The Grand Gnostic 
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir

Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir s/o Abū Ṣāliḥ Mūsā Jangī Dost s/o Abū ʿAbd-Allāh s/o Yaḥyā al-Zāhidī s/o Muḥammad s/o Dāwūd s/o Mūsā s/o ʿAbd-Allāh s/o Mūsā al-Jawn s/o ʿAbd-Allāh al-Maḥḍ s/o Ḥasan al-Muthanna s/o Imām Ḥasan s/o Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib

Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir is referred to by the saints and scholars as, inter alia, The Sulṭān of the Awliya, The Mighty Succour and The Reviver of the Religion. He was born in the year 470 H. (circa 1077 CE) in Jilān (or Gilan), and spent his entire life preaching the religion and inspiring others. He is considered to be the chief saint, and the saints of Allāh have bowed their heads before him in acknowledgement of and surrender to his lofty rank bestowed upon him by Allāh. He was a great Ṣūfī who was firm upon the Sharīʿah and followed the Ḥanbalī Madhhab. He delivered discourses from his madrasa, which were attended by not only the general public but also the leading scholars of the time. The Shaykh left this mundane world in the year 562 H. (1166 CE) at the age of 90 and he was laid to rest in his madrasa in Baghdad. He left behind a number of books, which include some of his awe-inspiring discourses that have inspired many around the world for centuries.
 
His name is ʿAbd al-Qādir (Servant of the Omnipotent), his Appellation is Muḥyi’d-Dīn (Reviver of the Religion) and his agnomen is Abū Muḥammad (Father of Muḥammad).

He is of Ḥasanī descent from his father’s side and Ḥusaynī descent from his mother’s side. His respectable father’s name is Abū Sāliḥ Jangī Dost and his honourable mother’s name is Umm al-Khayr Fāṭimah, daughter of ʿAbd-Allāh al-Sawmā’ī.

He was extremely pious even during his childhood, to the extent that he would not play with the other young children. He left for Baghdad in pursuit of knowledge at the age of 18 but was not permitted to enter Baghdad by Sayyidunā Khiḍr, who said to him that he cannot enter the city for seven years. Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir therefore stayed on the outskirts of the city and ate only leaves, until seven years had passed. He was then permitted to enter the city. He faced many hardships and troubles while in the pursuit of knowledge, which he endured for the sake of Allāh. He studied the religion under reputable scholars and stayed in the company of Abū al-Khayr Ḥammād al-Dabbās and he pledged allegiance on the hands of Shaykh Abū Saʿīd al-Makhzūmī. 

Shaykh Abū Saʿīd al-Makhzūmī gifted his madrasa (Bāb al-Azj) to Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir, which became the centre from where he would preach the religion. He delivered lectures on various subjects and also taught students in this madrasa. He would deliver a lecture three days a week: twice on Friday mornings in his madrasa, once on Tuesday evenings and once on Wednesday mornings in his guest house. These lectures were not only attended by laymen but also the leading scholars of the time. He was famous for his awe-inspiring and spiritually-uplifting lectures, which mesmerised even the eminent scholars. 

He continued this service of delivering lectures frequently and providing guidance for over 40 years, which he started in the year 521 H. and ending in the year 561 H. He also served the religion by teaching students, issuing verdicts and writing books, which lasted 33 years, starting in the year 528 H. and ending in the year 561 H.

He was an embodiment of marvellous traits and characteristics. Thousands of people accepted Islam on his hands and countless sinful Muslims repented. He proclaimed, as ordered to, that his feet are on the necks of every Walī of Allah to which all in attendance, all the saints alive at the time and other saints not present bowed their heads.

Some of his most notable works include:

• Tuḥfat al-Muttaqīn wa Sabīl al-ʿĀrifīn
• Futūḥ al-Ghayb
• Al-Fuyūḍāt al-Rabbānīyyah fī al-Awrād al-Qadirīyyah
• Marātib al-Wujūd
• Yawāqīt al-Ḥukm 
• Sirr al-Asrār
• Al-Fatḥ al-Rabbānī
• Al-Gunyah li Ṭālibī Ṭarīq al-Ḥaqq

Many biographies and words have been written about Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir, from which the following two are the most notable:

• Qalāid al-Jawāhir by Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Yahyā al-Tādifī al-Ḥanbalī
• Bahjat al-Asrār by Imām Abū al-Ḥasan Shantūfī al-Shafi’ī.

By Muhammad Kalim (Preston, UK)

‘Abd al-Qâdir al-Gilani, whose title was Abū Muhammad, is also known as Muhyi’al-Dīn, Qutb-e Rabbâni, al-Ghaus al-A‘zam and Sultan al-Awliya’ (the sultan of the saints). He is both a Sayyid and a Sharif. He was born in 1078 in the Persian province of Gaylan. It was in this town that he was eventually to begin his religious studies. He later moved from Gaylan to Baghdad, where he continued his education. Selecting the Hanbalī school, he concentrated on this school in fiqh and became well-acquainted with Tasawwuf while preaching at the Abu Said Madrassah. His Sufi path, al-Qadriyyah, was named after him.

Among the books that have come down through the generations from him are Al-Ghunya, Al-Fath ar-Rabbānī, and Futūh al-Ghayb; these mainly consist of his sermons and advice. Shaykh al-Gaylani died in Baghdad in 1166. His tomb, which is visited by millions of people every year, lies in Baghdad.

Some of his writings are as follows: 

“Acting by the Qur’an elevates you to the level of the Qur’an and installs you there. Acting with the Sunnah (the Hadīths of the Prophet śallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam) elevates you to the Prophet, the Messenger of Allah śallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam). With his heart and spiritual protection the Prophet śallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam) is indivisible from the hearts of the friends of Allah, even for a single moment. It is he who beautifies the hearts of the friends of Allah, who gives them fragrance. It is he who purifies their essence and cleanses them of negative feelings and beautifies them.

Remember Allah that He may remember you. Remember Allah that this remembrance (dhikr) cleanses your sins. May you remain without sin. May you be an obedient believer, free of sin. At that time He will remember you. That remembrance will so enfold and occupy you that you will have no time to desire anything else. That will be your sole aim and desire.

O people! Islam weeps. It has placed its head in its hands. It is beset by the fajarah, the fasiqūn, the ahl al-bid‘ah, oppressors, those who bear false witness, those who lack the virtue they claim to possess. It seeks the help of pure and devout Muslims against them.

May you eat and drink as if you eat and drink for the last time. May your meeting with your family be one of farewell. May your meeting with your Muslim brother be one of farewell. Always remind your heart that it is entrusted and that it is in a constant state of farewell. How can anyone whose destiny is in the hands of another not be in a state of entrustment and farewell? He knows not what tomorrow will bring, how matters will end, not what destiny will bring him.

Therefore, repent at once, and endeavour not to sin again. Escape your sins and run towards your Lord with speedy steps. When you repent, repent both internally and externally. Repentance lies at the heart of being an acceptable servant in the sight of Allah. Remove and dispose of the shirt of sin with a sincere repentance and true modesty before Allah.

O you who turn your back on the way of Allah and concern yourself with the affairs of this world! I regard you as one who pleases other people but who angers Allah. It is quite certain that you will soon be taken from this world. Death will take you from it. You will be seized by the one who seizes much painfully, much powerfully and in many forms, and will be taken hence. You will lose and abandon all you have in a single moment.” (Al-Fath ar-Rabbānī)

Question

When a Ghaus passes away who takes his place?

Answer

The seat of the Ghaus is replaced in the following sequence: -

• The seat of the Ghaus is replaced by one of the Imāmayn
• The seat of an Imāmayn is replaced by one of the Awtād al-Arbáah
• The seat of the Awtād al-Arbáah is replaced by one of the Budala
• The seat of the Budala is replaced by one of the Abdāl al-Sab’een
• The seat of an Abdāl al-Sab’een is replaced by one of the 300 Nuqaba
• The seat of Nuqaba is replaced by one of the Awliya
• The seat of the Awliya is replaced by any one of the Múminīn