Syedina Ghous-ul-Azam 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 Succourer of men and the Jinn; the Reviver of Religion; possessed of very high and perfect spiritual knowledge; and hailed as the Honour of Religion.
Early Life
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. He used to spend most of his time in the contemplation and love of Allah.
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 conscince questioned the propriety whether the apple eaten by him was lawful. He got up and walked along the bank of 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. Hazrat Abu Saleh approached him and begged his pardon for eating the apple of his garden without his prior permission. Such approach made Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai to perceive that Hazrat Abu Saleh 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 agreed to serve Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai for as long a period as his service was considered necessary.
After a few years service, Hazrat Abu Saleh asked the owner of the garden to grant him pardon and release him. Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai, before pardoning and allowing him to leave, asked Hazrat Abu Saleh 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 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 he 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 understood the predicament of Hazrat Abu Saleh 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 with a new light and he began to live happily with his wife whose name was Umul Khair Fatima. She was the pious daughter of Hazrat Abdullah Sawmai, who was himself a great Sufi and Saint of his time and was a direct descendent of Hazrat Sayidina Imam Hussain (Radi Allahu Tala Anhu)
In this Saiyed family of Saints, Hazrat Umul Khair Fatima gave birth to a son in 470 Hijri during the month of Rabi-ul-Akhir. 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 of foresaw the birth of his Imam-ul-Auliya Saiyidina Abdul Qadir Jilani. Hazrat Abu Bakar Bin Hawara 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 stated about 468 AH, that shortly a child would be born in Ajam whose miracles would be numerous and whose rank among Walis (Saints) would be very high.
From the above details, it will appear that Saiyidina Abdul Qadir Jilani was a direct descendent of Hazrat Imam Hassan Ilaihe-salam (Radi Allahu Tala Anhu) on his father?s side. From his mother’s side he descended from Saiyidina Imam Zainul Abedin Ilaihe-salam son of Hazrat Imam Hussain Ilaihe-salam. He was therefore both a Hassani and Hussaini Saiyed tracing his lineage thereby to the two grandsons of Nabi Muhammad Mustafa (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).
All the writers 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 germs of Psychic powers. His Wilayat was obviously felt from his infancy.
His first Karamat was witnessed, when as an infant child during the month of Ramzan, 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 Ramzan. She replied that her child did not take her milk during daytime, which indicated that the day was the first of Ramzan.
As a child, Saiyidina Hazrat Abdul Qadir 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 Saiyidina Abdul Qadir 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 (aulia 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 will 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 teacher 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 seemed to tell 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 vast assembly standing on Jabl-ul Arafat.
He then requested his mother to dedicate him to ALLAH (GOD) 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 his mother, his hearth and home, for the sake of ALLAH. 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.
She sewed forth 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 pathetic and sublime. It was no less similar to that of the leading of Hazrat Ismail by his father, Saiyidina Hazrat Ibrahim for sacrifice under divine orders, as the separation in either case was not for wealth, rank or fame, but for the sake of ALLAH.
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 they 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 found.
On 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 felonous life he and his companions lad led, burst into tears and said that he had been breaking the commands of God 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 Syedina, in the making. Had his nature not been truthful in origin, such a courageous and unwavering stand for truth, even in the face of such heavy odds, would not have been possible for him.
Education
In Baghdad, Hazrat studied several subjects, under many famous Savants of Islam. He studied Fiqah under Qazi Abu Saeed Mubarak bin Mokarrimi, Abu Ofa Ali Bin Aqil and very many other learned teachers. He learned Hadith and his teachers included the famous Abu Ghalib Ahmed and Abu Qasim Ali. He acquired proficiency in Arabic literature under the learned Abu Zakaria Yahya Tabrizi, who was at that time the principal of Madrasa Nizami.
During his stay in Baghdad, he established, by his conduct, that he was truthful and extremely charitable. During his stay, although he had to endure great hardships, by dint of the natural talents and devotion, he very soon became the Master of Quran, Fiqh, Hadith and Arabic literature, with all its connected branches.
He was once teaching Quran and a verse was erad. Several interpretations of the verse citing previous interpretations were quoted. In addition to these interpretations, so many other aspects and meanings of the verse were explained in detail, that Sheikh Jamal-din bin Jowzi, who was amongst the audience and was himself a renowned author of his time, admitted to a companion of his, that he knew of only eleven out of the forty different explanations of the verse given by Hazrat Ghosul Azam.
In 521 Hijri, Hazrat Abu Saeed Mubarik Bin Mokarrimi made over his Madrasa to Saiydina Abdul Qadir, In the beginning, there were only very few students; but soon his fame for learning, piety, inner illumination, veracity, and strict adherence to Shariat spread far and wide and people from all over the world began to flock round him to reap the benefits of his lectures and sermons. Gradually the existing building proved too small for the ever-increasing students, and in 528 AH, adjacent houses had to be acquired. For thirty-three years between 528 and 561, he devoted himself to the cause of Education. He himself taught Muslim Law, commentaries on the Quran, Hadith, Syntax (grammar) and other Islamic subjects. Students from every part of Iraq and all over the Muslim world came to his Madrasa, where they received free education with boarding and lodging provided.
After completing their course of studies, these students either returned to their own countries or went to some other lands in order to spread the knowledge and virtues acquired from the Hazrat. Education thus spread throughout Iraq and other Muslim Countries to achieve Saiyidina?s sole object of the revival of Islam. Most of his students later became famous Saints and Savants of Islam. Among them were Sheikh Ali bin Hiti-a- Qutub of his time ? Sheikh Baqir bin Batu, the head of the Autad, Sheikh Shahabuddin Umar Suharwardy the author of the well known book on Sufism, ?Awarif-ul-Maarif? and Head of the Suharwardy Order, Sheikh Abdul Hassan the famous preacher of Egypt and very many others.
As a student, when he was engaged in his studies he did not neglect his efforts to attain spiritual perfection. He therefore, often resorted to fasting and would not ask for food from any one, even if he had to go without any meal for days together.
The Shaikh’s Names and Titles
A rich store of information about the author of these discourses and Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth is conveniently available, to those familiar with the religious and spiritual tradition of Islaam, in his names, his surnames, and the many titles conferred upon him by his devoted followers. It is not unusual for these to take up several lines in an Arabic manuscript, but let us start with the short form of the author’s name as it appears on the cover and title page of these books.
Shaikh –
A term applied throughout the Islamic world to respected persons of recognized seniority in learning, experience and wisdom. Its basic meaning in Arabic is “an elder; a man over fifty years of age. (The spellings Sheikh and Shaykh may also be encountered in English language publications.)
‘Abd al-Qadir –
This is the author’s personal name, meaning “Servant [or Slave] of the All-Powerful.” (The form ‘Abdul Qaadir, which the reader may come across elsewhere, is simply an alternative transliteration of the Arabic spelling.) It has always been a common practice, in the Muslim community, to give a male child a name in which ‘Abd is prefixed to one of the Names of Allah.
Al-Jilani –
A surname ending in -ii will often indicate the bearer’s place of birth. Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qaadir was born in the Iranian district of Giilaan, south of the Caspian Sea, in A.H. 470/1077-8 C.E. (In some texts, the Persian spelling Giilaanii is used instead of the arabicized form al-Jiilaanii. The abbreviated form al-Jiilii, which may also be encountered, should not be confused with the surname of the venerable ‘Abd al-Karim al-Jiilii, author of the celebrated work al-Insaan al-Kaamil, who came from Jiil in the district of Baghdaad.)
Let us now consider a slightly longer version of the Shaikh’s name, as it occurs near the beginning of Al-Fath ar-Rabbaanii [The Sublime Revelation]: Sayyidunaa ‘sh-Shaikh Muhyi’d-Diin Abuu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qaadir (Radiya’llaahu ‘anh).
Sayyidunaa ‘sh-Shaikh –
“Our Master, the Shaikh.” A writer who regards himself as a Qaadirii, a devoted follower of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qaadir, will generally refer to the latter as Sayyidunaa [our Master], or Sayyidii [my Master].
Muhyi’d-Diin –
“Reviver of the Religion.” It is widely acknowledged by historians, non-Muslim as well as Muslim, that Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qaadir displayed great courage in reaffirming the traditional teachings of Islaam, in an era when sectarianism was rife, and when materialistic and rationalistic tendencies were predominant in all sections of society. In matters of Islamic jurisprudence [fiqh] and theology [kalaam], he adhered quite strictly to the highly “orthodox” school of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Abu Muhammad –
“Father of Muhammad.” In the Arabic system of nomenclature, a man’s surnames usually include the name of his first-born son, with the prefix Abuu [Father of–].
Radiya’llaahu ‘anh –
“May Allaah be well pleased with him!” This benediction is the one customarily pronounced–and spelled out–in writing after mentioning the name of a Companion of the Prophet (Allaah bless him and give him peace). The preference for this particular invocation is yet another mark of the extraordinary status held by Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qaadir in the eyes of his devoted followers.
Finally, we must note some important elements contained within this even longer version: al-Ghawth al-A’zam Sultaan al-Awliyaa’ Sayyidunaa ‘sh-Shaikh Muhyi’d-Diin ‘Abd al-Qaadir al-Jiilaanii al-Hasanii al-Husainii (Radiya’llaahu ‘anh).
Al-Ghawth al-A’zam –
“The Supreme Helper” (or, “The Mightiest Succor”). Ghawth is an Arabic word meaning:
(1) A cry for aid or succor.
(2) Aid, help, succor; deliverance from adversity.
(3) The chief of the Saints, who is empowered by Allaah to bring succor to suffering humanity, in response to His creatures’ cry for help in times of extreme adversity.
Sultaan al-Awliyaa’ –
“The Sultan of the Saints.” This reinforces the preceding title, emphasizing the supremacy of the Ghawth above all other orders of sanctity.
al-Hasanii al-Husainii –
“The descendant of both al-Hasan and al-Husain, the grandsons of the Prophet (Allaah bless him and give him peace).” To quote the Turkish author, Shaikh Muzaffer Ozak Efendi (may Allaah bestow His mercy upon him): “The lineage of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qaadir is known as the Chain of Gold, since both his parents were descendants of the Messenger (Allaah bless him and give him peace). His noble father, ‘Abdullaah, traced his descent by way of Imaam Hasan, while his revered mother, Umm al-Khair, traced hers through Imaam Husain.”
As for the many other surnames, titles and honorific appellations that have been conferred upon Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, it may suffice at this point to mention al-Baaz al-Ashhab [The Gray Falcon].
Public Life
The most attractive part of the life of a Wali is that which deals with his manners and customs as corresponding to those of the Holy Prophet and is in accord with ?Sunnah?. Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Islam, from the very beginning was devoted towards divine love and was engaged also in the service of mankind. He spent practically his whole life in such service to making especially in the educational and spiritual spheres.
In early life as a student during a year of famine in Baghdad, one day he felt very hungry. But he did not have any money to buy food. He was obliged therefore, to proceed towards the bank of the river Tigris to pick up some vegetables to satisfy his hunger. When he found something edible, he did not run ahead of the other hungry persons, who were around him, to first take and have it for himself. Such was his exemplary conduct, even when starving.
Once having been unsuccessful in his attempt to find any food, he returned to Baghdad in an exhausted condition and entered a mosque to take rest. There he found a stranger eating something. The stranger invited him to join and share the food, but he declined though he was on the point of starvation.
He stranger however requested Hazrat again to share his meal for the sake of Allah. Then only, he joined him. In the course of conversation the stranger learnt that he was Abdul Qadir of his own town Jilan, and was perturbed. He confessed to Hazrat that his mother had given him eight dinars to be given to him, but as he could not locate him in Baghdad and as he had no food for the last two days, he had that day purchased the meal out of that fund under such extreme circumstances.
He apologized and placed before Hazrat the balance in hand. Hazrat not only pardoned him, but returned to him the balance tendered, thereby depicting his benevolence.
Once in Baghdad deprived of substantial food for 20 days, he proceeded to the ruins of Aewan-I-Kisra to see if he could find any vegetable or edible roots. He preferred such search to seeking help from anyone, under any circumstances. When he reached there, he found about seventy Walis already there in that same search for food. He returned to town and did not consider it proper to remain there and thereby reduce the quantity that may be found. Upon reaching back to the town, he met an unknown person from his native place. The stranger delivered him some pieces of gold and silver stating that those were sent by the mother of Hazrat Sheikh, to be delivered to him. He took them and immediately went back to the ruins of Kisra and distributed these pieces of gold and silver to those Walis, retaining one, with which he purchased food, which he shared with other needy persons. What a rare example of benevolence indeed.
His whole life was devoted towards the service of the poor and he devoted more of his precious time to the poor, than to the rich. Whenever in a town while passing through its streets, the people would come out of their shops and houses, and would stand on both sides of the streets to greet him in their reverence.
Once his son Sheikh Abdur Razak was with him on a journey to Hijaz when they reached a village where Hazrat Sheikh desired to stay. Instead of staying in the village, he proceeded towards the surburb, where he saw an isolated tent in which an old man, his wife and their daughter were residing. Hazrat Sheikh asked his permission to camp in vicinity.
Soon the news of the arrival of Hazrat reached the village and the notables and ?Amirs? of the village came to Hazrat and requested him to come to their village and stay with them, but he declined to accept their offer. When his Murids, devotees, students and people of the neighbouring villages heard this, they rushed to see him. They then gifted various presents. The Hazrat graciously accepted them but gave them to the old man near whose tent Hazrat had preferred to stay. Obviously this act was done to improve the financial position and social status of the old man and his poor family, who were until then disallowed from living in the village itself. The effect of this act obliged the people of the village to shift him to the village and to allow him to live among them.
Hazrat had a very soft corner for the needy and he would not rest until their needs were fulfilled. Even after his demise, any prayer for spiritual help from Hazrat seldom met with disappointment. He was very fond of feeding people along with him. His door was always open for all. He would personally look after the needs of his guests. After evening prayers, his tablecloth would be spread and his personal attendants would announce dinner for his guests, whatever was the food available.
Sometimes, people with a desire for a particular dish would come to Hazrat. Once on his return from Hijaz after Hajj the famous preacher of Egypt Sheikh Zainuddin in ?Bhahjat-ul-Asrar?, has narrated that he and his other companion wished mentally to have honey and milk dishes respectively at dinner. Meals were brought and when these were being served the servant placed honey before my companion and the milk dish before me. One seeing this Hazrat pointed out to his attendant to reverse the dishes, that is, the place honey before me and the milk dish before my companion as were mentally desired by us. Hazrat Ghous once said, ?I have explored the weight of every human action and have finally come to the conclusion that feeding of the poor and hungry is virtuous of all actions.?
He was always most polite and respectful to his visitors. Whenever, any one of them was absent for sometime, he would enquire particularly about him. In cases of indisposition he would visit the patients and pray for their health and happiness.
He disliked the company of ?Amirs? and rich men. Whenever the Khalifa or other ?Amirs? intended to come to Hazrat, he would get up from amongst those present and retire to his chambers. It has not been established by any writer so far that Hazrat Ghous had ever gone to see any Khalifa or Amir. On the contrary they used to come to Hazrat.
Khalifa Almustanjad Billah once came to him and presented him bags of gold. Hazrat Sheikh refused the gift. When the Khalifa begged and pleaded for the acceptance of the gift, Hazrat took two of the bags and pressed them. Blood seemed to ooze out of the bags of gold. He then addressed the Khalifa stating that his wealth had been amassed by oppressing the poor people.
Khalifa Almustanjad Billah once came to him and presented him bags of gold. Hazrat Sheikh refused the gift. When the Khalifa begged and pleaded for the acceptance of the gift, Hazrat took two of the bags and pressed them. Blood seemed to ooze out of the bags of gold. He then addressed the Khalifa stating that his wealth had been amassed by oppressing the poor people.
In addition to the daily preaching, he would deliver specific lectures thrice a week. These sermons were delivered at the Idgah on Friday mornings, at the Madresa on Tuesday nights, and at the Guest House, on Wednesday mornings. All categories of people attended these sermons, and included Sufis, Faqihs, Amirs, Khalifas, Rijal-ul-Ghaibs, Jins, Angels, Souls of the departed ones. Even non-Muslims attended these sermons and many of them subsequently embraced Islam.
Sinners, who listened to his discourses, reformed their lives. His sermon alone helped in the reformation of over one lac of evil doers, which included murderers and thieves, who repented their past sins and started to lead better lives. Without any fear, he publicly denounced the unjust acts of Khalifa Muqtaza-ai-Ammarallah who once appointed the notorious tyrant and dishonest person Abu Ofa to the post of a Qazi. The Hazrat disapproved this appointment and said that the Khalifa had committed a grave error in making this appointment and that he would have to account for his action in the near future before Allah. When the Khalifa heard of this admonition, he trembled with fear and dismissed the tyrant Qazi.
Addressing a date tree, in the yard of his Ribat as if it represented the ruling Khalifa Muqtaza-ai-Amarallah, he said that he would cut off its head if it should be refractory. On hearing of this, the Khalifa asked his minister, Ibn Habira to submit to Hazrat Sheikh, in private, that it was not proper for His Holiness to oppose a Khalifa, when he knew well the rights of the Khalifa. When Ibn Habira went to the Hazrat, he saw many persons sitting round him; hence he awaited an opportunity to speak to him in private. In the course of conversation, Hazrat told him that he would certainly cut off his head. The minister understood he good intentions and sincerity of the Hazrat. Ultimately the Khalifa himself came to Saiyidena Ghousul Azam and sat down respectfully. He then lectured the Khalifa and reproached him so severely that he burst into tears. Then Hazrat Sheikh treated him with kindness. The censure had the desired effect on account of the psychic powers of Hazrat.
Once in 528 A. H., Abdul Hasan Saeed was present at a meeting when Hazrat Ghous was delivering a sermon on Zumud (Renunciation). He thought within himself that he would like to hear a sermon on Mahifiat (gnosis). Hazrat Ghous suddenly changed his subject and spoke on marfat of such a high character that he had never before heard.
He then mentally desired to hear a sermon on Shawq (intense desire) to please God. Hazrat again changed his subject and spoke on ?Shawq? (intense) desire. His sermon on the subject was so excellent that he did not hear the one like it before. In this manner Abdul Hasan Saeed mentally desired to hear discourse on different subjects, and Hazrat spoke on subjects like annihilation and subsistence, and lastly on ?Hazuri? (Presence of heart in God) and ?Ghaibat? (absence from all things except Allah). After he had spoken on the last subject, he told Sheikh Abdul Hasan Saeed that, that enough had been spoken for him. Abdul Hasan lost his control and tore his garments.
One day Hazrat Abdul Wahab, son of Hazrat Ghous, on his return to Baghdad, after extensive travelling and acquiring knowledge in different branches of Islamic theology, and having obtained the previous permission of his father, sat on the chair of his father and delivered a scholarly speech. The lecture did not move the audience. The heart of none appeared to be emotionally affected. Many in the audience, then requested Hazrat Ghous his father, to speak. At this Hazrat Abdul Wahab got down and Hazrat Ghousul Azam occupied the chair.
Hazrat merely spoke on his daily routine. But these few words made the whole audience attentive. His son inquired the reason for having been able to arrest so quickly the attention of the audience of quite a formal discourse. At this, Hazrat replied to his son that he was proud of his travels, though he had yet to travel on a higher plane. Hazrat said ?when I ascended the chair, a spark from Providence flashed in my heart and I spoke in that state a few words, which naturally had such an affect on the audience?.
At first he began to preach in the Madresa made over to him by Hazrat Abu Saeed. In the beginning only two or three persons formed his audience. ; But on account of his profound learning, piety, spirituality, adherence to truth, strict observance of the ?Shariat?, avoidance of ?Bidat? (innovations) and his eloquence, his fame spread through out the different quarters of Baghdad and all the Muslim world.
Crowds began to flock to hear his sermons. As there was not sufficient accommodation in the Madresa. People used to sit outside the Madresa on the road up to the entrance to the Serai. As the audience still increased the houses adjacent to the Madresa were acquired and the Madresa was extended in 528 A. H. Even then, the Madresa and its percents were not large enough for the audience. It was then in the Idgah outside the City, that Hazrat used to address mammoth audiences. Subsequently a monastery was built for this purpose, which was also known as Musafir Khana.
Miracles
The Walis of Allah, acting on behalf and under the stamp of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and not proclaiming their existence and position’ until commanded by Allah serve humanity, by their preccipts and examples and pray incessantly for the general forgiveness of human sins.
The idea regarding the existence of such Walis and their approach towards some form of intercession for humanity is borne out by Verses 20-27 of Sura Yasin, a perusal of which will show that even among a nation doomed to destruction for its inequities, there live persons who testify to the truth of a Prophet appearing among them by their powers of reality, recognising the will of Allah. The event is begun with the following words, “And from the remote part of the country there came a man running who said, O’ my people follow this messenger, “The story of the prophet Loot as given in Sura Hud, gives an indication to the effect that punishment for the sin of a nation is averted by the presence of an eminent man of spritually.
The defernment of such punishment is out of deference to a spiritual personality living in its midst. The punishment of Quraish was deferred till the migration of the Holy prophet from Mecca. Al-Quran lay? down this principle in so many words “Nor is Allah going to chastise them while you are among them” (8:33). The well known hadith ascribing to Allah the Words “One who is hostile to my Walli receives an announcement of War from Me” presents only the counterpart of this idea. Because if hostility to a Wali excites the wrath of Allah it follows that the attention and prayers of the Wali can induce the mercy of Allah. Of course the Wali spoken of are Walis of the eminence like that of Hazrat Ghousul Azam Abdul Qadir Mohiyuddin.
Miracles are abnormal and extra-ordinary acts that can only be performed by the privileged few like the Prophets and Walis of Allah. Perhaps such acts may sound illogical to the rationalist. But they do occur and are beyond ordinary comprehensive. The parting of the Red Sea for the Prophet Moosa and such like events are examples. Even in the life of ordinary mortals, miracles occur, by the mercy of Allah, to save them from catastrophes or accidents.
The miracles of Hazrat Ghousul Azam recorded are innumerable, when compared to other Saints. Of these innumerable, miracles, a few are given below.
After Hazrat Ghousul Azam settled down in Baghdad remarkable stories about his power circulated in Baghdad. The day to day increase in the circulation of such stories made a large number of great scholars of the town to decide to visit him, altogether in other to test his knowledge by posing one, hundred difficult questions. On their arrival, the Hazrat foretold them of their purpose and gave each question the correct answer, even profounding to them explanations beyond the limits of their comprehension on their own special subjects. This” thought reading was daily manifested by him. It was not necessary for the visitors who came with petitions of desires to tell him, for he looked straight at them and gave them the answers.
On one occasion; two weary and hungry travellers from Arabia joined his audience unobtrusively. The Hazrat immediately stopped his discourse saying “Poor travellers; they have just come a long way and have had practically nothing to eat.” He then described correctly their last meal to the astonishment of all concerned.
One of the most remarkable things we hear from this Saint’s life is that even a man’s destiny could be deflected from conscious life into the dream state. A merchant of Baghdad one day approached Sheikh Hammad Al-Dabbas for his blessings before taking a caravan to Syria. Sheikh Hammad forbade him to undertake the proposed journey because he foresay that the merchant was likely to be robbed and murdered by highway men. The merchant very much depressed, met Hazrat Ghousul Azam on the way and informed him what the Sheikh had told him. The Hazrat promised the merchant his personal responsibility for his safe journey and asked the merchant to proceed. He reached his destination safely with his goods.
On his journey the merchant forgot to take back his money kept in the place where he had performed his ‘ablution. On going to bed he was murdered. On waking he saw blood round his neck and also felt the pain of the blow. However, he realised that what he had seen was a mere dream, but remembering his lost purse, he went back to the place and recovered it.
While he was returning to Baghdad he was confused in his mind to decide whether seeing Sheikh Hammad first would be proper, as he was the senior Sheikh or seeing Hazrat Ghous first was appropriate as it was his predictions had proved true. He suddenly saw Sheikh Hammad. He asked him instead to first go to Hazrat Ghousul Azam by whose prayers his predistened murder had been changed into a dream and the loss of property the purse changed into forgetfulness.
One of Hazrat’s own servants, who visited his master complained that he had, in a dream slept with man women. Upon this, Hazrat said that it was the servant’s destiny to sleep with all those women but this misdeed had been transformed into a dream. Before the servant began to describe the event, Hazrat gave him a list of the names of all the women including those he knew and those he did not.
Khalifa AImustanjid Billah once came to Hazrat and presented him some bags of gold. He refused, the gift but when the Khalifa begged and pleaded for their acceptance the Hazrat took two bags and pressed them. Blood seemed to ooze out of them, which was indicative of the fact that the wealth had been amassed by oppressing people, which was represented by the blood seen.
On one occasion a Christian Clergyman came from Yeman and accepted Islam from him in an assembly where he had delivered a sermon. After his conversion, he voluntarily stood up and related to the assembly that he was a man of Yeman and had decided to accept Islam from the hands of the most eminent Muslim in Yeman. He reported that had seen Prophet Eesa in a dream who directed him to proceed to Baghdad and accept Islam from Hazrat Abdul Qadir, who was the most eminent at the time in the whole world.
Once three Faqihs, who came to see him offered their prayers under his Imamath (leadership). They did not like his reading of the Quran and formed a low opinion of him. They slept that night and went to the spring for a bath late at night. A Tiger clung to their clothes and cought hold of them. The Faqihs became afraid of their lives. The Hazrat at that moment came out of his closet. The Tiger quietened and crawled (it his feet. Hazrat sternly looked at the Tiger as if to question why it had interfered with his guests though they had formed low opinion of himself. The Faqihs came to him and repented for their conduct and begged his pardon. Hazrat then addressed his guests remarking that while he had been improving his heart, they had only been improving their tongue to speak ill of him and slander people.
Sheikh Shihabuddin Umar Suharwardy in his youth used to read voraciously books on scholasticism, inspite of the advice of his uncle to the contrary. Once his uncle took him to Hazrat Ghousul Azam and informed him that the boy was devoting all his time to scholasticism. Upon this Hazrat asked Sheikh Shihabuddin what books he had read on the subject. On getting a reply, he placed his palm on the breast of Sheikh Shihabuddin. No sooner was the plam removed; he surprisingly forgot all he knew of scholasticism. But in lieu of it, he felt his mind replaced by the knowledge of Allah. Sheikh Shihabuddin Umar Suharwardy ultimately became the Imam of the Suharwardy Order and is the author of the famous book on Sufism named “Awariful Maarif.”
Sheikh Muzzafar bin Mansur said that in his youth he saw the Hazrat in the company of a large number of persons. When he sat down with a book on spiritual philosophy, Hazrat without seeing the book but questioning him said that the book was not a good one for him and should be discarded. However, be did not like to discard it owing to his love for the book, but at the same time he neither desired to incur the displeasure of Hazrat also by retaining that book. So he decided to keep it somewhere else and tried to get up to do so. But he could not. He felt as if he was planted to the ground.
Hazrat then asked him to show the book to him. It was given. Hazrat passed his hand over it and said that the book was Ibuzari’s “Fazil-ul-Quran” and then returned it to him. I opened it and saw that it was “Fazil-ul-Quran” but without the chapter on spiritual subject and philosophy “contained therein earlier. Hazrat asked him to repent for what had passed through his mind He first repented and then got up, but found that he could not thereafter remember a single portion of that book.
A relattion of the Khalifa was once taken to Hazrat. The man was suffering from dropsy and had an enormously swollen stomach. He sought relief. Hazrat passed his hands over his stomach, upon which it contracted to its normal size. Hazrat Ghousul Azam had spiritual powers to hasten to the rescue of those who called him in an hour of emergency or adversity even from afar, such as the hearing of a thundering shout that rang, to frighten away marauders who tried to molest and loot owners of a caravan in the desert of Samarakand, who, in their hour of peril, called and appealed for the aid of the Hazrat.
Sheikh Shihabuddin Suharwardy’s parents were for long childless, until his mother approached him and begged of him to pray to that she may be blessed with a son. Raising His hands in supplication he prayed and said that Allah the Beneficient would grant her wish. He desired the child when born to be named Shihabuddin and predicted that the child would rise up to be a Sheikh of Sheikhs. In the ceurse of time she bore a son though she was above the normal age of child bearing.
His powers over the souls of this disciples extended beyond the grave. One day in Baghdad a man informed him that his deceased father in a dream had desired him to appeal to him to pray for (he redemption of his dead father’s soul, as he was suffering. Hazrat asked the visitor “Did your father ever visited my Madrassa?” Yes he answered. Hazrat remained silent for a while and referred no further on the matter. A few days latter, the man returned to Hazrat saying that his father appeared to him in a dream wearing a green robe and had told him that his punishment has been lifted due to Hazrat Ghousul Azam’s prayers.
Abdullah Zayyat once said that one night Hazrat came out of his closet with a walking stick in his hand. Abdullah within himself at that moment wished to see Hazrat performing some miraculous act. No sooner this thought had occured to him, the Hazrat set up his stick on ground and it became luminous and began to glow. Soon it became so bright that it illuminated the entire house. He then took up his stick, and looked at Abdullah and remarked you desired this sort of act. Abdullah was amazed.
A mother brought his son to the Sheikh to become a murid (follower) A few months later she returned and saw him looking under nourished. She complained that Hazrat was himself partaking the delicious dish of chicken daily whereas his poor son had been made to keep up on dry bread. Hazrat on this complaint picked up the bone of a chicken, by this bone suddenly transformed into a live cock, which crowed as if to testify that there is no Allah but Allah. Mohammad is His Prophet “and Sheikh Abdul Qadir is His Wali”. Addressing the terrified woman he commented “when your son is able to do this, then there will be no reason why he should not eat the same as I do.”
He once asked nearly three hundred residents of a dewelling place to vacate it immediately. No. sooner these people vacated, (he building fell to the ground. He had forseen the occurence and warned them in time.
Sheikh Alt Arabi of Spain had no children. At the instance of a Mujzub (a mon of distracted mind owing to’ divine attraction) he approached Hazrat Ghousul Azam for his blessings and prayers for a son. Hazrat said I have one more son yet unborn in my destiny. I give it to you. Rub your back against mine and name him when born Mohammed Mohiyuddin. He would rise up to be a Qutub of his time. The child was eventually born and was named accordingly. He became a great philosopher and attained high spiritual advancement. He gained the title of Sheikh Akbar and is commonly known as Ibn-al-Arabi.
During a famine in Baghdah, Abdul Abbas Ahmed, the servant of Hazrat complained to him of the need for funds and of food grains. Hazrat gave him a reasonable quantity of wheat and asked him to store the grain in a covered receptacle and never to weigh it, but to take out according to necessity, by opening out a small portion of the container. He used to draw grains in this way for an unusually large period. The wife of the servant of Hazrat at last felt very much curious about it and in order to satisfy herself opened the mouth of the container. She surprisingly found almost *he same quantity of grain as was kept in the beginning, still remaining and unexhausted.
Once the water in Tigris rose to an extra ordinary high level on account of an unprecedent flood. The inhabitants of Baghdad became frightened of the imminent danger. They came to Saiyidina Hazrat Ghousul Azam and solicited his help. There upon Hazrat went up to the river side and planting his stick on the river bank said “Remain with in this limit. The flood then began to recede slowly and came down to the Limit demarcated by him.
Once a resident of Baghdad approached Saiyidina Ghousul Azam and stated that his son has been getting fever for a year and a quarter, and could not shake it off by any means. Hazrat instructed him to speak into the ears of his son and say ‘0 fever leave my son and go to the village of H Allah.’ He acted accordingly, and the fever left his son at once.
It is related on the authority of Sheikh Adi Bin Musafir that once Hazrat Ghousul Azam was conversing with some persons assembled to hear his sermon when it began to rain. Hazrat looked upon the sky and solicited “I call together men for your (Allah’s) sake but you disperse them.” As soon as he had uttered this, the clouds disappeared and rain ceased in the precints of the Madrassa of Hazrat, though it was raining outside.
Sheikh Osman Sayrifini and Sheikh Abdul Haq Harimi stated “.We were present before Saiyidina Hazrat Ghousul Azam in his Madrassa on third Saffar 555 A.H., when Hazrat suddenly got up with his wooden sandles under his feet and performed ablution. He offered two Rakats of prayers and with a loud shout, threw one of the sandles into the air. It disappeared from our sight. With another shout, his Holiness threw the other sandle into the air, which also disappeared. None present dared questioning him on the incident.
But thirty days after this incident a caravan came to Baghdad from Ajam and said that they had brought some presents for Hazrat. Hazrat permitted the acceptance of the presents of valuable things but these the same pair of sandles which were thrown in the air by Hazrat. They related that on the third of Saffar when they were travelling, suddenly a gang attacked them and plundered their merchandise and murdered some of them in the caravan. The gang then entered the jungle to divide the booty. Then they had halted at the outskirts of the jungle and it struck them to solicit the help of Hazrat Ghousul Azam. Just at that time they had heard two loud shouts which reverberated throughout the jungle. They had mistaken the shouts as the aftermath of a scuffle between the gang that attacked us and a stronger gang of Arabs. We were terror stricken. Some members of the gang came to us and said that a calamity had befallen them and requested us to take back the plundered goods. We went to the place where the booty was lying divided and saw two of their leaders lying dead and the two sandles lying close by.
Sheikh Abdul Hassan commonly known as Ibn Astantana of Baghdad stated “When I used to live in the Madrassa of Saiyidina Ghousul Azam for the acquisition of learning, I generally keep awake, at night in order to serve the Hazrat, if and when required. One night in 553 A.H. Hazrat came out of his room, presuming he required water for ablution, I took it to him but his holiness did not take it. Instead, he proceeded towards the gate of the Madrassa. I quietly followed him. The gate automatically opened and when he passed on, it closed itself. He then went towards the gate of the city which also similarly opened and closed automatically. Shortly after this we reached a town, which I had not seen before. On reaching the town he went to a house which was similar to his own Ribat in appearance. There were six persons in the house, who saluted him. He proceeded further on and I, stood, by a pillar. I heard the groaning of a person in a low voice. After a few minutes, the groaning ceased and another person went to the place whence the groaning came and carried away a dead body on his shoulder. Shortly after this, another person bare headed and with long whiskers, came there.
The man sat down in front of Hazrat who made him recite the declaration of faith used in converting one to Islam. Hazrat then cut off his whiskers, put a cap on his head and named him Mohammad. He said that he had appointed him in place of the deceased. The persons residing in the house accepted the decision submissively. He then left the place and in a short time came to the gate of Baghdad, which opened and closed automatically as before. His holiness (hen entered his Madrasa. In the morning when I resumed taking lesson from Hazrat I prayed him to explain the incident of the previous night. Whereupon he said that the town I had seen was Nehawand a distant city in the outskirts of the empire under the Khalif of Baghdad. The six persons in the Ribat, were Abdul and Nujaba. The man ^ho died was one of shem. The man with long whiskers was a Christian of Constantinople who accepted Islam and was appointed by him to fill the place of the deceased. The man who carried away the corpse was Hazrat Khizar.
It seems desire able here to explain that according to the Sufis, there exists a sort of hierchy of Saints at all times in the world through whom Allah manifests His mercy to the world of humanity. In the absence of the Prophet, they are the vice gerents of Allah on earth on the Prophet’s behalf. They are of three different grades, Abdal is a plural of Badal meaning literally “substitute”, so called because should any one of these saints die, Allah immediately substitutes him by another (Sihah). They are righteous persons of whom the world is never destitute. But on more authoratative view is that they are given this name, because of their ever changing spiritual condition. They are inaflux; and are not allowed to remain in one state. Being on their way to Realisation, they are not allowed to settle down at any intermediate point. As to their exact number and their locations, opinion, is divided. They seem to be the lowest in rank amongst the spiritual successors of the Prophet, Ghousul Azam and Qutubs.
According to the best authorities they are a hirearchy of the saints of a particular generation and are supposed to be pre-eminently endowed with sanctity and faculties to even perform miracles. If anybody is a Qutub or a Ghouse, he is recognised as such only by his agents. Abdals, themselves reveal their position to a. particular person. The literal meaning of Qutub is axis or pivot, the point upon which a thing turns, the chief around whom the state of affairs turns. So a Qutub is he, whose attention and prayers decide the course of events in a particular society of people? He may be regarded as a kind of spiritual agent in a particular community.
The literal meaning of Ghouse is ‘AID’ or ‘Succour’ in the midst of difficulties. So Ghouse is a kind of intercessor, who intercedes at a moment when the sins of a nation or humanity are at the point of being punished. These great men appear to be particularly tender hearted like the Holy Prophet. Their hearts melt at the woes and sufferings of humanity and as such become a means to be able to avert Divine punishment. With the assurance of acceptability of their prayers, their prayers become a plea for Divine forgiveness and mercy. Hazrat Ghousul Azam has once said that the Almishty has given him the knowledge of all his murids up to the end of the world, and His Holiness has proclaimed that none of his murids would die without repentance, and attain the seventh degree to alude in paradise. Once he remarked that he would not have the presence
of Allah unless He did not accompany him and his murids to enter paradise. His Holiness was once questioned as to the position of a devotee who has regard and love for him, but was not actually his murid nor wore Khirqa from him. He said that such a person was also his murid although the real process of his becoming a murid was not complete. Even a person who had love and reverence for him would not be disappointed by the graciousness of the Almighty.