Ghaus ul Aazam RA
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ajmerikhawaja.com
GHAUS UL AAZAM Abdul Qadir Jilani, RA
Shaikh Mohyyuddin Abdul Qadir Jilani, RA was born
in 470 A.H. ( 1077 CE ) in the Iranian village, Gilan.
He descended from Hadrat Imam Hasan, the elder
grand son of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
His parents were well-known for their pious living and
for their kindness to others. The early influence of his
good, wise and pious mother played a very great
part in the life of the Shaikh.
As a young boy, Shaikh Abdul Qadir once travelled
with a caravan to a city. A gang of bandits suddenly
attacked the travellers and began to rob them of all
their valuables.
While doing this, one of the bandits asked the boy if
he had any valuables on him.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir pointed without hesitation to a
number of gold coins, his mother had sewn in his
coat, for safe keeping.
The bandit was surprised and enquired why the boy
admitted possession of the coins when they were
concealed so well that they could have escaped
detection.
"My mother taught me to be honest and truthful", was
the simple reply given by the boy who was destined
to become a great saint.
The bandits were so ashamed that they handed back
all the valuables to the travellers, and some even
publicly resolved never to follow their evil trade.
Shaikh Abdul Qadir acquired higher education at
Baghdad, and took up the simple life of a Sufi,
spreading knowledge and serving mankind. By his
unselfish example the Shaikh taught people to lead
pious and good lives and think of others first. He
taught men to love one another and help those in
need.
The Shaikh had great knowledge of religious subjects
and could speak authoritatively on any aspect of the
religion of Islam. His wisdom drew men to him from
all over the world. Rulers and learned men of his time
sought his advice on questions dealing with religious
law and practice.
He lived a simple, austere life dedicated to the
service of Islam and went from place to place
spreading knowledge and teaching the faith and
practice of his religion. He was a very fine orator and
his inspiring lectures drew huge crowds of people.
Many of the Shaikh's lectures were written down and
they are still studied by students of Islamic religion.
The Qadiriya order of mysticism founded by Shaikh
Abdul Qadir has branches all over the world wherever
Muslims are residing today. Members of this order
are required to dedicate their lives in the service of
Allah and humanity.
The followers of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gilani call him
Ghaus-i-Azam, meaning the Great Help.
He passed away in 1166 of the Christian Era.
__________________________________________________
The Shaikh's Names and Titles :
A rich storage 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 his 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 Allaah.
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-Aa'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].
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