In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

GHAUS AL-AZAM HAZRAT SHAIKH MOHIUDDIN ABDUL

QADIR GILANI (R.A.) - AT A SHORT GLANCE

 

HAZRAT GHAUS AL-AZAM, MAHBOOB-E-SUBHANI, QUTB-E-RABBANI, PEERAN-E-

PIR, SAYYID ABU MUHAMMAD ABDUL QADIR JEELANI, may Allah be pleased with him,

was born in Naif in the District of Gilan, in Persia in the month of Ramadhan in the year 470 A.H. (1077 CE). His father's name was Hazrat Abu Salih, a God-fearing man and a direct descendant of Hazrat Imam Hasan (R.A.), the eldest son of Hazrat Ali (R.A.), and of Sayyida Fatima (R.A.). His mother was the daughter of a saintly person, Sayyid Abdullah Sawmai who was a direct descendant of Imam Husain (R.A.), the younger son of Hazrat Ali (R.A.) and Sayyida Fatima (R.A.).

Hazrat Ghaus Al-Azam (R.A.) lost his father at an early age. He was brought up and given elementary education by his venerable maternal grandfather and mother. When he was 17 years old, he was sent to Baghdad for higher studies. In Baghdad, a great centre of Islamic learning in those days, Hazrat became the favourite pupil of ALLAMA ABU ZAKARIYYA TABREZI (R.A.), Principal of the Jamia Nizamiah. He studied there for 8 years and acquired mastery in all branches of learning.

Having completed his education, Hazrat set out to acquire spiritual training. He spent many years, undergoing the rigours of spiritual life, and passing his time in meditation and search of truth and Allah. He, at last became a disciple of HAZRAT SHEIKH QAZI ABU SAEED MUBARAK

MUKHARRAMI (R.A.), a renowned saint of his time. Hazrat settled down in Baghdad and devoted

the rest of his life to the service of Islam and mankind. His lectures enriched by his worldly education

and spiritual training attracted large gatherings, numbering 70 to 80 thousand people at a time.

His writings are as effective and remarkable as his books. His 'Fatuh Al-Ghaib' (The Revelations of

the Unseen), is a remarkable book on Tasawwuf. It was translated by Hazrat Shah Abdul Haq

Muhaddith Dehlvi (r.a.) into Persian and by several scholars into Urdu and English. His other well-

known book'Ghuny at - ul-Tal ib e en ' has also been translated into Urdu and English. It is a

comprehensive book dealing with the principles of Shariah and Tariqat. His third book'Fath Al-

Rabbani' contains summaries of his lectures and discourses.

Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.) passed a simple, pious and regulated life. He spent his days in preaching the true principles of Islam and the nights in prayer and meditation. His life was a model of simplicity, selflessness and truthfulness. He was kind to the common people and translated into practice the saying of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him.):''The best person is one

who loves and serves mankind most.''

The greatest of all divines and mystic saints of Islam breathed his last on the 11th Rabi-us-Thani,

561 A.H., 1166 CE at the age of 91 years. His death cast a gloom over the world of Islam but his life

and teachings will ever illuminate the hearts of Muslims and non-Muslims.