গাউসুল আযম কুতুবুল আলম হযরত সৈয়দ আবদুল কাদের জিলানী (রহঃ)

The founder of the Qaderiya Sufi order, Sheikh Syed Abdul
Qadir Jilani (RA, رضي الله عنه), has been famous for centuries as the most popular Sufi of Islam. His high thinking and simple living proved very much instrumental in the process of social transformation. Primarily and
meticulously was interested in the mass welfare of people and by
and large remained kind while approaching the people.

The social appeal was based on humanism and large number of people were drawn to his fold. This said order has countless followers throughout the Muslim world. His adherents, who knew him as Ghausul Azam ¹ , “The Greatest Helper” known for his piety, humility, learning and gentleness. He is famous for his miracles (karamat) and deep knowledge of Islamic spirituality, Fiqh, and Tasawwuf (Sufism).

Some common phrases used for Him

1️⃣ Ghaus-ul-Azam Dastagir (غوثُ الأعظم دستگیر) – “The Greatest Helper and Supporter”
2️⃣ Ya Ghaus-e-Pak Madad (یا غوثِ پاک مدد) – “O Pure Ghaus, help us!” (A phrase used by his followers seeking spiritual assistance.)
3️⃣ Sultan-ul-Awliya (سلطان الاولیاء) – “The King of Saints”
4️⃣ Ghaus-ul-Azam Samdani – “The Greatest Helper and deeply connected to Allah’s divine attributes and guidance”. Samdani is derived from “Samad” (الصمد), one of the names of Allah, meaning “The Self-Sufficient, Eternal”.
5️⃣ Ghaus-ul-Bara (غوثُ البَرىٰ) – “The Greatest Helper among the Pious”

Brief Introduction

Sayyiduna Shaykh Abdul Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was born on Friday, 1st Ramadan, 470 A.H. (Hijri Calendar, 1077 AD) 7, in Nif, a village in the district of Gilan, Persia (which is an Iranian region located on the southwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, current Iran). His Kunyah (is an honorific title in Arabic and Islamic tradition, used as a respectful way to address a person) is Abu Muhammad, whereas his titles are Muhyuddin, Mahboob-e-Subhani, Ghaus-e-A’zam and Ghaus Al-Saqalayn etc.

His father’s name is Sayyiduna Abu Saalih Musa Jangidost رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and his mother’s name is Umm-ul-Khayr Fatimah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْها. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه is paternally a Hasani Sayyid and maternally a Husaini Sayyid. (Bahjat-ul-Asraar² بَهْجَةُ الْأَسْرَار)

He was one of those pious men who were Wali from birth. Therefore, his saintly miracles started taking place right after he was born.

• As you know that he was born on the 1st of Ramadan, he did not drink his mother’s milk from dawn to dusk. It was only after the sunset that he drank it.
• At the age of 5, he recited 18 parts of the Holy Quran from memory to his teacher because he had memorized them even before his birth when in the womb of his mother.
• At the time of his birth, his lips were moving slowly and the sound of ‘Allah Allah’ could be heard.
• On the day of his birth, 1,100 babies were born in Gilan; all of them were boys and became Awliya.

Early life and education

There, he pursued the study of Hanbali law under Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi and ibn Aqil. He studied hadith with Abu Muhammad Ja’far al-Sarraj. His Sufi spiritual instructor was Abu’l-Khair Hammad ibn Muslim al-Dabbas. After completing his education, Gilani left Baghdad. He spent twenty-five years wandering in the deserts of Iraq.

He spent his early life in Gilan. After receiving his early education, he came to Baghdad in 480 A.H. (1095 AD) where he acquired further education from the renowned teachers and experts of that time. Amongst his teachers, there were extremely famous and renowned pious predecessors like Abu Al-Wafa Ali Ibn Aqeel Hanbali, Abu Zakariyya Yahya Ibn Ali Tabraizi, Abu Al-Ghalib Muhammad Ibn Hasan Baqillai and Abu Sa’eed Muhammad Ibn Abdul Kareem. He pledged allegiance and received Khilafat (permission to make Mureed in a specific spiritual order or successorship) from Sayyiduna Shaykh Abu Sa’eed Mubarak Makhzoomi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه.

So indeed, with hardship, there is ease. Indeed, with hardship, there is ease.

Regarding his spiritual exercises and the hardships he faced in the path of Allah Almighty, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه himself states: “…I faced the most severe hardships and difficulties in the path of Allah Almighty. If the same hardships fell on a mountain, it would crumble...“ (Qalaaid Al-Jawahir). At the beginning, I faced many hardships; when these hardships reached their peak, I lay on the ground and kept reciting verses 5 and 6 of Surah Alam Nashrah which are as follows:

فَاِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ یُسْرًاۙ(۵) اِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ یُسْرًاؕ(۶)
So indeed, with hardship, there is ease. Indeed, with hardship, there is ease.

Demise

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List of Books written by Him

• Kitab Sirr al-Asrar wa Mazhar al-Anwar (The Book of the Secret of Secrets and the Manifestation of Light)
• Futuh al ghaib (Secrets of the Unseen)
• Jila’ al-Khatir (The Purification of heart)
• Ghunyat al-Ṭalibeen (Treasure for Seekers)
• Al-Fuyudat al-Rabbaniya (Emanations of Lordly Grace)
• Fifteen Letters: Khamsata ‘Ashara Maktuban
• Kibriyat e Ahmar
• A Concise Description of Jannah & Jahannam
• The Sublime Revelation (al-Fatḥ ar-Rabbānī)

1. Ghausul Azam (غوثُ الأعظم)
   🔹 “The Greatest Helper” or “The Supreme Rescuer”
   🔹 غوث (Ghaus) – Means “Helper” or “Savior”
   🔹 الأعظم (Al-Azam) – Means “The Greatest”
   ↩︎
2. “Bahjat-ul-Asraar” (بَهْجَةُ الْأَسْرَار) is a famous book written by Shaikh Abu’l Hasan Ali ibn Yusuf al-Shattanawfi in the 7th century Hijri (13th century CE).
   About the Book:
   It is a biography and collection of miracles (karamat) of Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), the founder of the Qadiriyya Sufi order.
   The book highlights his spiritual teachings, sayings, and miraculous events attributed to him. It is considered one of the early and influential sources on his life and spiritual legacy. ↩︎