Muhi Uddin Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)

Muhi Uddin Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) has been famous for centuries as the most popular and revered Saint of Islam. Born 470 A.H., died 561 A.H. [1077 - 1166 C.E.]

He was the founder of the Qadriya order, the most tolerant and charitable of the Sunni order of the dervishes. This order claims countless followers throughout the Muslim world. His adherents, who knew him as ‘Ghaus-e-Azam' (the highest in the hierarchy of Saints) revere him for his piety, humility, learning and gentleness of spirit.

Sheikh Abdul Qadir was born in 1077 in Nif, a village in the district of Gilan , Persia (to the north of current Iran ). On his father's side, his ancestry can be traced back in the direct line to Hazrat Imam Hassan and hence The Prophet Muhammad . His mother was a saintly lady and also the daughter of a famous saint of that time.

Sheikh Abdul Qadir received the Sufi dress called the ‘Khirka', from his leader and patron Sheikh Qazi Abu Sa'ad Mubarak, head of the Muslim School of the Hambalite law. Not long afterwards, a Khanqah ( monastery ) was built for him. In 1134, the school of Mubarak al Mukharrini was enlarged by public subscription and the popular Sheikh was appointed as its head.

His "nisbba" or genealogy, excerpted from his monumental work Sirr al-Asrar [Secret of Secrets].

The Birth of Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir

Excerpted from Qala'id al-Jawahir [Necklaces of Gems].

According to the two Qur'an-memorizers [hafizan], adh-Dhahabi and Ibn Rajab, Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir's father was Abu Salih 'Abdu'llah, the son of Jangi Dost. Allah knows best! The name Jangi Dost is a Persian expression, meaning "he who loves fighting." Anyway, Allah (Glory be to Him and Exalted is He) is indeed the One who knows best! His mother was Umm al-Khair [Mother of Goodness] Amat al-Jabbar [Maidservant of the All-Compelling One] Fatima, the daughter of Shaikh 'Abdu'llah as-Sawma'i al-Husaini az-Zahid. She had an abundant share of goodness and righteousness. It is related of her that she used to say: "When I gave birth to my son, 'Abd al-Qadir, he would not suck my breast during the daytime of Ramadan.(SUBHANALLAH) The new moon of Ramadan was hidden by clouds, so people came and asked me about him, and I told them: 'He has not sipped a breast today.' It thus became obvious that the day was the first of Ramadan." The word then spread throughout the towns of Jilan, that a son had been born to the nobles, and that this was a child who refused to be suckled during the daytime in Ramadan. It was also said that his mother had become pregnant with him when she was sixty years of age. It is said that no woman of sixty carries a child, unless she be a woman of Quraish, and no woman of fifty carries a child, unless she be an Arab woman. When she gave birth to him (may Allah be well pleased with him), he was received by the hand of gracious favor, and he was surrounded by enabling guidance, behind him and in front of him. He never ceased to be nurtured (may Allah be well pleased with him) in the lap of noble kindness, nourished with the milk of blessings, guarded in safekeeping, watched over with providential care.

The Shaikh's Death

His son Shaikh 'Abd al-Jabbar (sanctified be his innermost secret) asked him: "Which part of your body gives you pain?" He replied (may Allah be well pleased with him): "All my organs are hurting me except my heart. There is no pain there, for it is with Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He)." Then death came to him, as he was saying (may Allah be well pleased with him): "I seek help in the words: 'There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, the Ever-Living, Who has no fear of passing away. Glory be to Him Who exults in His omnipotence, and subdues His servants with death. There is none worthy of worship but Allah. Muhammad is Allah's Messenger.'"