Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)Al-Baz-al-Ashhaab

(پیرآف اوگالی شریف , Khushab)

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)Al-Baz-al-Ashhaab Al-Ghaus-ul-Azam Part 1

Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu)- also known as al-Ghaus-ul-Azam or the Supreme Helper, Sultan-ul-Awliya, Qutb-ul-Azam, Piran-e-pir( the Pir of Pirs), Mehboob-e-Subhani (the one who is the Beloved Of ALLAH (SWT)), Sayyedina 'ash-Shaykh (Our Master, the Sheikh), Muhy-ud-din( Reviver of the religion), Al-Baz-al-Ashhaab (The Gray Falcon)- are amongst a few of titles and honorifics bestowed upon this legendary saint- who is blessed to be a Hassani-Hussaini Sayyed.

But first mention of Huzoor Sheikh Sayyed Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) - the Sultan-ul-Awliya would be incomplete without the mention of Imam-ul-Awliya-Sayyedina Amir-ul-Momineen-Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) and mention of Imam-ul-Awliya is incomplete without mentioning about Sarkar-e-do aalam-Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Beloved Prophet (PBUH) ,Maula Ali (AS) & Tasawwuf
The roots of tasawwuf lie embedded in Islam itself. There are numerous passages in the Qur'an al-karim which are of a mystical character. The Beloved Messenger of ALLAH Salla ALLAH –u- ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam himself displayed mystical inclinations and he very often retired to the cave known as Hirah for the purpose of devotions,
meditation and contemplation. The Beloved of ALLAH - Salla ALLAH u ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam- was the recipient of two types of revelations, one embodied the Qur'an al-karim, and the other illuminated his heart. The former was meant for all, the latter for those selected few whose hearts could be illuminated with the Divine Light. The knowledge of the Beloved Messenger of ALLAH - Salla ALLAH u ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam- was thus both book knowledge (Ilm-i-Safina) and heart knowledge (Ilm-e-Sina).

Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) received his heart knowledge from the Beloved Prophet- Salla ALLAH u ta’ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam. It is related that after the Ascension, the Beloved Messenger of ALLAH - Salla ALLAH u ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam- awarded a mantle to Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) which led to the illumination of his heart.

Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) was endowed with all the qualities that make a man great. He was not only great; he was regarded as a superman, an ideal man. He was the paragon of virtue. He enjoyed fame for his piety and religious devotions. He was the embodiment of Islamic values.

In his love of God and His Beloved Messenger- Salla ALLAH u ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, he was second to none. When praying to God, his absorption was so intense that he often lost consciousness. His mind was so sure that he could hold communion with God. He had learned the Noble Qur'an by heart, and he could quote appropriate verses to suit every occasion. He was most truthful and honest. He was most humble. He was simple in his habits. He avoided display and luxury. He lived the life of an ascetic. Even when he was Caliph he lived in an ordinary house. The door of his house remained open to everyone at all times. He was most generous. He was most liberal in giving charity. He always came to the help of those who were distressed and involved in any difficulty. He looked after widows and orphans as if they were members of his own household.

Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) was the most learned man of the age. He was a living encyclopedia of knowledge. The Beloved Prophet Salla ALLAH u ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam said,
"I am the City of Knowledge, verily Ali is the Gate of it."

He was the first person to have learned the Qur'an al-karim by heart. He possessed a prodigious memory and he was a keen observer; he was a deep thinker; he had an enlightened mind and he carried a vast storehouse of knowledge in his brain. He was a versatile genius and he exhibited extraordinary talents in all disciplines of knowledge. He was a master of philosophy and rhetoric. He was a distinguished poet. He was a great teacher and preacher. His knowledge extended to such disciplines as logic, mathematics, physics, astronomy, medicine and history.

Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) held that the principal aim of knowledge was the inculcation of virtue, promotion of faith, and understanding of God. He held that knowledge enlivens the soul, for it kills ignorance. He defined knowledge as the sum total of excellence. He held that the pursuit of knowledge is better thanthe pursuit of riches, that knowledge is the ornament of the rich and the riches of the poor and that knowledge is better than riches. He held that the learned live even after their death. He maintained that the learned were the living ones in the dead mass of ignorance. He observed that to respect the learned was to respect God. With regards to the respect of the teacher, he held that one who teaches you a letter binds you with the fetter of gratitude. He maintained that the talk of the learned man carried within it the fragrance of the garden of Paradise.

'Amir al-Momineen' (Leader of the Faithful) Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem), is acclaimed as the father of Sufism [tasawwuf]. Most Sufi orders claim their descent from Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem).

According to 'Data Ganj Baksh'; UTHMAN 'ALI AL-HUJWIRI [d.469H] Radi ALLAH u ta'ala anhu, the rank of Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) is very high in the lineage of Sufis. According to Sayyed-u-ta’aifa Hazrat JUNAYD AL-BAGHDADI [d.298H] Radi ALLAH u ta'ala anhu, Sayyedina Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) is the Shaykh as regards to the principles and practices of tasawwuf.

Introduction
Mehboob-e-Subhani, al Ghaus al A'zam Sayyedina Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) was a noted Hanbali preacher, Sufi Shaykh and the eponymous founder of the Qadiri Sufi order (silsila). He was born in Ramadan AH 470 (CE 1077) and as per some narrations in the month of Rabi-ul-thaani also known as Rabi-ul-aakhir. But the more stronger tradition states which is accepted by most Awliya around the world- is the celebration of his birth in the blessed month of Rabi-ul-thaani (Rabi-ul-aakhir). He was born in the Persian province of Jilan (Iran) south of the Caspian Sea. His contribution and renown in the sciences of Sufism (tasawwuf) and Sharia (Islamic Law) was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of all time, al-Ghaus al A’zam (the "Supreme Helper" or the "Mightiest Succour").

The most universally acclaimed saint of all times and the most celebrated in all the aalameen (worlds), amongst jinn and men as well as amongst the arwaah (souls), the malaaika (angels), and the rijaal-ul-ghayb (men of the unseen), the beloved of ALLAH (SWT) who throughout history has been showered the titles of Muhy-ud-din (reviver of the faith), Qutb Rabbani (the spiritual axis established by the Lord), and Ghaus al-A'zam (the greatest helper, the greatest saint), Sayyadi wa Imami Abu Muhammad Abd'al-Qadir al-Jilani- Radi ALLAH u ta'ala Anhu- was born in Ramadan 470 A.H/1077 C.E and as per other traditions in the month of Rabi-ul-thaani (rabi-ul-aakhir) in Jilan, Persia. His father, Abu Salih (RA), was a man of taqwa (piety) and a direct descendant of Sayyedina Imam Hassan ibn Ali Radi ALLAH ta’ala Anhu. His mother, Ummul Khayr Fatima was a saintly daughter of a saintly father Shaykh Abdullah Sawma'i (RA) who was a direct descendant of Sayyed ash-shuhadaa Imam Hussein ibn Ali-Radi ALLAH u ta’ala Anhu.

Thus Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) was both Hassaniand Hussaini, a descendant of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad -Salla ALLAH u 'alayhi wa Sallam from his beloved daughter Sayyedatina Fatima-tuz-Zahra (RA). For this reason, the Sindhis for example, lovingly call him "putar mithe mahbub jo" (the blessed son of the sweet Beloved Prophet - Salla ALLAH u ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam).

The genealogical roots of Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu)can be traced to Habib ul-A'zam Sayyaduna Muhammad-Salla ALLAH u ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam- as follows:
Ghaus al A'zam Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu), son of
As-Sayyed Abu Salih Musa, son of
As-Sayyed Abdullah al-Jili, s/o
As-Sayyed Yahya as-Zahid, s/o
As-Sayyed Muhammad, s/o
As-Sayyed Dawud, s/o
As-Sayyed Musa, s/o
As-Sayyed Abdullah, s/o
As-Sayyed Musa al-Jawn, s/o
As-Sayyed Abdullah al-Mahd, s/o
As-Sayyed al-Hassan al-Muthanna, s/o
Sayyedina al-Imam al-Hassan, Radi ALLAH u Anhu, son of
Imam ul mashariqi wal magharib, Sayyedina Amir-ul-Momineen-Sayyedna Hazrat Ali (Karram-al-ALLAHU wajha-hul-kareem) and
Sayyedatina Fatima -tus-Zahra, (Radi ALLAH u Anha) the blessed daughter of
Khaatam an-Nabiyyin Habibi Rabbil aalameen Sayyedina wa Mawlana Muhammad ibn Abdullah, Nurin min Nurillah, ALLAHumma Salli wa Sallim wa Baarik alayh.(Cited by Shaykh Abdur Rahman ibn Shaykh Umar Ali al-Qadiri, in Al-Jawhar un Nafis, The Most Precious Pearls, p. 29).

What better way is there to end this section and indeed all the remaining sections than with this hymn which is full of blessings and mercy of ALLAH (SWT).
Yaa Hayyu Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyum
Yaa Hayyu Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyum
O The Ever-Living, O The Ever-Living, O The Self-Subsisting by whom all subsist
O The Ever-Living, O The Ever-Living, O The Self-Subsisting by whom all subsist

Blessed Parentag
Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) is not only known as the greatest of all helpers, but was also a great preacher, a great educationalist, a great moralist and a great doctor of Muslim law. He was the glory of the learned and the light of Islam; the Spokesman of theologians, the Interpreter of men of spiritual knowledge, the unique Leader of Leaders; the Leader of nations; the Chief of the chiefs; the Succour of men and the Jinn; the Reviver of Religion; possessed of very high and perfect spiritual knowledge; and hailed as the Honour of Religion
In Persia, in a place called Naif in the district of Jilan, in the South of the Caspian Sea, there lived a pious and God fearing man. He was Hazrat Abu Saleh Jangi Dost (RA). He used to spend most of his time in the contemplation and love of ALLAH (SWT).

Once he was sitting on the bank of a river in deep contemplation, when upon opening of his eyes, he saw an apple floating down the river. The apple, which reached him near the bank, was taken up and eaten by him. Soon after, his conscience questioned the propriety whether the apple eaten by him was lawful. He got up and walked along the bankof the river towards the sides from where the apple had come, in order to find out the owner of the garden where from the apple had fallen into the river. Hazrat intended to pay him the price for the apple in order to make the energy derived from that apple lawful, since he had eaten it, without his permission.

After a long journey, he reached a spot where appeared a large garden on the bank of the river, which convinced him that the apple eaten by him had fallen from that garden. Upon inquiry he learnt that the garden belonged to Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA). Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) approached him and begged his pardon for eating the apple of his garden without his prior permission. Such an approach made Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA) to perceive that Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) was a pious and a noble man. He therefore, asked him to pay the price of the apple before his request for pardon was considered. The price was to serve under him as long as he desired. Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) agreed to serve Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA) for as long a period as his service was considered necessary.

After a few years service, Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) asked the owner of the garden to grant him pardon and release him. Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA), before pardoning and allowing him to leave, asked Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) to agree to marry his daughter who, he was told, was blind, deaf, lame and paralytic of hands. After marriage he was also to stay with them until a child was born to them. These were the qualifying conditions of his release.

In order to obtain his pardon, Hazrat Abu Saleh Jangi Dost (RA) agreed to the proposal and the marriage was accordingly fixed up. When he entered the chamber of the bride, he saw instead a beautiful and healthy lady. He turned his eyes from her assuming that he had entered a wrong chamber because the lady before him did not tally with the description given to him.

By his Kashf (Clairvoyance) Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA) understood the predicament of Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) about his bride. He called him and explained to him that he had stated that his daughter was blind, because her eyes never fell upon any outsider other than members of their family; she was said to be deaf, because she had never heard untruthful statements; she was supposedly lame, because she never undertook and stepped on towards committing acts, alien to the laws of Islam.

Such a description of his wife enlightened Hazrat Abu Saleh (RA) with a new light and he began to live happily with his wife whose name was Ummul Khayr Fatima (RA). She was the pious daughter of Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai (RA), who was himself a great Sufi and Saint of his time and was a direct descendent of Hazrat Sayyeda-as-Shuhadaa Imam Hussein (RA)
In this Sayyed family of Saints, Hazrat Ummul Khayr Fatima (RA)gave birth to a son in 470 Hijri during the month of Rabi-ul-Aakhir. The child was named Abu Muhammad Abdul Qadir. Abu Muhammad was his Kuniet- that is the name by which he was familiarly called by relatives and neighbours.

Some of the Saints of the time foresaw the birth of Imam-ul-Awliya Hazrat Sayyedina Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)Hazrat Abu Bakar Bin Hawara (RA) once told some of his disciples that in the near future a great Wali (Saint) would be born in Ajam- a non-Arab country – who would be God fearing and highly respected by the people of his time and thereafter. His foot will be on the neck of all Walis (Saints) and Walis of his time would testify to the truth of his claim. Another Saint, Hazrat Ahmed Abdullah Bin Ahmed (RA) stated around about 468 AH, that shortly a child would be born in Ajam whose miracles (karamat) would be numerous and whose rank among Walis (Saints) would be very high.

From the above details, it will appear that Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) was a direct descendent of Hazrat Sayyed Imam Hassan (AS) on his father’s side. From his mother’s side he descended from Sayyedina Imam Zainul Abedin (AS) son of Sayyeda-as-Shuhadaa Hazrat Imam Hussein (AS). He was therefore both a Hassani and Hussaini Sayyed tracing his lineage thereby to the two grandsons of Nabi-e-kareem Muhammad Mustafa (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).

All the historians agree that the age of Hazrat’s mother was much above the normal age of child bearing, when this great Saint of Jilan was born to her. Despite having taken birth in such an advanced age of his mother, he was nevertheless, possessed of all the good faculties normally expected of a healthy child. The child was a born Wali (Saint). From the very birth, he was endowed with gems of Psychic powers. His Wilayat was obviously felt from his infancy.

Early life- Blessed Childhood
His first Karamat was witnessed, when as an infant child during the month of Ramadan, he would take his mother’s milk only at night and not during daytime. This fact has been proved on the evidence of his mother. Once the new moon of the month of fasting was not visible in the evening on account of clouds. In the morning people came to his mother to inquire whether the day was the first of Ramadan. She replied that her child did not take her milk during daytime, which indicated that the day was the first of Ramadan.

As a child, Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) would not play with other children. The Psychic powers, which were exhibited by him in his infancy, naturally developed as he grew up, and were visible in all the stages of his holy life. Once the children of the vicinity, where Huzoor Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani Al-Hassani wal Hussaini- (Radi ALLAH-u ta'ala anhu) with his mother was living, invited him to play. He led the game and asked all the children to say IL-LAL-LAH, when he would recite LA-ILAHA. This play of the children reciting LA-ILAHA-ILLALLAH (There is no God but God) could very well show the inclination and pursuits of the Leader.

He was quiet and sober from his early childhood and was generally disposed towards contemplation. His mother and his maternal grandfather, who themselves were, Walis (Awliya-e- karaam) naturally gave him the training that was necessary for a Wali. It may be said, that he was brought up in the cradle of Sufism. Whenever he thought of playing,he would hear a voice questioning him where he was going. At this, he would be frightened and would run back to take shelter in his mother’s lap.

At the age of ten, however, he attended school. The angels would ask his fellow students to make room for the Wali of ALLAH to sit in the class. He lived in Jilan up to the age of 18 years. In one day Hazrat would learn by heart as much of his lessons as others would take a week to master. One day, he was going to the fields for an excursion. A plough bullock was ahead of him. The animal suddenly turned round and told him that he was not born for the purpose of utilising his time on excursions. Frightened at this incident, he turned back to his house and climbed its roof. With his spiritual vision, he saw a vast assembly standing on Jabl-ul Arafat.

He then requested his mother to dedicate him to ALLAH and also allows him to proceed to Baghdad, which was then famous in the Muslim World as a great seat of learning for the acquisition of knowledge. The desire to acquire knowledge was intensely burning in the Hazrat’s heart and he overcame the love of his mother, his hearth and home, for the sake of ALLAH (SWT). He was not deterred by the prospect of hardships of a long and dangerous journey, and residence in a remote city without friends or relatives.

When his mother heard the proposal, she shed silent tears as she perceived that on account of her old age, she was not destined to see her dear son again, whom she had brought up so carefully and tenderly, after the death of her husband long age. But the Saintly Lady would not stand in the way of his devotion of ALLAH (SWT).

She sewed forty dinars (Gold Coins) into his garment, so that they might not easily be lost. It was his half share of the money left by his father. The other half was kept for his brother. He soon joined a small caravan, which was going to Baghdad.

From the time of his childhood, he had never uttered falsehood, but despite this trait of his character, his mother at the time of parting, took a vow from him that he should not tell even one lie under any circumstances. They then parted with heavy hearts. The separation between the son and the mother was sad and sublime. It was no less similar to that of the leading of Hazrat Ismail (AS) by his father, Sayyedina Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) for sacrifice under divine orders, as the separation in either case was not for wealth, rank or fame, but for the sake of ALLAH (SWT).

The caravan passed quite safely as far as Hamadan, but beyond that place, a gang of sixty robbers fell upon the caravan and plundered it, but none laid violent hands upon Hazrat, taking him to be a penniless, religious youth. One robber however, questioned him whether he had anything with him. He readily said he had forty dinars sewed into his garment. The man took it as a joke and went away. Another robber also asked the same question from Hazrat, and on receiving the same reply, moved off. They reported the incident to the leader of the gang, who ordered the production of the youth before him. Accordingly, when he was taken before the gang leader, he said the same thing, which he had stated before. The garment was then cut open and the forty dinars were foundOn seeing the "dinars" the leader was astounded and asked Hazrat what had made him to tell the truth when he knew that he too would be robbed. He replied that he had promised his mother not to tell a lie under any circumstances. Hazrat added that if he had told a lie on the very first stage of his journey undertaken for the sake of acquiring knowledge of religion, he would obviously have no chance of acquiring any real knowledge of religion at subsequent stages of his career. Upon this, the robber realizing the felonious life he and his companions had led, burst into tears and said that he had been breaking the commands of ALLAH (SWT) throughout his life, while a youth was so conscientiously fulfilling his vow made to his mother.

By placing his hands upon the hands of Hazrat, the leader of the robbers solemnly vowed to give up robbery. The other robbers also followed their leader and repented. The robbed belongings were returned to their owners. The conversion of the gang of robbers was not only due to Hazrat’s strict adherence to truth but to his psychic powers also. Most of the authorities are of the opinion that this incident showed the greatness of Sayyedina, in the making. Had his nature not been truthful in origin-such a courageous and unwavering stand for truth in the face of such heavy odds- this would not have been possible for him.

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