoh tersebut berlangsung selama dua minggu sehingga ketibaan Askar British yang menandakan permulaan Pentadbiran British Baru di Tanah Melayu.

Sebelum ketibaan pihak British, pihak komunis yang dikenali sebagai Askar Bintang Tiga yang sebelum itu berjuang menentang Jepun di bawah payung Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army atau MPAJA telah mengambil kesempatan untuk berkuasa dan bertindak kejam terhadap orang-orang yang dianggap bekerjasama dengan Jepun. Mereka tidak mengenal mangsa dan menghukum sesiapa sahaja yang dianggap bersalah tanpa mengikuti proses undang-undang yang betul. Lazimnya mereka yang di dapati bersalah akan dikenakan hukuman mati.

Kekejaman Askar Bintang Tiga berleluasa di Tanah Melayu termasuk di kawasan Batu Pahat dan Muar di Johor. Masyarakat Melayu di kawasan Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat, Johor, yang pada ketika itu tidak mempunyai kelengkapan senjatapi untuk mempertahankan diri telah memilih Haji Mohd Salleh untuk memimpin pakatan untuk mempertahankan diri dari kekejaman Askar Bintang Tiga.

Dengan hanya bersenjatakan parang panjang dan amalan Ayat Empat, Haji Mohd Salleh telah memimpin masyarakat Batu Pahat untuk menggempur kubu-kubu Askar Bintang Tiga di Bukit Berdiri dan Bukit Alam, Parit Sulong, di Parit Lubok, Semerah, di Kangkar Senanga, dan di Air Kuning, Bakri, Muar. Pasukan pejuang di bawah pimpinan Haji Mohd Salleh terkenal dengan gelaran tentera parang panjang dan 'Selempang Merah iaitu sejenis kain selendang berwarna merah yang dibekalkan kepada setiap orang ketika menghadapi atau berhadapan dengan musuh.

Terdapat pelbagai kisah mengenai kehebatan ilmu kebatinan Haji Mohd Salleh dan pengkutnya mendakwa ramai Askar Bintang Tiga melihat beribu-ribu pejuang yang tinggi menggalah menuju ke arah mereka untuk mencabut nyawa mereka, sedangkan yang datang itu hanyalah Panglima Salleh dan pasukanya yang dianggarkan berjumlah seratus orang sahaja.

Walauapapun yang sebenarnya berlaku, yang jelas adalah Haji Mohd Salleh bin Abdul Karim berjaya menyekat kegiatan Askar Bintang Tiga pada masa itu secara berkesan sehinggalah pihak British kembali menjajah Tanah Melayu.

Kegagahan dan keberanian, Haji Mohd Salleh diiktiraf oleh Kebawah Duli Sultan Johor Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim ibni Sultan Abu Bakar yang bertitah pada 26hb Disember 1945 bahawa Haji Mohd Salleh adalah Panglima Melayu. Sejak itu Haji Mohd Salleh mendapat gelaran Panglima.

Sebagai mengenang jasa Haji Mohd Salleh, DYMM Sultan Johor telah mengurniakan beliau Pingat Ibrahim Sultan (PIS)pada 17hb September 1955. Haji Mohd Salleh menghembuskan nafas yang terakhir kerana diserang penyakit radang paru-paru di Hospital Besar Johor Bahru pada 21hb April 1959.

Riwayat Ringkas Hujjatul Islam, Imam Al Ghazali

Abu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Ta’us Ahmad al-Tusi al-Shafi’I yang terkenal secara umumnya dengan nama al-Ghazali, dilahirkan pada 450 Hijrah/1058 Masihi di Tabaran, satu daripada dua buah kota kecil di Tus, sekarang dalam kawasan Meshed di Khurasan.

Beliau bukannya ulama yang tersohor pertama dalam keluarganya, kerana datuk saudaranya bernama abu Hamid al-Ghazali (men.435 H/1043 M) merupakan seorang ahli ilmu kalam dan ahli fiqh yang terkenal; mungkin beliau ini menjadi contoh ikutan bagi orang muda yang berhemah tinggi itu.

Semenjak awal lagi beliau terdedah kepada pengaruh amalan-amalan dan ilmu tasawwuf, ayahandanya seorang yang beramal dengan amalan tasawwuf yang sangat warak, mengikut laporan al-Subki, sehingga dikatakan ia hanya makan dari hasil usaha tangannya sendiri, dan beliau selalu bersama dengan mereka yang alim.

Imam Ghazali rh yang yatim itu dididik oleh sufi yang menjadi sahabat ayahandanya, bersekali dengan saudaranya Ahmad. Semenjak masa kanak-kanaknya Imam al-Ghazali mempelajari ilmu kalam dan fiqh, mula-mulanya dalam kota kecil kelahirannya dengan Shaikh Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Radhkhani al-Tusi, kemudian beliau pergi melanjutkan pengajiannya di Jurjan di bawah didikan Imam abu Nasr al-Isma’ili.

Ibn ‘Asakir menyebutkan bahawa Imam al-Ghazali mengambil ilmu tentang hadith al-Bukhari daripada Abu Sahl Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Hafsi, dan antara syaikh-syaikhnya yang lain dalam ilmu hadith ialah Nasr ibn ‘Ali ibn Ahmad al-Hakimi al-Tusi, ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Khawari, dan Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn Suja’i al-Zawzani dan seterusnya. Sewaktu dalam perjalanan pulang dari Jurjan ada kisah yang menarik tentang Imam ini yang berkisar bagaimana beliau dirompak. Bila para perompak itu meninggalkannya, beliau mengikuti mereka, tetapi beliau diberi amaran agar tidak mengikuti mereka itu kalau tidak beliau akan mati. Lalu beliau meminta dengan nama Allah supaya dikembali kertas-kertas yang mengandungi catitan-catitan pelajarannya kerana kertas itu tidak ada gunanya untuk mereka. Bila ditanya tentang kertas apa yang ada dalam beg itu beliau menjawab bahawa itu mengandungi catitan-catitan ilmunya yang didengarinya yang kerananya beliau jauh mengembara. Perompak itu ketawa dan bertanya “bagaimana kamu memperolehi ilmu mereka bila kami ambil kertas itu maka kamu tidak berilmu lagi”. Ini suatu yang aneh berlaku. Bagaimanapun catitan-catitannya diserahkan kembali. Apabila beliau kembali ke Tus lepas itu, imam al-Ghazali mengambil masa tiga tahun menghafal semua catitan-catitan yang dipelajarinya itu. Setelah beliau kembali dari Jurjan dan berada di Tus buat beberapa waktu, mungkin di waktu ini beliau mempelajari tasawwuf di bawah Shaikh Yusuf al-Nassaj dan mungkin juga melakukan latihan-latihan kesufian. Sewaktu berumur lebih kurang dua puluh tahun beliau pergi melanjutkan pelajarannya ke Maktab Nizamiyyah di Nishapur untuk berguru kepada Imam al-Haramain iaitu Abu al-Ma’ali al-Juwaini, yang merupakan guru generasi yang keempat dari Imam al-Ash’ari sendiri dalam akidah ajaran Imam itu. Dalam akademi itu beliau mempelajari ilmu-ilmu seperti usul al-din, fiqh, falsafah, logik, ilmu-ilmu sains tabi’I, tasawwuf dan lainnya. Imam al-Haramain memberi kepada para pelajar kebebasan berfikir dan kebebasan mengeluarkan pendapat mereka, dan mereka digalakkan dalam mengambil bahagian dalam perdebatan dan perbincangan tentang pelbagai jenis persoalan yang dihadapi. Dalam perdebatan-perdebatan dengan rakan-rakannya Imam al-Ghazali menunjukkan kemampuan berfikir yang luas dan tajam, dan ia mempunyai kebolehan yang tinggi dalam kepetahan berhujah yang ini terbukti kemudiannya dalam tulisan-tulisannya seperti Tahafut al-Falasifah. Tidak lama kemudiannya beliau berkesempatan memberi kuliah kepada rakan-rakannya, dan membuat penulisan. Beliau merupakan seorang yang berfikir secara kritilal dan bebas merdeka; sewaktu beliau menjadi pelajar di Nizamiyyah di Nishapur beliau merasa tidak berpuas hati dengan pegangan yang dimilikinya, dan membebaskan dirinya daripada cara bertaklid semata dalam pegangan agama.

Sewaktu di Nishapur beliau menjadi murid kepada ulama sufi abu ‘Ali al-Fadl ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Farmadhi; daripada guru sufi inilah beliau lebih banyak lagi mempelajari ilmu berkenaan dengan pengetahuan dan amalan kesufian. Al-Farmadhi itu sendiri adalah murid kepada bapa saudara beliau sendiri dan juga murid al-Qushairi (men.465/1074) yang terkenal itu. Beliau mengamalkan juga amalan-amalan kezahidan yang ketat di bawah bimbingan beliau ini; sebagaimana yang disebutkan oleh beliau sendiri keadaannya tidaklah sampai ke tahap boleh mendapat inspirasi murni ‘dari alam tinggi”.

Waktu itu juga beliau merasa tidak puas hati dengan pemikiran secara falsafah yang dihadapinya itu termasuk apa yang diterima secara otoriti dalam hubungan dengan usul al-din. Tekanan dalam tasawwuf tentang hubungan yang rapat dan mesra dengan Tuhan menjadikan imam utama ini lebih tidak berpuas hati lagi dengan huraian falsafah dalam usul al-din itu. Al-Farmadhi meninggal pada tahun 477 /1074 M dan Imam al-Haramain meninggal di tahun 478 H/1085 M. Waktu itu Imam al-Ghazali berumur dua puluh lapan tahun; ianya masih sangat bertenaga, dan namanya masyhur dalam alam Islam.

Beliau pergi ke istana Nizam al-Mulk wazir Malikshah (memerintah waktu itu 465 H/1072-485 H/1092 M) dan berada dalam kalangan para ahli ilmu kalam dan fuqaha di istana beliau itu. Nizam al-Mulk itu seorang wazir yang memberi galakan kepada perkembangan ilmu-ilmu, sains, sastera, dan menghimpunkan sekelilingnya para ulama dan ilmiawan yang terkenal dan mempunyai ilmu yang mendalam. Beliau biasa mengadakan majlis-majlis perbincangan ilmiah dan al-Ghazali mendapat namanya yang terkenal kerana kebolehan debatnya yang sangat baik. Ilmu pengetahuan al-Ghazali berkenaan dengan fiqh, usul al-din, dan falsafah sedemikian dikagumi oleh Nizam al-Mulk sehingga beliau dilantik sebagai professor Usul al-Din di Nizamiyyah itu (diasaskan pada tahun 458–460 H/1065-67 M) di Baghdad pada tahun 484H/1091M. Waktu itu beliau berumur tiga puluh empat tahun. Ini merupakan kemuliaan yang sedemikian tinggi di alam Islam, dan beliau itu diangkat kepada jawatan yang sedemikian sewaktu umur sedemikian muda, yang tidak pernah orang lain dilantik kepada jawatan sedemikian sewaktu bermur semuda itu.

Beliau sedemikian berjaya sebagai professor di Akademi itu; kuliahnya yang sedemikian cemerlang dan kedalaman ilmu pengetahuannya serta kejelasan huraiannya menarik semakin ramai para pelajar atau pendengar kepadanya, termasuk mereka dari kalangan para sarjana yang terkenal di zaman itu. Dengan segeranya ramai mereka mengiktirafi kefasihan, kedalaman pengetahuan, dan kemampuan beliau sebagai pembicara ilmu, dan kemudiannya beliau dikirakan sebagai ahli usul al-din yang teragung dalam tradisi Asha’irah. Maka beliau diminta nasihat dalam perkara-perkara keagamaan dan siasah dan beliau menimbulkan pengarah yang sebanding dengan pengaruh pegawai-pegawai negara yang tertinggi.

Beliau mencapai kejayaan tertinggi sebagai ulama dilihat dari segi keduniaan lahiriahnya, tetapi dari segi batinnya beliau mula mengalami krisis intelektuil dan kerohanian yang amat mendalam. Rasa syaknya dan menyoal semua perkara yang ada dahulunya pada beliau mula menimbulkan dirinya semula dan beliau sampai bersikap kritikal terhadap mata-mata pelajaran yang diajarkannya sendiri. Beliau merasa kekosongan dalam huraian-huraian yang berupa helah-helah di kalangan para fuqaha. Sistem huraian di kalangan ahli ilmu kalam tidak merupakan keyakinan secara ilmu dan intelektuilnya. Beliau menentang huraian mereka yang memberi penekanan yang berlebihan tentang perkara-perkara doktrinal, kerana yang demikian membawa agama menjadi lingkungan sistem ortodoksi dan berupa sebagai soal-jawab yang dangkal sahaja; perbalahan-perbalahan di kalangan para mutakalimun berupa perakara-perkara soal-jawab tentang pegangan agama yang tidak ada hubungan sebenar dengan kehidupan manusia dengan agamanya.

Sekali lagi beliau menumpukan dirinya kepada penelitian tentang falsafah secara bersungguh-sungguh dan menyeluruh, dan beliau mendapati bahawa pegangan dan keyakinan tidak boleh dibinakan atas pemikiran semata-mata. Akal ada peranannya pada tahap-tahap tertentu, tetapi akhirnya Kebenaran Yang Terakhir memang tidak boleh dicapai dengan akal fikiran. Dengan menyedari tentang batasan-batasan pemikiran dalam hubungan dengan teologi, beliau berada dalam rasa syak berkenaan dengan ilmu dan pegangan lalu beliau merasa tidak tenang jiwanya dan hatinya. Beliau merasa beliau berada dalam kedudukan yang tidak sebenar.

Akhirnya beliau mendapat kesedaran bahawa jalan yang sebenarnya ialah jalan tasawwuf yang membawa manusia kepada kebenaran yang sebenarnya melalui pengalaman rohaniah yang sahih. Beliau telahpun mempelajari ilmu tasawwuf secara teori dan bahkan ada juga melakukan amalan-amalannya; tetapi beliau belum lagi mara ke dalam pengalamannya secara yang sangat jauh. Dia memikirkan bahawa kalaulah beliau menumpukan dirinya kepada perjalanan kesufian melalui ciri-ciri kezuhudan, serta menekuni amalan-amalan spiritual, berserta dengan tafakur yang mendalam, beliau berkemungkinan akan mencapai nur yang sedang dicari-carinya.

Tetapi yang demikian ini melibatkan beliau meninggalkan kerjaya ilmiah yang cemerlang dan kedudukan keduniaan yang sedemikian tinggi itu. Beliau terasa juga runtunan untuk mendapat kemasyhuran dan kehebatan dirinya dalam kehidupan. Tetapi runtunan untuk mencari kebenaran terlalu amat kuatnya. Beliau merasakan bahawa beliau memerlukan keyakinan yang menetap pada pegangan, yang diperkuatkan lagi dengan pemikirannya tentang kedatangan maut. Beliau berada dalam konflik pemikiran dan perasaan sedemikian selama enam bulan lamanya mulai dari bulan Rajab 488H/ Julai 1095.

Beliau menjadi merusut kesihatan badannya dan pemikirannya juga amat terganggu; selera makannya dan penghadamannya hilang sampai suaranyapun tidak ada lagi. Maka senanglah baginya untuk melepaskan jawatannya sebagai professor lalu ia meninggalkan kota Baghdad pada bulan dhul-Qa’idah 488 H/ November 1095 M, secara lahirnya beliau menunjukkan bahawa beliau sedang hendak menunaikan fardhu haji; beliau meminta saudaranya Ahmad menggantinya memberi pengajaran kepada orang ramai dalam masa pemergiannya itu; sebenarnya beliau menjalankan ‘uzlah sebagaimana yang diajarkan oleh para ulama sufi demi untuk mencapai kedamaian fikiran dan hati serta keselamatan untuk rohnya sendiri.

Beliau menyedekahkan semua harta miliknya melainkan bahagian-bahagian tertentu yang diamanahkan untuk perbelanjaan keluarganya, kemudian beliau terus pergi ke Syria. Selama dua tahun lamanya beliau berada dalam ‘uzlah (tahun 488 H/1095 M ) di salah sebuah daripada menara-menara masjid Umayyah di Damsyik; kemudian beliau pergi ke Jerusalem untuk menjalankan ‘uzlah lagi di mana beliau melakukan tafakur yang mendalam di Masjid ‘Umar dan Qubbat al-Sakhr (The Dome of the Rock). Selepas daripada melawat makam Nabi Ibrahim a.s. di Hebron, beliau melaksanakan hajinya ke Makkah dan pergi ke Madinah. Itu diikuti dengan amalan ber’uzlah di tempat-tempat yang mulia dan masjid-masjid, serta mengembara di padang-padang pasir. Selepas daripada sebelas tahun berada dalam pengembaraan beliau kembali ke kota kelahirannya Tus, dalam tahun 499 H/1105 M. Berkenaan dengan pengalaman-pengalamannya mengikut apa- apa yang berlaku selepas beliau meninggalkan kota Baghdad, tidak ada apa-apa yang diberitahu olehnya kepada kita. Apa yang diberitahu ialah bagaimana adanya perkara-perkara yang tidak boleh dihuraiakan yang terlalu banyak yang berlaku kepadanya dalam bentuk ilham-ilham sewaktu beliau berada dalam masa ‘uzlahnya itu. Pengalaman-pengalaman itu nampaknya membawa sebagai natijahnya kepada beliau menerima otoritas Nabi s.a.w. dan tunduk dengan sepenuhnya kepada kebenaran-kebenaran yang diwahyukan dalam al-Qur’an. Antara tanda-tanda awal tentang beliau memberi pembelaan terhadap akidah Ahlis-Sunnah wal-jama’ah (yang memang dahulunya memang beliau memberi pembelaan terhadapnya, tetapi sekarang pembelaan itu diberikan selepas daripada berlaku sesuatu yang boleh disebut sebagai pengesahan secara kerohanian tentang kebenaran-kebenaran itu) ialah penulisannya berjudul ar-Risalah al-Qudsiyyah yang digubah sewaktu beliau berada dalam ‘uzlahnya di Jerusalem, mungkin sebelum 492 H/1099 M sebab pada bulan Sya’ban tahun tersebut Jerusalem ditawan oleh tentera Salib. Ini dimasukkan ke dalam bab ke tiga kitab teragungnya Ihya’ ‘Ulumi’d-Din dalam bab berkenaan dengan dasar-dasar ‘Aqidah; di dalam kitab itu beliau mencatitkan apa yang dipelajarinya dalam masa beliau ber’uzlah sambil melakukan latihan-latihan kerohanian dan menjalankan tafakur yang mendalam itu. Dalam masa pengembaraan itu beliau terus menerus mengarang kitab-kitab selain daripada Ihya’ ‘Ulumi’d-Din dan dari semasa ke semasa beliau kembali memberi pengajaran kepada para muridnya. Beliau merasakan bahawa ia mempunyai peranan untuk menyelamatkan agama daripada aliran kezindikan dan kekufuran dan beliau mengarang kitab-kitab untuk menegakkan akidah Ahl al-Sunnah wal-jama’ah sebagaimana yang jelas daripada bahagian akidah dalam Ihya’ ‘Ulumi’d-Din dan kitab-kitab lain seperti al-Iqtisad fi’l-I’tiqad; beliau juga mengarang kita tentang kesesatan Batiniyyah dalam kitabnya al-Fad’ih al-Bataniyyah dan juga kesesatan dan kekufuran dalam kitab Faisalat al-Tafriqah bainal-islam wa’z-zanadiqah. Beliau juga meneruskan pemerhatiannya terhadap hadith-hadith Nabi s.a.w.

Bila beliau kembali ke Tus beliau meneruskan hidup ‘uzlahnya serta tafakkur yang diamalnya; bagaimanapun Fakhr al-Mulk anak lelaki Nizam al-Mulk yang memberi lindungan kepadanya, yang waktu itu menjadi wazir kepada Sultan Sanjar menggesa beliau menerima jawatan professor ilmu akidah di Maktab Maimunah Nizamiyyah di Nishapur yang beliau setujui akhirnya, dengan perasaan hati yang berat; tetapi beliau tidak lama bertugas di sana dan kemudiannya kembali ke kota kelahirannya lagi dan membina madrasah di mana beliau memberi pengajaran di sana berkenaan dengan usul al-din dan tasawwuf.

Kemudiannya bila beliau disuruh oleh wazir al-Said mengajar pula dan Nizamiyyah di Baghdad, beliau membuat pilihan untuk menetap di Tus; di sana beliau hidup dengan aman dengan para muridnya; hidupnya dipenuhi dengan pendidikan dan ibadat kepada Allah sehingga beliau meninggal dunia pada 14 Jamadil-Akhir tahun 505 H/19 Disember 1111 M dengan kitab hadith atas dadanya, kata kisahnya. Ibn al-Jawzi meriwayatkan dalam kitab al-Thabat ‘Inda al-Mamat kisah yang didapatinya daripada Ahmad saudara Imam al-Ghazali bahawa “pada Hari Isnin (14 Jamadil-Akhir) pada waktu masuk Subuh saudaraku Abu Hamid mengambil wudu’nya, sembahyang Subuh, kemudian berkata: ‘Bawa kepadaku kain kafanku’; beliau mengambil kain itu, menciumnya dan meletakkannya pada matanya, sambil berkata: ‘Kami mendengar dan taat dengan penuh persediaan untuk hadhir ke Hadhrat Tuhan, Raja (Yang Maha Berkuasa)’; kemudian beliau melunjurkan kakinya, mengadap kiblat,dan meninggal dunia sebelum matahari naik’.

Diceritakan bahawa Shaikh Abul-hasan al-Shadhili rd bermimpi bahawa ia melihat Nabi s.a.w. menunjukkan Imam Al Ghazali kepada nabi Musa dan ‘Isa, sambil bertanya kepada kedua mereka, ‘Adakah terdapat orang alim yang bijaksana dalam umat anda berdua?’, jawab keduanya tidak ada.

Dalam hayatnya beliau menyedari bahawa beliau mesti bertanggungjawab untuk menghadapi aliran ilhad atau kekufuran yang sedang muncul pada waktu itu menyanggahi ajaran Islam berdasarkan Qur’an dan Sunnah sebagaimana yang ada dalam Ahlis-Sunnah wal-jama’ah. Kerana itu beliau memberi pembelaan terhadap akidah Ahlis-Sunnah wal-jamaah dalam teks-teks karangannya.

(dipetik dari Laman Traditional Islam - Pemurnian Tasawwuf oleh Iman Al Ghazali tulisan Ustaz Muhammad ‘Uthman el-Muhammady )

THE KING OF SAINTS

HIS GENEALOGY

HIS FAMILY HISTORY OF HIS BIRTH
RELATING TO HIS BIRTH EARLY CHILDHOOD COMPLETION OF EDUCATION STRIVING AND ENDURANCE THE COURT OF HIS PIR-O-MURSHID THE MUSLIMS OF BAGHDAD HIS KARAMAAT (MIRACLES) HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN HIS ENLIGHTENING LECTURES INCIDENTS RELATING TO HIS DEMISE GENEALOGY

HIS NAME: His name was Abd al-Qaadir. His title was “Abu Muhammad” (father of Muhammad) s.a.w.s. He is famously known as Muhyi’d-Din, al-Ghawth al-A’zam, Sultan al-Awliya, Ghaus-e-Paak,etc. He was a descendant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. from both his mother’s (al-Husaini) and father’s side (al-Hasani). (Imam Hasan and Imam Husain r.a. being the grandsons of the Holy Prophet Muhammad – s.a.w.s. ). Sayyid Abu Saleh Moosa r.a. was his father and Sayyidah Ummul Khair Faatima r.a. was his mother.

PLACE OF BIRTH: According to authentic narrations, Sayyiduna al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was born in a place called Neef, which is situated in Gilan (Persia). According to Imam Yaaqoot Hamwi r.a., Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was born in a place called Bashteer. Most historians agree that Neef and Bashteer were differrent names for the same place. Since he was born in Gilan, al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir r.a. is known as al-Jilani. Concerning his birth, al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. personally states the following in his “Qasida-e-Ghausia”: “I am a citizen of Jeel and my name is Muhyi’d-Din and the flag of my exaltedness is planted firm on mountains.”

HIS FAMILY TREE: His family tree reaches the Caliph, Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtadha r.a. from his father through fourteen generations and through his mother by twelve generations. Shaikh Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman Jaami r.a. said the following concerning the geneology of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. : “He is an exalted King, who is known as al-Ghwath al-A’zam. He is Sayyid from both his parents. Hasani from his father and Husaini from his mother.” His family tree is as follows: SAYYIDUNA RASOOLULLAH, s.a.w.s.

• A. SAYYIDATUN NISA FATHIMATU ZAHRA
• B. SAYYIDUNA ALI-E-MURTAZA r.a.
• A1. SHAHEED-E-KARBALA IMAM HUSAIN r.a.
• B1. SAYYIDUNA IMAM HASSAN

A2. SAYYIDUNA IMAM ZAINUL ABEDEEN r.a.

• B2. SAYYID HASSAN MATHNI

A3. IMAM MUHAMMAD BAAQIR r.a.

• B3. SAYYID ABDUL MAHDH

A4. SAYYIDUNA IMAM JAAFAR SAADIQ r.a.

• B4. SAYYID MOOSA AL JAWN

A5. SAYYIDUNA IMAM MOOSA KAAZIM r.a.

• A5. SAYYID ABDULLAH THAANI

A6. SAYYIDUNA SHAIKH ALI RAZA r.a.

• B6. SAYYID MOOSA THAANI

A7. SAYYID ABOO ALA’UDDEEN r.a.

• B7. SAYYID DAWOOD

A8. SAYYID KAMAALUD’DEEN ESA r.a.

• B8. SAYYID MUHAMMAD

A9. SAYYID ABUL ATAA ABDULLAH r.a.

• B9. SAYYID YAHYA AZ ZAAHID

A10. SHAIKH SAYYID MAHMOOD r.a.

• B10. SAYYID ABI ABDILLAI
• A11. SAYYID MUHAMMAD
• B11. SAYYID ABU SAMEH MOOSA (father)
• SAYYID ABOO JAMAAL
• SAYYID ABDULLAH SOOM’EE
• SAYYIDAH UMMUL KHAIR FAATIMA (Mother)
• SAYYIDUNA MUHIYYUD’DEEN ABU MUHAMMAD ABDUL QAADIR JILANI

ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY HISTORY

SAYYIDI ABDULLAH SOOM’EE: He was the maternal grandfather of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. He was a very patient, humble, kind and sincere person. His home served as a place of refuge for the poor, needy and the orphaned. He was amongst the grand Mashaa’ikh of Jilan. He was known as a great “Sahib-e-Karamah”, meaning that he performed many miracles that were seen by thousands of people; from amongst whom many became his disciples by joining his spiritual order. Once, a few of his disciples (mureeds) were on a business expedition to Samarkand. Bandits stopped them. They immediately called out his name for assistance. Suddenly, they found him standing besides them saying, in a state of Jalaal, to the bandits: “Our Allah is Pure and free from defects. Bandits! Stay away (from my disciples).” When the bandits heard these words, they dispersed leaving the Mureeds safe and unharmed. When the mureeds searched for Sayyidi Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. after this incident, he was nowhere to be seen. When they disciples returned to Jilan, they informed the people there of this incident only to be told that the great Saint (Wali) of Allah had not been seen to leave the city of Jilan during that particular time period!

SAYYIDAH AISHA ZAAHIDA r.a. : She was the paternal aunt of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. She was a very kind and pious woman. Her entire life was spent in the remembrance of Almighty Allah. The people of Jilan were very familiar with her piety and her sincerity in Ibadah. They used to always go to her in times of need and hardship and request her to make Du’a. Once, there was a very lengthy drought in Jilan, which resulted in a severe shortage of food and water. The people of Jilan prayed to Almighty Allah for rain, but to no avail. Finally, they turned to Sayyidah Aisha Zaahida r.a. and requested her to pray for rain. After listening to their request she went into the courtyard of her humble home and began to sweep the dust into one corner. When she was finished sweeping, she said with great sincerity: “O’Allah! My job was to sweep up the dust. All that is left now is for You to do is the sprinkling.” She just completed saying these words, when dark clouds began to gather and it began to rain, thus breaking the lenghty drought in Jilan. She lived in the city of Jilan until her demise. May Allah shower His Mercy upon her.

SAYYIDI ABU SAALEH SAYYYIDAH UMMUL KHAIR FAATIMA r.a. : They were the blessed parents of Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Shaikh Abu Saaleh r.a. was a very pious and humble person. He was also a master in the tactics of Jihad and it was due to this that he was given the title of “Jangi Dost”. Sayyidah Ummul Khair Faatima r.a. was also a great Aabida and Zaahida r.a. After reading the incident which led to the marriage (Nikah) of these two great personalities and the birth of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., not only will the torch of Imaanbe re­kindled in our hearts, but we would be able to understand the lofty status of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. through the greatness and pureness of his parents. It has been narrated that when Sayyidi Abu Saaleh r.a. was in the prime of his youth he would spend most of his time in Mujahida (Striving in the path of Allah).

Once, he was making Ibadah beside a river, he felt the need to eat as he had not eaten for three days and three nights. Whilst in this thought, he saw an apple floating down the river towards him. He reached into the river and took the apple. After he had eaten the apple, a thought crossed his mind concerning the origin of the fruit that he had eaten. He reasoned that although the apple flowed in the river, it had to belong to someone and that he had eaten this apple without the permission of the owner. He immediately began to walk along the bank of the river looking for the source of the apple, he walked for a long time until he came to an orchard. There he saw an apple tree. The branches of the tree were hanging over the river. The apples from the tree were falling into the river and were being carried downstream.

When he observed this he immediately realised that the apple, which he had eaten, had come from this very tree. He entered the orchard and queried concerning the owner of the orchard. He was informed that the owner was Sayyidi Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. He went to the owner and explained to him the incident concerning him eating the apple. He then asked Sayyidi Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. to forgive him for his mishap.

After listening to Sayyiduna Abu Saaleh r.a., Sayyidi Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. immediately realised that this was no ordinary young man. Without [a] doubt, he knew that he was a chosen servant of Almighty Allah. Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. agreed to forgive him for eating the apple. But this, he told him, was subject to a condition. The condition being that Sayyidi Abu Saaleh r.a. would have to take care of the orchard, and make Mujahida there for ten years. Shaikh Abu Saaleh r.a. accepted this condition with great pleasure.

He served in the orchard for ten years and also made Mujahida. After ten years had passed, he went to Sayyiduna Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. to be pardoned. Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. asked him to serve for another two years, which he accepted again without complaint. After these two years had passed, he went back to Sayyiduna Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. and asked to be pardoned. Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. agreed to pardon him on one last condition.

He said, “O’ Abu Saaleh! I have a daughter whose feet are paralysed, her hands are crippled,and she is deaf and blind. I would like for you to marry her.”

When most persons would have rejected such a condition, Sayyidi Abu Saaleh r.a. even accepted this condition. After the Nikah, he went into his room to see his bride for the very first time. To his amazement, he saw a beautiful normal woman sitting in his room. He thought that there had been some mistake and that the wrong woman was in his room. He rushed out of the room and presented himself before Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. On seeing him. Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. smiled and then said, “Do not fear. It is she that is my daughter. All the qualities that I had explained to you concerning her are true. I said she was paralysed, because she has never taken even one step out of this house. I said she was crippled, because she has never done anything against Shari’ah. I said she was blind because she has never seen a Ghair Mahram and I said that she was deaf because she has never heard a single word against the Shari’ah.”

When Sayyidi Abu Saaleh r.a. heard these words, he knew that not one moment in twelve years was wasted, and every moment spent in the service of Sayyidi Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. was worth more than he could imagine. It was from these two pious servants of Almighty Allah and devotees of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. that al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was born.

PREDICTIONS OF HIS BIRTH

SHAIKH-UL-MASHAA’IKH, SAYYIDUNA JUNAID AL-BAGHDADI r.a. : He lived two hundred years before al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and foretold his coming in the following manner: r.a. Once, while Shaikh Junaid al-Baghdadi r.a. was in a state of spiritual ecstacy, he stated: “His foot is on my shoulders, his foot is on my shoulders.” After he had come out of this spiritual condition, his disciples questioned him concerning these words. He said, “I have been informed that a great Saint will be born towards the end of the fifth century. His name shall be Abdul Qaadir and his title will be Muhyi’d-Din. He will be born in Jilan and he will reside in Baghdad. One day, on the Command of Allah, he will say, ‘My foot is on the shoulders of all the Awliya Allah’. While in my spiritual condition, I saw his excellence and these words were uttered by me without my control.”

IMAM HASSAN ASKARI r.a. : Shaikh Abu Muhammad r.a. states that before his demise, Imam Hassan Askari r.a. handed over his Jubba(Cloak) to Sayyiduna Imam Ma’roof Karki r.a. and asked him to pass it over to al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Shaikh Imam Ma’roof Karki r.a. passed over this cloak to Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi r.a., who in turn passed it over to Shaikh Danoori r.a. . From here it was then passed down until it reached Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. in the year 497 A.H. (Makhzanul Qaaderiah)

SHAIKH ABU BAKR BIN HAW’WAAR r.a. : He lived before the time of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and was amongst the distinguished Mashaa’ikh of Baghdad. Once, while he was sitting in his majlis, he said, “There are seven Aqtaab (High-Ranking Awliya) of Iraq:

1. Shaikh Ma’roof Karki r.a.
2. Shaikh Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal r.a.
3. Shaikh Bishr Haafi r.a.
4. Shaikh Mansoor bin Amaar r.a.
5. Sayyiduna Junaid al-Baghdadi r.a.
6. Shaikh Sahl bin Abdullah Tastari r.a.
7. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir Jeeli r.a.

When he heard this, Sayyidi Abu Muhammad r.a., who was a mureed of Shaikh Abu Bakr r.a. asked, “We have heard and know six of these names, but the seventh, we have not heard of. O Shaikh! Who is Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani?” Shaikh Abu Bakr r.a. replied by saying: “Abd al-Qaadir r.a. will be a non-Arab (and a) pious man. He will be born towards the end of the fifth century Hijri and he will reside in Baghdad.” (Bahjatul Asraar)

SHAIKH KHALEEL BALKHI r.a. : He was a great Wali-Allah and had passed away before the time of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Once while he was seated with his disciples, he said: “A pure servant of Allah will become apparent in Iraq towards the end of the fifth century. The world will gain brightness from his presence. He will be the Ghaus of his time. The creation of Allah will be obedient to him, and he will be the Leader of the Awliya Allah.” (Azkaarul Abraar)

IMAM MUHAMMAD BIN SA’EED ZANJANI r.a. : He stated as follows in his distinguished work, “Nuzhatul Khawatir”: “From the era of Shaikh Abi Ali Hassan Yasaarajuwi r.a. up to the era of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., every Wali that passed this earth, foretold the coming and the excellence of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. ” (Nuzhatul Khawatir)

EVENTS RELATING TO HIS BIRTH

There are two narrations concerning the date of birth of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. The first narration is that he was born on the 1^st of Ramadaan 470 A.H.. The second narration is that he was born on the eve of the 2^nd of Ramadaan 470 A.H. The second narration seems to be the one more favoured amongst the learned scholars. The birth of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was a great blessing to the Ummah. It was the arrival of the Sultaanul Awliya (King of the Awliya), which had been foretold for centuries before his birth. Sayyidah Ummul Khair Faatima r.a. was 60 years old when Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was born. It is widely known that women at this age are usually incapable of having children. This alone was one of the astounding facts relating to the birth of the great Saint.

MIRACULOUS EVENTS SURROUNDING HIS BIRTH: Apart from this, there were many other miraculous events surrounding the birth of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Shaikh Sayyiduna Shahabud-Din Suharwardi r.a. quoted the following five miracles (Karamahs) relating to the birth of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. in his distinguished book, “Manaqib-e-Ghausia”: (1). On the eve his birth, his father saw the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s. ) in his dream. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s. ) gave him the following glad tidings: “O Abu Saaleh! Almighty Allah has blessed you with a pious son. He is my beloved and the beloved of Almighty Allah. He is the most exalted amongst the Awliya and Aqtaab”. (2). When he was born, he had the impression of the footprint of Rasoolullah, s.a.w.s. on his shoulder. This alone was the proof of his Wilayah (Sainthood). (3). Almighty Allah gave glad tidings to his parents in their dream that their son would be the Sultaanul Awilyahand those who oppose him would be Gumrah (misled). (4). On the eve of his birth, approximately eleven hundred males were born in Jilan. Every one of them was a Wali Allah. (5). He was born on the eve of Ramadaan and during the entire month of Ramadaan he never drank milk after the time of Sehri and before the time of Iftaar. In other words, he kept fast from the day he was born. His mother said that he never cried for milk for the entire day and he would only drink milk at the time of Iftaar!

HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD

DEMISE OF HIS FATHER: After the demise of his father, his grandfather, Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee, r.a., took care of him. It was his grandfather that was responsible for the marriage of the parents of the great Saint. He moulded Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. from childhood into the personality that he was to be. He blessed Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. with gems of spiritualism. He nurtured him with gentleness and showered him with words of wisdom.

VOICE FROM THE UNSEEN: Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was not like other children who spent their time in play and amusement. From a tender age he spent his time in the remembrance of Almighty Allah. If he at any time ever intended to join the other children, then a Voice from the Unseen would be heard to say, “Come towards Me, O blessed one.” At first, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. would become afraid when he heard this voice. He would go to his mother and sit on her lap. As time passed, he became accustomed to this voice. Instead of going to his mother, he would abandon the thought of playing and occupy himself in the remembrance of Almighty Allah.

COMMENCEMENT OF ACADEMIC STUDIES: When al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was four and a half years old, and according to certain narrations, five years old, his mother enrolled him into a local Madrassa in Jilan. He studied at this Madrassah until the age of ten. During this period, a certain amazing event occurred. Whenever Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. would enter the Madrassa he would see bright figures walking ahead of him saying, “Give way to the Friend of Allah.” His son, Sayyidi Abdur Razzaq r.a., reports that once Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was asked when he first came to know of his Wilayahand the great Ghaus r.a. replied: “When I was ten years old, I found Angels walking beside me on my way to the Madrassa. When we reached the Madrassa I would hear them say, ‘Give way to the Wali Allah, Give way to the Wali Allah.’ It was when this continued that I knew that I had been blessed with Wilayah”.

DEMISE OF SAYYIDI ABDULLAH SOOM’EE r.a. : Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was still a student at the Madrassa in Baghdad when his grandfather, Shaikh Abdullah Soom’ee r.a. passed away. After the demise of his grandfather, the responsibility for his education fell upon his mother. She fulfilled this responsibility with great patience, sincerity and dedication. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was about 18 years old when this incident took place. One day, he left his home for a walk. As he walked along the streets of Jilan he saw an ox in front of him. He walked behind it for some time. The ox then turned around and spoke to him in the language of humans. It said: “You have not been created for this and you have not been commanded to do this.” He immediately returned home and explained this incident to his mother. He requested permission from his mother to journey to Baghdad in order to complete his academic studies and seek more spiritual knowledge. His mother, who was now 78 years old, acceded to this noble request without a second thought.

HIS MOTHER’S ADVICE: It was such a time where parents in their old age usually depend on their children for moral and financial support, but this pious and pure servant of Allah only wanted the pleasure of Almighty Allah and His Rasool (s.a.w.s.). Whilst she was very attached to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., she did not let her personal feelings come before the pleasure of Allah. She wanted her son to be a man of knowledge and wisdom. In those days, people used to travel either by foot or by camel or another animal. The roads passed through dense forests and jungles and there was always the danger of travellers being robbed and killed by bandits. Sayyidah Ummul Khair Faatima r.a. knew of the dangers but still supported her son’s. She wished him well with her Du’as. She said: “O my dear son! I have now become very old and I do not think I will ever get to see you again, but my Du’as will always be with you. May Almighty Allah grant you success in your quest for academic and spiritual knowledge.”

She then said: “Your deceased father left eighty Dinars from which I am giving you forty Dinars for your journey and forty Dinars I will keep for your younger brother, Sayyid Abu Ahmad Abdullah.” She took the forty Dinars and sewed them under the arm of his coat. She once again made Du’a for him. On bidding him farewell, she gave him the following advice: “O’ my beloved son! Let this advice, which I am about to give you be an important part of your life. Always speak the truth! Do not even think of lies.” The young Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said, “My dear mother! I promise from my heart that I will always act upon your advise.” Sayyidah Faatima r.a. then embraced the apple of her eye with love and motherly gentleness for the last time, and with the words, “Go! May Allah be with you. It is He who is your Helper and Protector”. The journey to Baghdad began.

ADHERENCE TO HIS MOTHER’S ADVICE: After bidding farewell to his mother, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. joined a caravan, which was on its way to Baghdad. In those days, people travelled in groups for the sake of safety. The caravan of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. reached the city of Hamdaan without incident. After leaving Hamdaan, they journeyed further. The journey took them into a vast forest wherein they were attacked by sixty bandits. The leader of this band of robbers was a very notorious person called Ahmad Badwi. The travellers did not have the means to defend themselves against the bandits and were forced to surrender their belongings and valuables to them. After raiding the travellers, the bandits gathered together all the loot and began to distribute it amongst themselves. Whilst all this was happening, al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. was standing very calmly amongst the travellers. None of the bandits approached him as he was regarded as just a young boy, until one of them decided to approach him. He went up to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and asked him if he had any valuables. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said that he had in his possession forty Dinars. When he heard this, the robber laughed at the young Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and walked away, thinking that he was lying.

After some time, another robber asked him the same question and he received the same answer. He too dismissed the reply of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. as a joke. When the bandits gathered together, then both these bandits began to joke about the young boy who said he had forty Dinars. Their leader, Ahmed Badawi, asked them to bring the young Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. to him. When he was brought before Ahmed Badawi, the leader of the bandits asked him if he had any valuables in his possession. The young Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. replied that he had forty Dinars on him.

Ahmed Badawi asked for the forty Dinars and Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. showed him where he had hidden it. When they tore open the coat of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. they found the forty Dinars sewn under the armpits. When they saw this, Ahmed Badawi and his bandits were taken aback. Ahmed Badawi asked: “O young man, none of us knew that you had any money. Knowing that we are bandits, why did you still tell us where the money was hidden?”

The young Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. replied by saying: “When I had left on this journey, I had promised my elderly and pious mother that I would never lie. How then could I break this promise just for the sake of sixty bandits?” When Ahmed Badawi heard this, he felt great shame and, in tears, said, “Oh young boy! You are so loyal in your promise to your mother. Shame on me, that for years I have been disloyal to my promise with my Creator Almighty Allah.”

After saying these words, the bandit cried bitterly and then fell to the feet of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and repented for his sins. When his accomplices saw this, they too did likewise and repented sincerely from all their sins. They then returned all the belongings of the travellers and escorted them out of the jungle.

It has been stated that the tauba (repentance) of these bandits was so sincere that they were blessed with Wilayah, through the Sadqa of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Referring to this incident, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. stated: “This was the first tauba (repentance) that a group of misled persons had made at my hands.”

Shaikh ABD AL-QAADIR AL-JILANI ENTERS BAGHDAD: The city of Baghdad was blessed with the presence al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. in the year 488 A.H. When he arrived in Baghdad, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. already spent the forty Dirhams given to him by his mother. Without any money, he began to spend his days in hunger and poverty. Due to immense poverty, he went towards the Arcade of Chosroes in search of Halaal food. When he reached the Arcade, he found that there were already seventy Awliya Allah in search of Halaal food. Since he did not wish to be in their way, he returned to Baghdad.

On his way back, he met a traveller from Jilan. When he heard that Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was from Jilan, he asked him if he knew a young man by the name of “Abd al-Qaadir”. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. informed him that he was Abd al-Qaadir. The traveller then handed a block of gold to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. saying that it had been sent to him by his mother. When Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. heard this, he immediately made the Shukr of Almighty Allah. He then returned to the Arcade of Chosroes where he presented most of the gold to the Awliya Allah who were in search of food. He then took a little for himself and returned to Baghdad.

On his return to Baghdad, he prepared meals and fed the poor and then shared this meal with them. This alone shows the character of the great Ghaus that even though he was without food, he first gave most of his gold to the Awliya Allah, then fed the poor before eating the the food himself. Without doubt, this is the sign of a true servant of Allah.

It was in this manner that the life of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. commenced in the holy city of Baghdad.

ATTAINING AND COMPLETION OF ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE

After a few days in Baghdad Shareef, al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. enrolled for academic studies at the famous Jamia Nizamia, which was the centre of learning and spiritualism in the Islamic world. Teachers of great calibre and piety tutored here.

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. studied with great sincerity and dedication.

Amongst his teachers were: Abul Wafa Ali bin Aqeel, Abu Zakariyah Yahyaa bin Ali Tabrezi, Abu Saeed bin Abdul Kareem, Abul Anaa’im Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad, Abu Sa’eed bin Mubaarak Makhzoomi, and Abul Khair Hamaad bin Muslim Al Dabbas r.a. He attained the knowledge of Qirah, Tafseer, Hadith, Fiqh, Shari’ah and Tareeqah from the above-mentioned Ulama.

He also excelled in all these subjects. In the field of Adab, his teacher was Allama Abu Zakariyah Tabrezi r.a. who was a great Aalim of his time. He was also the author of various Kitaabs such as “Tafseerul Quraan Wal E’raab”, “Sharah Qasaa’idul Ashr”a“Sharah Diwaan Abi Tamaam”. In the field of Fiqh and Usool-e-Fiqh, his teachers were: Shaikh Abul Wafa bin Aqeel Hambali, Abul Hassan Muhammad bin Qaazi Abul Ulaa and Shaikh Abul Khataab Mahfooz Hambali, and Qaazi Abu Sa’eed Mubaarak bin Ali Makhzoomi Hambali r.a.

In the field of Hadith, he attained knowledge from the following Ulama: Sayyidi Abul Barkaat Talhaa Al Aaqooli, Abul Ana’im Muhammad bin Ali bin Maimoon Al Farsi, Abu Uthmaan Ismaeel bin Muhammad Al Isbihaani, Abu Ghaalib Muhammad bin Hassan Al Baaqilaani, Abu Muhammad Jaafar bin Ahmad binil Husaini, Sayyidi Muhammad Mukhtaar Al Haashmi, Sayyidi Abu Mansoor Abdur Rahmaan Al Qaz’zaaz, Abul Qaasim Ali bin Ahmad Ban’naan Al Karghi After intense studies, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. qualified from Jamia Nizamia. During this period, there was no Aalim present on the earth who was more knowledgeable and pious than Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a.

HARDSHIPS FACED DURING STUDIES

While studying in Baghdad, he faced many hardships and was tested severely by the life of Baghdad. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. himself used to say: “The hardship and difficulties that I faced in Baghdad during my studies were so severe that if they had to be placed on a mountain, then even the mountain would split in two.” He also used to say: “When the hardships and difficulties would become unbearable, then I would lay on the road and continuosly recite the Ayah of the Holy Quran, ‘Then without doubt there is easiness with shortages, without doubt there is easiness with shortages’. By making takraar of this Ayah I used to find great tranquillity and peace.”

After adjourning from classes, he used to wander into the jungles and forests of Baghdad where he used to spend the entire night in the Zikr of Almighty Allah. He did this regardless of the weather conditions or season. If he become tired and weak, he would rest for a while making the ground his bed and a boulder his pillow. During these nights of Zikr, he would dress in a small turban and a thin cloak. If he became hungry, he used to go towards the river Euphrates and eat whatever vegetables he could find beside the river. He always said that he gained much pleasure in this way of life and it caused him to gain closeness to Almighty Allah.

PATIENCE DURING A SEVERE DROUGHT: Once, while he was studying, the city of BaghdadBaghdad became so desperate that people became dependant on every grain that they could find. When there was no more grain, people began to eat plants and leaves from trees. During this time, al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. used to also go out in search for food. But when he saw others in search of food, he would return to the city empty-handed, as he did not feel it appropriate to impose by disturbing others whom he thought needed food more than he did. Many days had passed by without him eating. experienced a severe drought. The conditions in

Due to intense hunger, he was compelled to go out in search of food towards a market in Baghdad known as Sooqur Raihaanain”. As he entered the market, his hunger had made him so weak and tired, that be could not stand anymore. He saw a Musjid nearby and slowly dragged himself towards it. He entered the Musjid and sat against one of the walls of the Musjid to support his now tired and weak body. He sat there for a while. Then he saw a person enter the Musjid. The person sat in one corner and opened a parcel in which there was fried meat and bread. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. reported this incident that the person then began to have this meal. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. says: “The intensity of my hunger was so great that every time the person lifted a morsel of food to his mouth, my mouth would open uncontrollably with his and would wish that I also had something to eat.”

When this continued happening, al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. turned to his nafs and said, “Do not be impatient. Have trust and faith in Almighty Allah.” After saying these words he did not feel this way anymore. After a little while, this person came to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. uninvited and offered him some food. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. kindly declined, but the person insisted. Upon such insistence, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. joined him in his meal.

Whilst eating, the person asked al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. about himself. He explained to him that he was from Jilan and that he was in Baghdad to attain knowledge. The person then said that he was also from Jilan and asked if he knew the person of the name of Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. answered by saying, ‘My name is Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani.”

When the man heard this, with tears in his eyes, he stood before Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and said, “Please forgive me for I have misused that which was given to me in trust.” Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. asked the stranger to explain what he meant. The stranger then said: “When I was leaving Jilan, I met an old woman, who gave me eight Dirhams in trust that I should give it to her son, Abd al-Qaadir, who is studying in Baghdad. O Abd al-Qaadir! The food that I was eating was from the eight Dirhams that your mother had given for you. I had been searching for you but could not find you and due to this, my stay in Baghdad was extended. This caused my money to run out and out of extreme hunger, I used some of your money to purchase this food that we ate. O Abd al-Qaadir! It is not I that fed you, but it is you that fed me. Please forgive me for abusing that which was given to me in trust (Amaanah).”

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., with great gentleness and affection, held the stranger to his heart and praised him for his honesty and his sincerity. He then gave the remainder of the food and a portion of the eight Dirhams to the stranger and bid him farewell.

This incident indicates in clear terms that Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was concerned more with the needs of others than those of his own. Notwithstanding his dire need in the circumstances, he remained sensitive to the plight of this stranger. This act of selflessness alone is a lesson in the behaviour that one should adopt.

A LION OF ALLAH: Shaikh Abdullah Salmi r.a. states that he heard the following astonishing incident from Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. The Great Ghawth said: “Once during my studies in Baghdad, I had nothing to eat for many days. One day, in this condition, I was on my way to a small street called ‘Qat’eeya Sharfiya’. Here, there was a Musjid, which used to be empty. I used to sit there by myself and revise my lessons for the next day. On my way to Mohalla Qat’eeya, I met a stranger who gave me a piece of paper and asked me to take it to a certain shop. Very surprised, I did as he asked. When I got to the shop, I gave the piece of paper to the owner, who in turn kept this piece of paper and gave me roti (bread) and halwa (sweets). I took this roti and halwa and went into the Musjid where I used to revise my lessons. I sat down for a while and decided to eat a piece of bread and some halwa when I saw a piece of paper beside the wall.

I picked it up and saw the following words written on it, ‘Almighty Allah has stated in one of the past Books, that the Lions of Allah have no desire for the pleasures of this world. Desires and pleasure (in food) are for the old and weak who depend on this to gain strength for Ibadah. When I read this my entire body began to tremble in the fear of Allah causing all the hair on my body to stand on end. I immediately removed the desire of eating from my mind and read two Rakahs of Salaah and then left the Musjid without eating.”

ENCOUNTER WITH A PIOUS SERVANT OF ALLAH

It was a common practice during harvesting season in Baghdad Shareef for students to get together at a nearby village called “Baaqooba” and to ask the farmers for some grain from their annual harvest. In those days, the people showed great respect to students and happily gave them grain. On one occasion, the students, who were in the class of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., insisted that he accompany them to the village of Baaqooba. Since he did not want to disappoint them, he accompanied them to the village. When they reached there, Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. heard that a pious servant of Allah, by the name of Shareef Baaqoobi lived in this village. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. decided to meet this pious servant to obtain his blessings. When Shareef Baaqoobi saw Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., he immediately recognised that this was the Qutb-e-Zaman. He told him: “0 my son! Those who strive in the path of Allah do not sketch their hands out to anyone but Allah. You seem to be amongst the chosen servants of Allah. For you to ask for grain (from the people of Baaqooba) is contrary to your status.”

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. states: “From that day onwards, I never accompanied anyone on such trips and I never asked anything from anyone again.”

ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNSEEN: One day, the Great Ghawth r.a. was studying in the jungle when he heard a voice from the Unseen call to him: “O Abd al-Qaadir! You have not eaten in days and most of your time is being spent in studies. Go to someone and get something on credit. It is the Sunnah of the Ambiya.”

When Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. heard this, he replied that he could not take anything on credit, as he had no means of repaying this credit. The voice answered: Do not worry about this. Repaying your credit is Our responsibility.”

After receiving this message, he went to a shop and requested the shopkeeper for some food on credit. He said: "I would like for you to give me one and a half rotis (slices of bread) daily on credit, which I will repay when I have the means, and if I die before this, then you should pardon my credit.”

The shopkeeper, being a pious servant of Allah, began to cry when he heard these words of Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. He repled: “Take anything that you wish to take from my shop and whenever you wish to do so.”

From that day onwards, he used to take one and a half rotis (bread) daily. The days passed by rapidly and Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. began to worry about the money that he owed. One day, he was engrossed in this thought when the same Voice from the Unseen called to him and said: “O Abd al-Qaadir! Go to a certain place and whatever you find there, give it to the shopkeeper”.

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. went to that spot that he was commanded to go to. There, he found a piece of gold. He took this piece of gold and gave it to the shopkeeper thus paying off his credit.

ATTAINMENT OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE

After the completion of his academic studies, Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. did not cease in his quest for in-depth spiritual knowledge. To quench this spiritual thirst, Almighty Allah presented him with the opportunity of coming under the guidance of Shaikh Ham’maad bin Muslim Ad Dab’baas r.a. He was amongst the superior Mashaa’ikh of Baghdad Shareef.

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. states that there came a time in Baghdad when there was an abundance of fitna (fighting) and fasaad (trouble). Since he did not want any part of this, he decided to leave Baghdad Shareef for a more peaceful environment. Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. says: “I made my intention to leave BaghdadBaghdad, when from the Unseen, some great strength pushed me so hard that that I fell to the ground. Then, I heard a Voice from the Unseen say, ‘Do not leave here. The creation of Allah will gain benefit through you.’ On hearing this, I said, ‘What do I have to do with the people? All that I want is to protect my Deen (Imaan).’ The Voice then said, ‘No, No, It is of utmost importance for you to remain here. No harm will come to your Deen (Imaan).’ due to the unsuitable conditions and I was on my way out of

“I immediately changed my mind and I remained in Baghdad for the Pleasure of Allah. The very next day, as I was passing through a street, a man opened the door of his house and called to me. He said: ‘O Abd al-Qaadir! What did you ask from your Creator yesterday?’ With these words and in great Jalaal, he closed the door of his house. I walked for some time and then realised that I had made a grave error. This person was a Wali. If he wasn’t then he would not have known what had happened the previous day. I went in search for his door but was unsuccessful. Thereafter, I looked for him wherever I went, until one day I saw him in a Majlis. I stayed in his company from then onwards. This personality was Sayyidi Ham’maad bin Muslim Ad’ Dab’baas r.a.

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. gained deep spiritual knowledge from Shaikh Ham’maad r.a., who was originally from Syria. He was born in a village near Damascus. He travelled to Baghdad and lived in a place called Muzaffariyyab until his demise in 525 A.H. His Mazaar is in the Shawneezia Cemetery in BaghdadShareef.

Apart from Sayyidi Ham’maad r.a., al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. also gained spiritual education from Shaikh Abu Saeed Mubaarak Makhzoomi r.a. This will be detailed a little later in this book.

HIS STRIVING ENDURANCE IN THE PATH OF ALLAH

By the year 496 A.H., al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. completed his academic and spiritual studies. Thereafter he engaged in Mujahida and Riyazaat (spiritual exercises and endeavours in the path of Allah) from 496 A.H. until 592 A.H., a period of 25 years.

During these 25 years, he engrossed himself in such intense spiritual exercises that just by reading about them one can only but marvel at the dedication of this Great Saint. His sincerity and dedication in controlling his nafs took him swiftly to the levels of “Fana-fi Rasool” and “Fana Fi Allah”.

He was now totally drowned in the sea of love of Allah and His Rasool (s.a.w.s.) He turned himself into a strong mountain of patience and firmness that could not be moved. The notable events that took place during this part of his life are numerous. If they are recorded, then this alone would fill volumes. To give us some appreciation of his spiritual condition during these 25 years, a few incidents are quoted hereinunder:

SUPPRESSING HIS NAFS: Once while delivering a lecture, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said, “For 25 years, I roamed the jungles of Iraq. For 40 years, I performed my Fajr Salaah with the Wudhu of Esha and for 15 years I used to stand on one foot until Fajr and complete (recitation of) the entire Quran.

During this time, I sometimes spent between three and 40 days without eating even a morsel”. Shaikh Abul Mas’ood bin Abu Bakr Hareemi r.a. reports that al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. once said to him. “Year after year, I spent struggling with my nafs by putting myself through various strenuous and intense tests. For one year, I ate only vegetables and drank no water. The following year I only drank water and ate nothing and the year after that, I did not eat and drink for the entire year. There were times when I did not sleep a wink.

During this time I used to put myself through various spiritual exercises. There were times when I would be so drowned in struggling against my nafs, that I used to roll on thorns until my entire body would be severely bruised and cut, and I would become unconscious. People would pick me up and take me to the Haakim. He would certify me dead. Thinking that I was dead, they would prepare for my Ghusal and kaffan. When they used to place me on the bathing board to give me Ghusl, I used to awake from this spiritual condition and walk away.”

Once al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. stated: “During the early stages of my Mujaahida I used to, on many occasions, be unaware of my own condition. I never used to even know where I was and how I got there. Once, in a village close to Baghdad, I entered into such a spiritual condition, which caused me to be totally unaware of my physical self. In this condition, I began to run. When I regained my normal senses, then only did I realise that I had been running for 12 days without stopping. I was amazed at what had happened to me. Then a woman passed by me and said, ‘You are Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir. You should not be astonished when something like this happens to you.’”

MEETING WITH HADRAT KHIDR a.s.

Sayyiduna al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. states that when he had just commenced his spiritual exercises in the jungles of Baghdad, he met a person who was very handsome, had a pious and bright face. The person asked him if he would like to stay with him. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said that he would. The person then said that this could only be done if Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. promises to be obedient to his commands, and to never question his sayings or actions.

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. immediately agreed to this. This person then commanded al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. to sit at a prescribed spot and not to move until he returned. The person left and only returned after one year to find Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. still seated at the prescribed spot. He spent a few moments with al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and then asked him to sit there and wait for him to return once more. This person left and returned after another year. He once again spent some time with the great Saint and then left again giving him the same command as he had done twice before. He returned after another year, this time bringing with him milk and roti (bread). He then said, “I am Hadrat Khidr a.s. and I have been asked to share this meal with you.” They sat together and ate this blessed meal. Hadrat Khidr a.s. then asked, “O Abd al-Qaadir! What did you eat for the three years while sitting in one spot?” He replied, “Whatever the people had thrown away.”

HIS FIRST HAJJ: Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. performed his first Hajj in the prime of his youth. It is recorded in the distinguished book “Azkaarul Abraar” that al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. stated: “I performed my first Hajj in the prime of my youth. On my journey for Hajj, I came to the ‘Tower of Quroon’, where I met Shaikh Adi bin Musaafir r.a. He was also very young during this time. He asked me if he could accompany me on my journey. I happily agreed. Thus, we both began to travel together.

“After some time, I saw an Abyssinian woman in a veil standing in front of me and looking at me very attentively. She then asked my name and origin. I replied by giving her my name and old her that I was from Jilan. She then said, ‘O Young man! You have made me tired searching for you. I was in Abyssinia when I was spiritually informed that Almighty Allah has filled your heart with His Noor (Light) and has blessed you with such excellence that no other Wali Allah has ever received. After I was informed of this, I left in search of you. Now that I have seen you, my heart desires that I should travel with you today and make Iftaar with you. “When evening came, I saw that a tray descend from the skies. On this tray were six rotis, gravy and vegetables.

When the Abyssinian woman saw this she said, ‘O Allah! You have protected my respect. Usually You send two rotis for me every night, but today You sent enough for all three of us. After we had eaten, the tray ascended into the skies, and another tray descended with three containers of water. This water was sweet and delicious and I have never before nor since tasted such water. After this, the lady left. Shaikh Musaafir and myself continued our journey till we reached Makkatul Mukarramah.

Once, while making Tawaaf in the Haram, the Noor of Allah descended on Adi bin Musaafir causing him to fall unconscious. By looking at him, it seemed as if he had passed away. I was still going towards him when I saw the same pious Abyssinian woman beside him. She shook him and said, ‘That Allah Who caused you to die, is the same Allah Who will bring you back to life; that Allah before Whose Noor, none is equal. The world would have not come into existence and cannot exist without His Command. All this never was before He created it. Now, the Light and Power of Allah has filled the hearts and minds of the People of Intelligence and knowledge and this has caused their eyes to close’.

Just as she said these words, Shaikh Adi came back to his senses and stood up. “Then, while making Tawaaf Almighty Allah sent his blessed rays of light on me and I heard a voice from the Unseen which said, ‘O Abd al-Qaadir, forget the physical world and remember your Creator. We will show you signs from amongst Our wonders. Do not join your worldly thoughts with Our thoughts. Remain steadfast. Do not look for the pleasure of none other than that of Mine. Be prepared to be of benefit to the creation of Allah, since they are certain chosen servants of Mine who will reach Me through your Wasila’. “When this happened,

I heard the voice of the Abyssinian woman saying, ‘O Abd al-Qaadir! You have been blessed with a great gift today. I see an umbrella of light above your head and I see Angels all around you. Today, all the Awliya Allah are looking towards you’. After saying these words, she disappeared and was never to be seen again.”

HIS BATTLES AGAINST EVIL FORCES: Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. states that during his life he had encountered various attacks from Shaitaan and his partners. Through the assistance of Almighty Allah he was always victorious over Shaitaan. Almighty Allah always protected him from this even when his nafs would try and force him into certain desires. When the Shayateen would attempt with vigour to sway the great al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a., he would hear a voice saying, “O Abd al-Qaadir! Stand firm and challenge them. Our help is with you.”

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. states that when he used to hear this, then he would stand firmly and challenge the Shayateen and become victorious over them. He says that at times the Shayateen would take daring and frightening forms and come towards him, and he would say in Jalaal, “La Howla walaa Quwatta Ilaa bil laahil Aliyil Azeem” and firmly strike the face of the Shaytaan, who would then disappear.

HIS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH SHAITAAN: He says that once Shaitaan came to him in a very ugly form and with a foul odour emanating from that cursed presence. Shaitaan said, “I am Iblees. You have exhausted my students and me in our attempts to mislead you. I would now like to become your servant”. On hearing this, the great Ghawth said, “O Cursed One! Leave here at once.” After this command of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Shaytaan still refused to leave. A Hand came from the Unseen and hit Shaitaan on his head with such force that it caused him to sink into the ground.

HIS SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH SHAITAAN: Shaikh Ghaus-e­A'zam r.a. states. “Once Shaytaan came to me and in his hand he had balls of fire, which he threw towards me. While this was happening, a veiled person on a white horse appeared and gave a sword in my hand. The moment I took the sword in my hand, Shaytaan turned and began to run.”

HIS THIRD ENCOUNTER WITH SHAYTAAN: The great Saint r.a. states: “Once again I saw Shaitaan, but this time in a very sad state. I saw him sitting on the ground putting sand on his head. When he saw me he said, ‘O Abd al-Qaadir, you have made me very sad and disillusioned.’ I then said, ‘O Cursed One! Go away. I am always asking protection from you (in Allah).’ On hearing this, he said, ‘These words hurt me even more.’ He then spread enormous amounts of traps around me. I asked what this was and he said, ‘These are the traps and nets of this world in which we trap people like you.’ After this, for one year, I gave thought to these traps of the world until I broke every one of them”.

HIS STEADFASTNESS ON SHARI’AH: After gaining in-depth academic and spiritual knowledge, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was not only the most pious and knowledgeable personality, but he was a guiding light to the misguided and a firm mountain when it came to speaking against that which was incorrect. He always said that even until Qiyamah, none can change the Shari’ah. Any person who goes against the command of the Shari’ah is an evil person (Shaitaan). His son, Shaikh Zia-ud-deen Abu Nasr Moosa r.a. states:

My father, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir Jilani r.a. once told me that he was one day making Mujahida in the jungle when he began to feel very thirsty. Suddenly, a cloud appeared above him and drops of cold rainwater fell over him. He drank and quenched his thirst, as this was the Mercy of Allah. “He said that after some time another cloud appeared over him giving out light so powerful that the ends of the sky became lit up with the brightness. He said that he then saw a figure in the cloud which said, ‘O Abd al-Qaadir! I am your Creator. I have made everything Halaal for you.’ He said that when he heard this, he read the Ta’ooz and the light disappeared immediately and turned into darkness. A voice then said, ‘O Abd al-Qaadir! Allah has saved you from me because of your knowledge and piety otherwise, I have misled many Mystics, with this trap.’ Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. answered by saying, ‘Verily, it is the Grace of my Creator, which is with me.’ I then asked my father how he had known that this was Shaitaan, and he replied, ‘His saying that he has made that which is Haraam, Halaal upon me because Allah does not command wrong.”

FIRMNESS ON HIS WORD: After this incident with Shaitaan, Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. continued his striving in the path of Allah with even more faith and piety. He would sit in an old tower on the outskirts of Baghdad where he would make Ibadah and engross himself in the Zikr of Almighty Allah. Once while seated here, he entered into a deep spiritual condition in which the following incident took place. Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. himself narrates this incident. He says: “While sitting in the tower outside Baghdad, I once entered into a deep spiritual condition in which I made a vow with Almighty Allah that I will not eat or drink anything unless somebody puts a morsel of food or a drop of water into my mouth with their own hands. “After taking this oath, forty days had passed without me eating or drinking anything. After forty days, a stranger arrived with some curry and bread. He placed it in front of me and left. Due to intense hunger, my nafs wanted to have the food, but my soul stopped me and reminded me of my vow with Allah. Then, I heard a huge noise inside me saying, ‘I am hungry, I am hungry.’ I paid no attention towards this as it was my nafs, and I continued making the Zikr of Almighty Allah.

It was during this time that Shaikh Abu Saeed Makhzoomi r.a. was passing by me. With his spiritual strength, he heard the noise from inside my stomach. He came close to me and said, ‘O Abd al-Qaadir! What is this noise?’ I replied, ‘This is the impatience of the nafs, otherwise, the soul is satisfied.’ He then said, ‘Come to my house’ and left. “In my mind, I said that I would not go until I am made to do so. Just then Hadrat Khidr a.s. arrived and said, ‘Stand up and go to the house of Abu Saeed Makhzoomi r.a.

Thus, I stood up and went to the house of Shaikh Abu Saeed Makhzoomi r.a. and found him standing at the door of his house. On seeing me he said, ‘Abd al-Qaadir! Was my saying not sufficient that Khidr a.s. had to command you.’ Saying this, he then took me into his house and fed me with his own hands until I had eaten and drank enough.”

THE COURT OF HIS PEER-O-MURSHID r.a.

BAI’AT (SPIRITUAL ALLEGIANCE): Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. gained his spiritual training in Baghdad from two of the greatest Mystics of their time - Shaikh Sayyidi Abul Khair Ham’maad bin Muslim Ad Dabbaas r.a. and Shaikh Qaazi Abu Saeed Mubaarak Al Makhzoomi r.a. Although he had gained many blessings from both these personalities, he had not yet pledged his spiritual allegiance to a spiritual guide (Peer-o-Murshid).

Finally, the time had come and according to the Will of Almighty Allah, he presented himself in the court of Shaikh Qaazi Abu Saeed Al Makhzoomi r.a. and became his disciple (Mureed) thus joining his Halqa and spiritual order. Shaikh Abu Saeed r.a. showed much love and attention to this unique disciple and blessed him with gems of spiritualism and mysticism.

Once while Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and others where seated in front of the Shaikh, he asked Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. to fetch something. While he was gone, Shaikh Makhzoomi r.a. addressing those present said, “One day, the foot of that young man will be on the shoulders of all the Awliya Allah and all the Awliya of his time will humble themselves before him”.

INITIATION INTO THE SPIRITUAL ORDER: After Sayyidi Abu Saeed Makhzoomi r.a. admitted Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. into the spiritual order, he fed him a meal with is own hands. Concerning this, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. says, “For every morsel of food that my Shaikh-e-Tareeqat put into my mouth, my heart began to fill with the light of Marifah.”

Shaikh Abu Saeed Makhzoomi r.a. then dressed Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. in the Garb of Sainthood (Khirqa) and said: “This Khirqa was given to Sayyiduna Ali-e-Murtaza r.a. by Sarkaar-e-Do Aalam, s.a.w.s. He in turn gave it to Khwaja Hassan Basri r.a. and from him through generations it reached me”. Once Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. had been dressed in this Garb, the rays of Noor could be seen descending upon him. The Khirqa (Saintly Garb) that was bestowed upon the great Saint had been handed down from generation to generation. A tree depicting how the Khirqa Mubarak reached Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. is shown below.

SARWAR-E-KAUNAIN SAYYIDUNA RASOOLULLAH s.a.w.s.

• ASADULLAH SAYYIDUNA ALI-E-MURTAZA r.a.
• KHWAJA HASSAN BASRI r.a.
• Shaikh HABEEB AJMI r.a.
• Shaikh DAWOOD TA’EE r.a.
• Shaikh MA’ROOF KARGHI r.a.
• Shaikh SIRRI SAQTI r.a.
• Shaikh JUNAID-E-BAGHDADI r.a.
• Shaikh ABU BAKR SHIBLI r.a.
• Shaikh ABDUL WAAHID TAMEEMI r.a.
• Shaikh ABUL FARAH TARTOOSI r.a.
• Shaikh ABUL HASSAN ALl BIN MUHAMMAD AL QARSHI r.a.
• Shaikh ABU SAEED MUBAARAK BIN ALI MAKHZOOMI r.a.
• SAYYIDUNA Shaikh ABDUL QAADIR JILANI r.a.

REFORMING THE MUSLIMS OF BAGHDAD

As it has been stated earlier in this book that Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. had come to Baghdad when it was a city full of corruption and misled persons. It was also during this time that the misled sought to “debate” their contention that the Holy Quran was allegedly “a creation”. It was a very testing time for Muslims all over the world, since the Crusades had begun, where the entire Christian world was bent on destroying the Muslim Empire. The passage of time during which al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. had completed his studies and undertaken twenty-five years of spiritual exercises, had resulted in the condition in Baghdad becoming even worse.

Falsehood and cults were beginning to spread at an alarming rate. The respect for knowledge and for the people of knowledge was wearing thin in the hearts of the people of Baghdad. It was a time of great deterioration in the following of the Sunnah. It was a time when there was a dire need for a Reformer of the ways of the people and a Reviver of the true Faith. This Reformer and Reviver was none other that Imam-ul-Awliya Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. He entered the arena at this time of corruption and conflict and within a short space of time, he once again turned the blessed city of Baghdad into the center of learning and spiritualism. The enlightened event that led to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani’s r.a. first lecture to the people of Baghdad is detailed below:

ZIYARAH OF SAYYIDUNA RASOOLULLAH s.a.w.s.: On the 16^th of Shawaal 461 A.H. Hijri, close to midday, the King of the Awliya, al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. saw in his dream the King of the Ambiya and Rasool, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah s.a.w.s. The Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. said to him, “O Abd al-Qaadir! Why do you not lecture and give advice to the people so you may save them from being misled”?

He replied: “Ya Rasoolallah, s.a.w.s.! I am a non-Arab. What am I going to say in front of the fluent-speaking Arabs?” The Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. said, “Open your mouth”. He placed his blessed Saliva seven times into the mouth of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and then said, “Lecture and give advice to the people and bring them towards the path of Almighty Allah”.

HIS FIRST LECTURE: After waking from this spiritually enlightening dream, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. performed his Zohr Salaah and sat down to deliver his first lecture to the people of Baghdad. At once, people began to gather around him. When he saw this, he paused. Just then he entered a spiritual condition in which he saw Sher-e-Khuda Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtadha (Kar’amallahu ta’aala Wajhahul Kareem) standing in front of him and saying, “Why are you not commencing your lecture?” Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said, “I feel nervous”. Sayyiduna Ali r.a. then said, “Open your mouth!” and he placed his blessed saliva six times into the mouth of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. then asked. Why did you not place your blessed saliva seven times into my mouth?” Sayyiduna Ali r.a. answered, “Out of respect for the Holy Prophet, s.a.w.s. Saying these words, Sayyiduna Ali r.a. disappeared. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. then commenced his lecture in such pure and fluent Arabic that authorities of the Arabic language seated in his lecture where astounded by his lecture. Thus, commenced Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani’s r.a. reformation of the people of Baghdad.

HIS REFORMATION PROGRESSES: Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. usually delivered lectures thrice a week - on Wednesday evenings, Fridays,and on Sunday mornings. This blessed practice continued for forty years, from 521 A.H. to 561 A.H. At first, he began delivering lectures and teaching people in the Madrassah belonging to Sayyidi Shaikh Aby Saeed Makhzoomi r.a.

The people of Baghdad and neighbouring cities began flocking to the lectures of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. in such great numbers that the Madrassah became too small for these gatherings. There would often be no place inside the Madrassah, forcing people to sit out on the streets to listen to his lectures and advice. In 568 A.H. a few houses around the Madrassah were purchased and incorporated to make the Madrassah bigger. After some time, even this proved to be too small. The Mimbar of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was then carried and placed in a massive open area (Eid Gaah) where more than 70,000 people would present themselves in each of his lectures. In each of his gatherings, there would be four people recording his lectures in writing and two Qaaris, who recited the Holy Quran. His lectures became so famous in a very short space of time that it attracted people from all parts of the world, thus making Baghdad Shareef the centre of learning and spiritualism once again.

EFFECTS OF HIS LECTURES: His lectures were full of knowledge and wisdom. They were so influential and powerful that listeners would go into spiritual ecstasy. Some of them would tear their clothes. Others would fall unconscious. On some occasions, certain listeners would become so lost in the gems of love for Allah and His Rasool s.a.w.s. that the great Saint presented in his lectures, that they would even pass away in this condition. On various occasions, even non-Muslims came to his lectures. After listening to his lectures they would find that they could not refute anything he said and they would willingly accept Islam. In addition to the ordinary members of the public, Rijaal-ul-Ghaib and Jinns also frequented his blessed gatherings. AkaabireenMashaa’ikh also frequented his gatherings. It was a training school for the young, a place to repent for the sinful, a place of guidance for the misguided, and a bank of spiritualism for the spiritually bankrupt. and

His voice was very stern and sharp. One of the miracles of his Majlis was that each and every person sitting there heard him alike, even though in those times, there was no means of voice amplification, such as microphones and the like. Al-Ghawth al-A’zam’s r.a. close student, Sayyidi Abdullah Jabaa’ee r.a., states that during this era of his lectures, more than 100,000 sinners repented at the blessed hands of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and thousands of Jews and Christians accepted Islam at his hands.

All the great scholars agree that during that era the majority of the people in Baghdad repented from their wrongs at the hands of the great Saint and also became his disciples. Once, thirteen Christians accepted Islam in the Majlis of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. When they were requested to explain their acceptance of Islam, they said that they heard of the religion of Islam and that their hearts were pleased with this Deen but they had been in search of a true servant of Allah who would, by looking at them, dispel the darkness of their hearts. While they were in search of this true servant of Allah, they heard a Voice from the Unseen saying, “Go to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir in Baghdad and bring Islam on his hands, for it is he who will cleanse your hearts and fill it with light of Imaan (Faith)”. When the thirteen Christians received this message from the Unseen, they travelled to Baghdad and accepted Islam on the hands of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir Jilani r.a.

On one occasion, a monk named “Sanaan” presented himself in the gathering of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and accepted Islam on the hands of the great Saint. After bringing Imaan, he stood up in the gathering and said: “O people! I am a citizen of Yemen and for many years I lived in seclusion as a Christian Monk. For some time now, I have realised the truth of Islam, but after looking at the ways of the present Muslims, I delayed my acceptance of Islam and made a vow that I will accept Islam on the hands of a person who is the most pious amongst people. After making this vow, one night, I dreamt of Sayyiduna Esa Masih a.s. who said, ‘O Sanaan! Go to Baqhdad and accept Islam on his hands. At the present moment, there is none on this earth that is more pious and firm on religion than he is, and there is none more exalted than him in this time.’ After this dream, I came here today and accepted Islam and I have found him to be as I have heard.

Al-Ghawth al-A’zam’s r.a. lectures were inspiring to all who frequented his Majlis. His words were kind but firm. He was not swayed by the power or status of anyone. If they were wrong, he did not hesitate to correct them in his Majlis or anywhere else. He feared none but Allah and made those who were in his Majlis aware of this. Once, one of the close ministers of the Khalifa Azeezud’deen came to the Majlis of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. When he saw him, the great Saint said, “The condition of those like you is such, that one man is lost in the slaveship of another. Who then is the true slave of Allah?” He then addressed Azeezud’deen directly and said, “Stand up! Keep your hand on my hand so that you may distance yourself from this mundane world and run towards your Creator.”

HIS KARAMAH (MIRACLES)

THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR PRESENTING THEMSELVES TO AL-GHAWTH AL-A’ZAM: Hadrat Shaikh Abul Qaasim r.a. states that once Shaikh Abu Bakr, Shaikh Abul Khair, Shaikh Ibn Mahfooz, Shaikh Abu Hafs Umar, Shaikh Abul Aas Ahmad Imkaani, Shaikh Abdul Wahab r.a. and himself r.a. were all in the presence of the great al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. It was a Friday, the 30^th of Jamadi-ul-Aakhir 560 A.H. During this time, Shaikh Qaasim r.a. states that a young handsome youth came into the blessed court of the great Saint. He sat with great respect, and then said: “O Friend of Allah! May there be Salaams upon you. I am the month of Rajab, and I have come to give you glad tiding that this is a good month for the people. They should thus do many good deeds in this month.” Shaikh Qaasim r.a. states that on another occasion, a youth again came to the Darbaar of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and with great respect said, “I am the month of Shabaan. I have not brought any glad tidings, but have come to inform you that in this month the people of Arabia will be in difficulty. There will be wars fought in Khurasaan and there will be sickness in Iraq through which many people will die.” Shaikh Qaasim r.a. states that after a few days, news reached Baghdad of these happenings in Arabia and Khurasaan and he states that during that time a disease spread in Iraq killing scores of people.

HIS SIGHT ON LAUH-E-MAHFOOZ (THE PROTECTED TABLET): It is written in one narration that Shaikh Abul Hafs r.a. states: “Our Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir Jilani r.a. used to fly in the air and would say, ‘The sun does not rise before presenting Salaams in my court. By the Wrath and Honour of Allah! All the good and bad persons are before my sight. My eyes are fixed firmly on Lauh-e-Mahfooz. Time and again, I immerse myself in the sea of knowledge and wisdom blessed by Allah and I am the Sign (Nishaan) of Allah to the people, and the specially appointed representative of my forefather, Nabi Muhammad, s.a.w.s., and I am his viceroy on this earth.’”

HIS POWER OVER JINNS: Shaikh Abu Futoob Muhammad bin Abil Aas Yusuf bin Ismaeel bin Ahmad Ali Qarshi Tameemi Bakri Baghdadi r.a. reports that once Shaikh Abu Saeed Abdullab bin Ahmad bin Ali bin Muhammad Baghdadi Azja’ee r.a. came to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and complained to him about his sixteen-year old daughter, Faatima. Faatima, who was very beautiful, had gone onto the roof of the house and she suddenly disappeared from there. When Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. heard this he comforted him and told him not to worry.

The great Saint then asked him to a certain jungle at night. On entering this jungle, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. told him that he would see many sand heaps. He should sit on the fifth sand heap that he passed. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. then told him that he should draw a circle around him saying “Bismillah”and that he should then say “Abdul Qaadir”.
The great Saint then said: “Towards the third portion of the night, you will find an army of Jinns passing by. They will look really frightening and fierce, but you should not fear. You should remain seated and wait. Exactly at the time of the first light, the most powerful King of the Jinns will pass that way and he will personally come to you and ask your problem. On his request, you should explain to him your situation and then tell him that Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. has sent you. You should then tell him about your daughter’s disappearance.”

Shaikh Muhammad Baghdadi r.a. states: “I did as al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said. I sat on the sand heap, drew a circle around me and waited. After some time, I saw armies of Jinns in frightening forms passing by. They were very upset with me sitting in their path, but they passed without saying a word, as they did not have the courage to enter the circle. In the morning, the King passed and asked my request. When I explained my problem to him and told him that Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. had sent me, he got off his horse and stood with respect listening to me. He then sent the Jinns to summon back a Jinn who had captured my daughter. My daughter was brought back and the mischievous Jinn was punished for his doing.”

A THIEF BECOMES AN ABDAAL (HIGH-RANKING SAINT): Once a thief entered the house of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. with the intention of stealing. On entering the house, he became blind and could not see anything. He was unable to find his way out of the house and he eventually sat in one corner of the house. In the morning, he was caught and brought before Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. . When Al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. saw him, he placed his blessed hands on the thief’s eyes. The thief’s eyesight was immediately restored. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. then said, “He came to steal materialistic (worldly wealth), I will bless him with such a treasure that it will remain with him forever.” On saying these words, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. placed his blessed sight on the thief once and elevated him to the status of Wilayat (Sainthood). It was also during this time that one of the appointed Abdaals had passed away. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. took the thief, now a Wali, and sent him out as the replacement for the Abdaal that had passed away. Subhan-Allah!

TRANSPORTATION FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER: Once whilst Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was delivering one of his spiritually enlightening lectures, a person by the name of Abul Mu’aali was present in this gathering. He was seated directly in front of the great Saint. During the course of the lecture, Abul Mu’aali found that he needed to answer the call of nature (relieve himself). He tried to suppress this need because he found it disrespectful to leave the gathering of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. He controlled the urge to the best of his ability, but when he could not do so any longer, he decided to leave. As he was about to stand, he saw the great Ghawth r.a. walking down the first stair of the pulpit (Mimbar) onto the second stair. As the Saint came to the second stair, Abul Mu’aali saw an image of the great Saint on the mimbar. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. came down to him and threw his shawl over him.

As this happened, Abul Mu’aali found that he was no longer in the gathering, but rather in a valley with beautiful lush vegetation. It was beautified even more by a stream, which flowed through it. He immediately answered the call of nature, performed Wudhu and then prayed two Rakaats Salaah. As he completed the Salaah, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. pulled the shawl off him. When Abul Mu’aali looked, he found to his amazement that he was still in the gathering of the great Saint r.a. and he had not even missed one word of the lecture of the great Saint. However, much later Abul Mu’aali discovered that he did not have his set of keys with him. He then remembered that when he was transported to the valley by Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., he had hung his key ring on the branch of a tree beside the stream. Abul Mu’aali states that some time after this incident, he had the opportunity to go on a business expedition. During this journey, Abul Mu’aali reached a valley and rested there. He then noticed, that the valley was the exact same place where the great Saint had transported him during his lecture. When he went beside the tree, he found that his missing keys were still hanging on the branch of the tree. Subhan-Allah! The business trip took fourteen days to complete. This miracle of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. shows that not only did he transport Abul Mu’aali spiritually, but also physically.

SHIP PROTECTED FROM STORM: The students of the great Ghawth r.a. state that once he was delivering his lessons as usual to them when suddenly his blessed face turned red and beads of perspiration covered his blessed forehead. He then placed his hand into his cloak and remained silent for a short time. The students state that after he removed his hand from inside his cloak, drops of water began to drip from his sleeves. Due to his spiritual state, the students say that they did not ask him any questions but rather, they recorded the date, day and time of this astonishing event. The students say that two months after this incident, a group of traders, who had come by sea to Baghdad, arrived and presented various gifts to al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. The students were very confused by this as they had never seen these traders in Baghdad before. They asked the traders the reason for them bringing the gifts. The traders said that two months previously, whilst they were sailing to Baghdad, their ship was caught in a fierce storm.

When they realised that there was a real danger of sinking, they called out the name of “Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani” r.a. . When they called out his name, they found that from the Unseen a hand lifted their ship to safety. When the students compared this narration to the incident in the Madrassa, it was confirmed that it was the same date, day and time in which the great Saint r.a. had put his hand into his cloak. Suhban-Allah! This incident shows that although Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. seemed to be placing his hand into his cloak, but in reality, he was stretching his hand into the sea to assist those who called for his assistance!

DISAPPEARING INTO THE SUN: The wet-nurse of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. states that when he was a child, she would carry him in her arms but would suddenly find that he was no longer there. She reports that she noticed that he used to fly into the sky and hide behind the rays of the sun. Once, when Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was much older, the wet-nurse s.a.w.s. went to him and asked if he still did as he used to do when he was a child, in other words, hide behind the sun. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. replied, “Then I was a child, and it was a time of weakness, and I used to hide in the rays of the sun. Now my strength and power is so immense, that if a thousand suns have to come then they would all be hidden in me rather than me being hidden by them.”

PROTECTION FROM ILLNESS: Shaikh Ali bin Idrees Yaqoobi r.a. states that once his spiritual guide, Shaikh Ali bin Haiti r.a. took him to al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and presented him in the court of the great Saint. Shaikh Ali bin Idrees r.a. states: “Al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was wearing a shawl during this time. He removed the shawl and placed it over me and said, ‘From now on, you will be protected from all illnesses’. From that day on until now, and I am 65 years old, I have never been ill.”

A LION OVERPOWERED: Shaikh Abu Masood bin Abi Bakr Harimi r.a. reports that there was a very great Saint by the name of Shaikh Ahmed Jaam r.a. He used to travel on a lion wherever he went. In every city that he visited, it was his habit to ask the people of the city to send one cow for his lion’s meal. Once, he went to a certain city and requested from the Saint of that city a cow for his lion. The Saint sent the cow to him and said, “If you ever go to Baghdad, your lion will receive a welcome invitation.”

Shaikh Ahmed Jaam r.a. then journeyed to Baghdad Shareef. On arriving in Baghdad, he sent one of his disciples to al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and commanded that a cow be sent to him, as a meal for his lion. The great Ghawth was already aware of his coming. He had already arranged for a cow to be kept for the lion. On the command of Shaikh Ahmed Jaam r.a. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. sent one of his disciples with a cow to him. As the disciple took the cow with him, a weak and old stray dog which used to sit outside the home of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. followed the disciple. The disciple presented the cow to Shaikh Ahmed Jaam r.a. who in turn signalled the lion to commence feeding. As the lion ran towards the cow, this stray dog pounced on the lion. It caught the lion by its throat and killed the lion by tearing open its stomach. The dog then dragged the lion and threw it before al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a.

On seeing this, Shaikh Ahmed Jaam r.a. was very embarrassed. He humbled himself before the great Ghawth and asked for forgiveness for his arrogant behaviour. This incident shows the strength of a dog that only sat outside the stoop of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a.

This was due to its Nisbat to the blessed stoop of the great Saint. It also proves that even animals recognise and are loyal to the the Awliya Allah. A’la Hadrat, Shaikh Imam Ahmed Raza al-Qaadiri r.a. portrays the above-mentioned incident in one of his poetic stanzas. He says: “Kya Dab’be Jis Pe Himayat Ka Ho Panja Tera, Sher Ko Khatre me Laata, Nahi Kut’ta Tera”

Shaikh ALl BIN HAITI’S DREAM: Once al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. was delivering a lecture. Shaikh Ali bin Haiti r.a. was seated in front of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. in this gathering. During the lecture of the great Ghawth, Shaikh Ali bin Haiti r.a. fell asleep. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., who saw this, descended from the Mimbar and stood in front of the sleeping Shaikh Ali bin HaitiHaiti r.a. awoke to find Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. standing in front of him. He immediately stood up in respect. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. smiled and said, “The reason I am standing in front of him is because he was seeing the Holy Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.s. in his dream and I was seeing the Prophet, s.a.w.s. with my physical eyes.” r.a. with both his hands folded in respect. After a while Shaikh Ali bin

MY FOOT IS ON THE SHOULDERS OF ALL THE SAINTS: Once whilst he was delivering a lecture, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. entered a spiritual state and said, “My foot is on the shoulders of all the Awliya Allah (Saints).” When he uttered these words there were many Awliya Allah in his presence. Each one of them immediately lowered their necks.

Shaikh Ali bin Haiti r.a. who was also present in this gathering, immediately went to Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and physically placed the foot of the great Ghawth on his neck. Shaikh Sayyidi Maajid r.a. states: “When al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. said these words, then every Wali on earth bowed his neck.” He also states, “There were 300 Awliya Allah and 700 Rijaalul Ghaib (Men of the Unseen) present in that gathering, and every one of them lowered their necks before him.”

Shaikh Makaarim r.a. states: “The day on which al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. made this statement, every Saint knew that the flag of Kingship was now planted before Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. . On this day, all the Saints from East to West lowered their necks on his command.” Sayyidi Shaikh Khalifatul Akbar r.a. states: “I saw the Beloved Rasool, s.a.w.s. in my dream and I asked him about the statement of al-Ghawth al-A’zam - ‘My foot is on the shoulders of all the Saints.’” He says that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s. )said, “Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. has spoken the truth and why should he not say this when he is the Qutb, and I am his Guardian”.

SULTANUL HIND KHWAJA MUEENUD’DEEN CHISHTI: When Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said, “My foot is on the shoulders of all the Saints”, Shaikh Khwaja Mueenud’deen Chishti Hassani Sanjari Ajmeri r.a. was at this moment in the prime of his youth. He was deep in the remembrance of Allah on a mountain in Khurasaan. As soon as Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said these words, Khwaja Mueenud’deen Chishti r.a. heard this and lowered his neck and said, “But your blessed foot is on my eyes and on my head.” It was through the blessing of this act of submission that r.a. Khwaja Mueenud’deen Chishti r.a. was made the King of the Saints of India and is known as “Sultaanul Hind”.

MUFTI-E-A’ZAM HINDr.a.: Mufti-e-A’zam Hind, Maulana Mustapha Raza al-Qaadiri r.a., the son of Imam Ahmed Raza al-Qaadiri r.a., says in one of his Manqabats, which he wrote in praise of the great Ghawth as follows: r.a. “Ye Dil Ye Jigar He Ye Aankhe Ye Sar He”- My Heart, My liver, My eyes and My head are all here, “Jahaa Chaaho Rakhlo Qadam Ghawth-e-A’zam” - O Ghaus! You may keep your blessed foot wherever you desire. This couplet of Mufti-e-A'zam r.a. shows that even though he was not born when the great Saint made this statement, but even after coming to this physical world, he showed his allegiance to al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. by accepting and confirming the command of the great Ghawth. This, and his immense love for Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. gained him the exalted status of “Ghaus-ul-Waqt” meaning “The Ghaus of the Time”.

IMAM AHMED BIN HAMBAL: Shaikh Sayyidi Baqaa r.a. states that once he accompanied Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. to the tomb of Imam Ahmed bin Hambal r.a. . He says: “I saw Shaikh Imam Ahmed bin Hambal’s r.a. grave split open, and I saw him emerge from his blessed grave. He embraced al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and then said, ‘Even I am dependent on you in Tariqah’”.

SHAR’IAH AND TARIQAH: Once Shaikh Bataa’ihi r.a. presented himself in the court of Shaikh Ahmed Kabeer r.a. He states that Shaikh Ahmed Kabeer r.a. said, “Do you know anything about the condition of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. ?” Shaikh Ahmed r.a. states: “On hearing this, I began to praise al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. and say what I knew concerning him. I said as much as I knew and then remained silent.” Shaikh Ahmed Kabeer ( r.a. ) then said: “On his right is the Sea of Shari’ah and on his left is the Sea of Tariqah. From this, he gives whom he desires. In this era, there is none equal to him.”

ONE HUNDRED JURISTS HUMBLED: It is well known that the lectures of al-Ghawth al-A’zam r.a. attracted scores of scholars to Baghdad from all over the world. Once, a hundred Jurists formed a group and each one chose a difficult question. They all decided to present themselves in the gathering of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and each would ask his question during the lecture in an attempt to cause Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. to be confused. The one hundred Jurists chose what they thought to be the most difficult question and travelled to Baghdad. They sat in the gathering of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. waiting for the appropriate time to ask their questions. It was during this gathering that a bright ray of light emerged from the blessed chest of al-Ghawth al-A'zam r.a. and travelled into the heart of each of the one hundred Jurists. This light could only be seen by them and to those whom Almighty Allah desired to see. As this light entered their hearts, each one of them entered a state of spiritual ecstasy. Each one of them fell at the feet of al-Ghawth al-A'zam r.a. and repented from their improper intentions. The great Saint, with great compassion, embraced each one of them, filling their hearts with Noor, and at the same time answering every one of their questions, even though they had not asked.

HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN

HIS MARRIAGE AND WIVES: Once someone asked Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. why he had made Nikah in his unique and elevated spiritual condition. The great Ghawth r.a. replied: “I would not have married but my beloved forefather, Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.s. has commanded me to marry. It is on this basis that I have made Nikah. I was, in reality, afraid of making Nikah, for this reason that my time may be lost in other things rather than in the love of my Creator, but when the time came, then My Creator blessed me with four wives, and each one of them loved me dearly.” Due to his true and pure intention of Nikah, he never found any time lost from his Ibadah and from his services to the Deen even after marriage. All his wives were blessed with piety and deep knowledge. Shaikh Sayyidi Abdul Jabbar r.a., one of the sons of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a., states concerning his mother, “When my mother would enter a dark place, it would immediately become bright. Once my father Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. entered one such place where my mother was, and on his entrance, the light caused by her presence disappeared. On seeing this, my blessed father said, ‘This light is not enough. It has disappeared in my light. Let me make it more powerful’. From this day onwards, when my mother entered a dark place, then her light was like that of the full moon.”

HIS CHILDREN: Shaikh Sayyidi Abdur Razzaq r.a. [a son of] Ghawth al-A'zam r.a. states: “My father had forty-nine children in all, of which twenty-seven were boys and twenty-two were girls.”

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO A FEW OF HIS CHILDREN

SAYYIDI Shaikh ABDUL WAHAB: Sayyidi Shaikh Abdul Wahab r.a. was the eldest son of al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. He was born in the month of Shabaan in the year 523 A.H. in the city of Baghdad. He passed away in the month of Shabaan 593 A.H. and is buried in Baghdad. He attained proficiency in the fields of Hadith, Fiqh, etc. at his father’s feet. He also travelled abroad to study ancient medicine. At the age of twenty, he taught Islam under the watchful eye of his father. After the demise of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. he continued lecturing and issuing Fatawa (Religious Decrees). Many people from far and wide gained benefit from his lectures and teachings. From all his brothers, he was the most pious and most learned. Indeed, he was the true successor of the great Ghawth. He wrote various books, including the subject of Tassawuf. He was also a very great and renowned Jurist of his time. Amongst the books written by him are also, “Jawaahirul Asraar” and “Lataa’iful Anwaar”.

SAYYIDI Shaikh EESA: He was also a very blessed and pious person. He attained all his education at the feet of his blessed father. He was a Master of Hadith and Fiqh and was well-versed in the field of Islamic Jurisprudence. He was also a great writer. He wrote many religious and mystical poems in the love of Allah and His Rasool , s.a.w.s. .

SAYYIDI SHAIKH ABDUR RAZZAQ: Shaikh Sayyidi Abdur Razzaq r.a. was born on the 18^th of Zil Qaadah 528 A.H. He also attained his education at the feet of his blessed father. Besides his proficiency in Hadith and Fiqh he was also a dynamic debater. He was a Haafizul Hadith and a very wise Jurist. His kindness, generosity and humility were well known to the people of Baghdad. He used to stay away from the people to the best of his ability, as he preferred silent meditation in the Court of Allah. He, however, dearly loved those students who were in search of knowledge of the Deen. He passed away on a Saturday, the 7^th of Shawaal 613 A.H. in the city of Baghdad. The crowd that arrived at the Janazah of Sayyidi Abdur Razzaq r.a. when it was announced was so vast that there was no place in the city. The Janazah had to be performed outside the city so that all the people could join in the prayer. It was performed at various places for the benefit of the thousands of people attending.

Shaikh SAYYIDI Shaikh ABU BAKR: He was born on the 28^th of Shawaal 536 A.H. and passed away on the 28^th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 603 A.H. He was a great worshipper and a well-known Mystic. Many great and learned Ulama are amongst his distinguished students and disciples. He moved to a place called Jibaal in 570 A.H. and his descendants are present there even up to this day.

Shaikh SAYYIDI YAHYA: Shaikh Sayyidi Abdul Wahab r.a. states: “Once al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. had taken very ill and we were all very worried that it was the time for him to leave this world. It was then that he said, ‘Do not fear. I am not going to pass away now. I will be fine. I still have Yahya in my spine. His birth is necessary.’ We thought that due to his intense illness he is saying things that may not be making sense so we did not take heed to his words. After some time, he recovered from his illness, and our brother Yahya was born.” Sayyidi Yahya r.a. was born in 550 A.H. and passed away in the year 600 A.H. He is buried beside his brother, Shaikh Abdul Wahab r.a. in the Musaafir Khana (Guest-house) of Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a.

HIS ENLIGHTENING LECTURES

Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. delivered thousands of lectures in his lifetime on various topics. His gatherings were frequented by thousands of ordinary people, learned scholars and great Saints. It has been stated in authentic sources that during his lectures there would be approximately four hundred scribes who recorded his lectures in writing. Two such lectures, which were then recorded are being presented below for your perusal.

FIRST LECTURE - FRIDAY 15TH SHAWAAL 545 A.H.:
The hearts of the Awliya Allah are pure and clean. They are those who have divorced themselves from the creation and are drowned in the love of the Creator. They have divorced the world and are preparing for the Hereafter. You are not able to recognise them because of your being lost in this world. There is a vast distance between them and you. If any Believer (Mo’min) gives you advice, then do not act contrary to this after listening to him, for he sees in you those things which you cannot see in yourself. The Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. has stated that, “A Muslim is a mirror unto another Maslim.”

A true believer always advises his fellow Muslim brother from his heart. He openly tells him of his weaknesses and shortages that he possesses. Pure is Allah, Who has placed even my heart the feeling to advise my fellow Muslims. Now it is this, which is my favourite action, that I should advise you and tell you that which is the truth, and explain to you that which I understand to be proper. In return for this, I do not desire any worldly reward or anything in the Hereafter. All I desire is the pleasure of my Beloved and it is this, which is my sincere prayer. Yes, I am very pleased when my people gain success and prosperity, and the degeneration of my people feels like many arrows struck [up]on my heart. When any of my sincere disciples gains success and prosperity, then my heart becomes so pleased that I bow my heart and my head in the Court of my Creator. O Servants! I think of your rectification as my aim. I do not wish this for my personal gain, for this stage I have conquered. I want to hold your hands and guide you to the true way, so ask my help and my assistance in this way so that you may gain success and fulfilment. I can adorn you in the Court of Allah and not in the sight of the people, but what I want is to show you what you really are. What is your condition? Is it like one drop of water on one clot that is lifeless, or like a corpse that is left for the vultures and other animals to feed on, full of worms?

You should know that he who teaches you to be obedient and a slave of the Kings of the this world, and gives you the greed of wealth, gold and silver, which you think of to be more valuable than your true wealth (faith), is actually leading you astray. This is none other than Shaitaan.

Remember! The return for this greed is nothing else but disgrace and embarrassment. The Beloved Rasool s.a.w.s. has stated: “That person is more worthy of Allah’s Wrath who wishes for more sustenance than he needs (out of greed).” If you think that the people of the world can give you so much, that it will engulf everything, then you have not understood the reality of the Gardens of Taqeer. This is the whispering of Shaitaan in your heart. You are in reality not the servants of Allah, but you are the servants of your desires and the helpers of Shaitaan.

Divorce the love for money and valuables and try to free yourself from this prison of the world. If you wish to be freed from this, then you shall need the guidance of someone. You must thus seek guidance. Remember that by searching for such guidance with your physical eyes, is like groping for something in the dark. This will only be found by searching with the eyes of the heart and one’s spiritual sight. If you wish to search for this, then the condition is Imaan (faith). If one does not possess Imaan, then one will never gain spiritual sight. Almighty Allah says, “The absence of Imaan does not blind the physical eye, but this blinds the eyes of the heart, which is in the chest.” An example of striving in greed for the world is like a person who gives gold in return for grass. In such an exchange, the grass will soon burn and stop existing, whereas the gold, which you had, has been lost forever.

If your Imaan is weak, then definitely you will strive for the world. Rather, you try to strengthen your faith so that you may reach true elevation and true trust in Allah. When your Imaan will become strong, then you will find that your trust in Allah will be strengthened, and you will find that your requirements will be fulfilled even without your knowing. Once you start distancing yourself from the company of people, you will find that you will reach a level where you are prepared and willing to give your life in the hand of the Angel of Death (not afraid of death). Your mind should now think of this and the fact concerning where these waves of the Sea of True Life would be taking you.

Now the worries and the materialistic pleasures will not affect and interfere with your soul at all. The Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. has stated, “Divorce yourself from the thoughts of this materialistic world to the best of your ability.” O Servants! Try to free yourself from the chains of this world. Tie your heart with the firm rope of the Mercy (of Allah), which will steadily draw the ship of your heart into the true shores of the Sea of Love. Allah has power over everything. He is All-Knowing. Everything is in His Control. When asking from Him, first ask for the purification of your heart. Ask for Imaan and Ma’rifat. Ask for Knowledge. Ask for the heart to be content. Ask for light in your hearts. Ask for His Love and Compassion. Ask all this from Him.

If you attain this, then you have gained everything. Do not stretch out your hands to others. Your true aims are with Him alone. There is no use in begging before the proud and arrogant people of the world. O servants! If you have only recited the Kalimah Shahaadat with your tongue, and your heart has not shown any action of this in your practices, then you have not even taken one step towards your Creator.

The reality of the journey (towards Allah) depends on the (spiritual) speed and power of the heart. Closeness in reality is closeness of the soul. Good deeds in reality are those in which there is the soul. In other words, sincerity. These actions (good deeds) cannot be performed unless one remains within the boundaries of the Shari’ah and within the protection of the Shari’ah. This cannot be attained without the service of the true and pious servants of Allah. This should be your yardstick. If one uses his personality as a yardstick, then he shall never be successful. Any action or deed that is done to show one’s piety, [it] is not truly a good deed. True deeds are done in secrecy. One only performs his Faraa’id (obligatory actions) in the open, as this is the only way for it. One’s actions depend on Tauheed and sincerity. If this is not there, then one’s actions are like a building without a solid foundation. It will soon crumble and fall to the ground. First build and strengthen this foundation, then it will be worth constructing a huge building.

If Allah Wills, then such a building will never crumble or be destroyed, for the strength of this building will be in its foundation. It is through accepting the Oneness of Allah that your deeds will shine in the skies of spiritualism like a full moon and will give off light like that of the Sun.

SECOND LECTURE - ON THE EVENING OF TUESDAY 19TH OF SHAWWAL 545 A.H.:
The outer appearance of a person who is boastful (of his deeds) may look good, but his heart is impure. He stays away from even that which is permitted, abstains even from that which is Halaal and makes the Religion a means for his financial success. His reality is hidden from the eyes of the general public, but there are those who know and are aware of his reality.

All his acts of piety are a mere pretence. His inner self is contaminated and impure. It is sad if you do not understand that the obedience of Allah is from the heart and not through one’s physical self. All the actions that are good are in reality connected to the depths of the heart. Let the true actions retrieve from you this false garb of pretence and dress you in the true garb.

Remove this garb of fraud and deceit. Remove this garb of hypocrisy and show. Remove the garb of your desire, hypocrisy and boastfulness. Let such false garbs be removed and mixed in the dust so that you may be dressed in the true garb of love and true respect. This is the Dress of Jannat, which is a gift from your Creator.

In other words, remove this garb of the world and put on the garb of the Hereafter. Stop doing good to please the people, so that they may praise you and you may become arrogant. Leave this and come into the Court of Allah, and you will be blessed by Him. If you do so, then His Infinite Mercy will take you into itself. Leave even your self and come into the Court of Allah. Become His and He will become yours.

This will allow you to gain a place of rest in the Shade of His infinite Mercy. It is He who has the cure for your every illness. It is He that has the comfort for your pains and sorrows. You should break yourself for Him, and He will put together everything for you. Distance yourself from all others, and He will become close to you.

Now, which bounty can you ask for. Which is better than this, that He becomes close to you, comforts you in pain and sorrow, cures your illnesses and gives you all that you need? Once you give yourself to Him, then even if all the people of the world get together, they will never be able to harm you. If He makes you His friend, then He will assist you in all your battles on this earth. One who uses the Oneness of Allah to bring love in people, brings life to piety and destroys the wrongs of the world. One who lights in his heart the flame of the love of Allah and puts off all other flames, then it is he who has reached the peak of success.

Such a person has attained his final goal and has gained salvation. He has understood the secrets of gaining the true benefits of the world and it is thus important that you die before your death. In other words, kill your Nafs (desires), kill your carnal desires, kill your Cursed Shaitaan.

This is a unique type of death. The death that we all know is for all, but this is for a few who understand. O People! Take heed to my words, for I am inviting you to the way of Allah. I am inviting you towards His obedience. I am not calling you towards my desires. Hypocrites are not called towards Allah, but towards their Nafs. They are those who are beggars of the world.

O Ignorant People! You become upset with the advice of the pious servants, for you do not wish to seclude yourself in the Love of your Creator. You wish to be in Temples (idol-houses) so that you may be free from all rules, which govern you. This is the means of your destruction. It is my heartfelt advice that you should keep the company of the pious. Walk on the path of the pious. Remove the noose of evil from your necks. Hold firm to the Daaman of your Murshid-e-Kaamil (Peer). By doing this, you will reach elevation, and yes, you will be a means of brightening the hearts of those who connect to you, thus removing the darkness from their hearts. If one only says words of piety and fear with his tongue and his life is filled with sin, then such a person is a Muslim from the outside, but a Kaafir from within. From the outside, he is a Muwahid (one who believes in One Allah) and from within, he is a Polytheist (Mushrik). A true believer commences by rectifying and preparing his inner self. Like an intelligent builder, who first constructs a house, and then puts in a beautiful door (not trying to put a beautiful door without a house).

HIS BOOKS AND TREATIES

Al-Ghawth al-A'zam r.a. was also the author of various books on many subjects. His books flow with seas of knowledge, wisdom and mysticism. Two of his most famous books are “Ghuniyatut Taalibeen” and “Futuhul Ghaib”. With the exception of these, various great scholars that presented themselves in his gatherings recorded many of his lectures in writing. Many of these transcripts are still preserved in their original form up to this day, in various parts of the world.

INCIDENTS RELATING TO HIS DEMISE

ADVICE TO HIS CHILDREN: Just before al-Ghawth al-A’zam’s r.a. demise, his son, Shaikh Saifud’deen Abdul Wahab r.a., requested his father for advice. On his request, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said, “Fear Almighty Allah. Fear none but Allah. Always turn towards Him. Ask all your wishes from Allah. Do not turn to any besides Allah. Do not have faith in any but in Allah. Remain firm on Tauheed (belief in One Allah). There is no salvation without Tauheed. When the heart becomes linked with Allah then nothing else seems to look good to him. I have reached the level of True Love. It is a domain where worldly love has no place”.

PRESENCE OF OTHER BEINGS: Just before his demise, he turned to the rest of his sons and said, “Move away from me. Right now, you seem to be before me, but in reality you are not the only ones here. With the exception of your selves, there are other creations of Allah here as well. Give enough space for them. Show respect to them. Give way. This is now a place of exalted pardon and forgiveness. Do not crowd this place.” After saying these words, he would continue saying, “And may there be peace, blessings and Allah’s Mercy upon you. May Allah forgive us all and may He bestow His Mercy upon us.” This was his reply to the greetings of the Angels that had presented themselves before him. It is stated that he replied to their greetings for a full twenty-four hours.

ALLEGIANCE TO AHLE SUNNAT: Shaikh Abdur Razzaq r.a. and Shaikh Moosa r.a. both sons of r.a. al-Ghawth al-A'zam r.a. state: “Shaikh lifted both his hands towards the sky and said, ‘May there be peace, blessings and Allah’s Mercy upon you. Repent sincerely from your hearts and join the Sawaad-e-A’zam (Huge Jamaat or Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat). It was for this reason that I was sent. In other words, I was sent to command you to follow and be obedient to our Beloved Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.s. Always be gentle.” He then said, “The distance between you, I and all the creation is like the distance between the skies and the earth. Thus, you should not think of anyone equal to me, or think or me equal to any other”. HIS CONDITION: During this time, his son, Sayyidi Abdur Rahman r.a., asked concerning his condition, and he answred: “None of you should question me concerning anything. Listen! My condition is continuously changing in the Exalted Court of Allah. My status is being elevated as every moment is passing by.”

HIS ILLNESS: His son, Sayyidi Abdul Aziz r.a., asked him concerning his illness and what type of illness be had. He replied: “None of you know about my illness. No person, Jinn or Angel even is aware of the kind of illness I have”.

THE CONDITION OF HIS HEART: His son, Sayyidi Abdul Jabbar r.a., asked him if he was in any pain and discomfort. He said: “My entire body is in pain except my heart. My heart is protected as it is the treasure chest of the remembrance of Allah Almighty and the Madina (City) of the Rays of the Holy Prophet s.a.w.s.”

HIS LAST MOMENTS: In his last moment on this physical earth, Sayyidi r.a. Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said: “I ask assistance from Allah. I bear testimony that there is none worthy of worship but One Allah. He is the Exalted and the only True Existing Who does not die. Pure is He, Who through His Powers is superior over His servants, and has caused death for them. There is none worthy of worship but Allah. Muhammad (s.a.w.s. ) is the Prophet of Allah”.

HIS DEMISE: On the eve of his demise, Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. said: “I am sorry for you all. Do you know who I am? I fear no man, Jinn or even the Angel of Death. O Angel of Death! Take me into the Exalted Court of My Creator, Who has given me the opportunity of being his chosen servant (Wali) and Who is the Superior One Who is responsible for my commands.”

In the month of Rabi-ul-Aakhir 561 A.H. (as per various narrations, either on the 11^th or 17^th), the Beloved of the Holy Prophet s.a.w.s.,the Bright Shining Star of Sayyidina Ali r.a. the Comfort of the Heart of Sayyidah Fatima r.a., the Splendour of Imam Hassan r.a., the Beaming Light of Imam Husain r.a., the Light of the Eyes of Sayyidi Abu Saaleh r.a. and Sayyida Ummul Khair Faatima r.a., the Torch of Guidance and Knowledge, the Representative of the Beloved Nabi, s.a.w.s., the Point of Salvation for all Disciples, the Qutb of Qutbs, The Ghawth of all Ghawth’, The Saint of Saints, The King and Greatest of all Saints, The Reviver of the Religion, The Ghawth of both Humans and Jinns, Ghawth al-A’zam, Shaikh Sayyidina Shaikh Muhiy’yuddeen Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani al-Baghdadi r.a. shone for the last time on this physical earth. The Luminous And Distinguished Saint had travelled from this world over the bridge of death, which causes the Lover (Devotee) to meet the Beloved. “Inna lil laahi wa inna alaihi Raaji’oon”

HIS BLESSED TOMB: His blessed tomb (Mazaar) is situated in the city of Baghdad in Iraq. It is frequented throughout the year, by devotees, great and learned scholars and, no doubt, by the Awliya of their times. May Almighty Allah keeps us firm on the path of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat. May we always truly love al-Ghawth al-A’zam Shaikh Abd al-Qaadir al-Jilani r.a. and remain as his and our Master’s loyal servants. Aameen.