Hazrat Muhammad Murad Ali Khan Rahmatullah Alayh
Hazrat Ghous e Azam Abdul Qadir Gilani
Rahmatullah Alayh
Abdul Qadir Jilani was born in 470 Hijri during the month of Rabi-ul-Akhir. The child was named Abu Muhammad Abdul Qadir. Abu Muhammad was his Kuniet that is the name by which he was familiarly called by relatives and neighbors.
Some of the Saints of the time of foresaw the birth of his Imam-ul-Auliya Saiyidina Abdul Qadir Jilani. Hazrat Abu Bakar Bin Hawara once told some of his disciples that in the near future a great Wali (Saint) would be born in Ajam a non-Arab country – who would be God fearing and highly respected by the people of his time and thereafter. His foot will be on the neck of all Walis (Saints) and Walis of his time would testify to the truth of his claim. Another Saint, Hazrat Ahmed Abdullah Bin Ahmed stated about 468 AH, that shortly a child would be born in Ajam whose miracles would be numerous and whose rank among Walis (Saints) would be very high.
From the above details, it will appear that Saiyidina Abdul Qadir Jilani was a direct descendent of Hazrat Imam Hussein (r.a.) on his father’s side. From his mother’s side he descended from Saiyidina Imam Zainul Abed in son of Hazrat Imam Hussein. He was therefore both a Hasani and Husaini Saiyed tracing his lineage thereby to the two grandsons of Nabi Muhammad (Sallalahu Alaihi WA Sallam).
At the age of ten, however, he attended school. The teacher would ask his fellow students to make room for the Wali of Allah to sit in the class. He lived in Jilan up to the age of 18 years. In one day Hazrat would learn by heart as much of his lessons as others would take a week to master. One day, he was going to the fields for an excursion. A plough bullock was ahead of him. The animal suddenly turned round and seemed to tell him that he was not born for the purpose of utilizing his time on excursions. Frightened at this incident, he turned back to his house and climbed its roof. With his spiritual vision, he saw vast assembly standing on Jabl-ul Arafat.
He then requested his mother to dedicate him to Allah (GOD) and also allows him to proceed to Baghdad, which was then famous in the Muslim World as a great seat of learning for the acquisition of knowledge. The desire to acquire knowledge was intensely burning in the Hazrat’s heart and he overcame the love his mother, his hearth and home, for the sake of Allah. He was not deterred by the prospect of hardships of a long and dangerous journey, and residence in a remote city without friends or relatives.
When his mother heard the proposal, she shed silent tears as she perceived that on account of her old age, she was not destined to see her dear son again, whom she had brought up so carefully and tenderly, after the death of her husband long age. But the Saintly Lady would not stand in the way of his devotion of Allah.
She sewed forth diners (Gold Coins) into his garment, so that they might not easily be lost. It was his half share of the money left by his father. The other half was kept for his brother. He soon joined a small caravan, which was going to Baghdad.
From the time of his childhood, he had never uttered falsehood, but despite this trait of his character, his mother at the time of parting, took a vow from him that he should not tell even one lie under any circumstances. They then parted with heavy hearts. The separation between the son and the mother was pathetic and sublime. It was no less similar to that of the leading of Hazrat Is mail by his father, Saiyidina Hazrat Abraham for sacrifice under divine orders, as the separation in either case was not for wealth, rank or fame, but for the sake of Allah.
The caravan passed quite safely as far as Hamden, but beyond that place, a gang of sixty robbers fell upon the caravan and plundered it, but none laid violent hands upon Hazrat, taking him to be a penniless, religious youth. One robber however, questioned him whether he had anything with him. He readily said he had forty diners sewed into his garment. The man took it as a joke and went away. Another robber also asked the same question from Hazrat, and on receiving the same reply, moved off. They reported the incident to the leader of the gang, who ordered the production of they youth before him. Accordingly, when he was taken before the gang leader, he said the same thing, which he had stated before. The garment was then cut open and the forty diners were found.
On seeing the "diners" the leader was astounded and asked Hazrat what had made him to tell the truth when he knew that he too would be robbed. He replied that he had promised his mother not to tell a lie under any circumstances. Hazrat added that if he had told a lie on the very first stage of his journey undertaken for the sake of acquiring knowledge of religion, he would obviously have no chance of acquiring any real knowledge of religion at subsequent stages of his career. Upon this, the robber realizing the felonious life he and his companion's lad led, burst into tears and said that he had been breaking the commands of God throughout his life, while a youth was so conscientiously fulfilling his vow made to his mother.
By placing his hands upon the hands of Hazrat, the leader of the robbers solemnly vowed to give up robbery. The other robbers also followed their leader and repented. The robbed belongings were returned to their owners. The conversion of the gang of robbers was not only due to Hazrat’s strict adherence to truth but to his psychic powers also. Most of the authorities are of the opinion that this incident showed the greatness of Syedina, in the making. Had his nature not been truthful in origin, such a courageous and unwavering stand for truth, even in the face of such heavy odds, would not have been possible for him.
In Baghdad, Hazrat studied several subjects, under many famous Savants of Islam. He studied Fiqah under Qazi Abu Saeed Mubarak bin Mokarrimi, Abu Ofa Ali Bin Aqil and very many other learned teachers. He learned Hadith and his teachers included the famous Abu Ghalib Ahmed and Abu Qasim Ali. He acquired proficiency in Arabic literature under the learned Abu Zakaria Yahya Tabrizi, who was at that time the principal of Madras a Nizami.
During his stay in Baghdad, he established, by his conduct, that he was truthful and extremely charitable. During his stay, although he had to endure great hardships, by dint of the natural talents and devotion, he very soon became the Master of Quran, Fiqah, Hadith and Arabic literature, with all its connected branches.
In 521 Hijri, Hazrat Abu Saeed Mubarik Bin Mokarrimi made over his Madras a to Saiydina Abdul Qadir, In the beginning, there were only very few students; but soon his fame for learning, piety, inner illumination, veracity, and strict adherence to Shari at spread far and wide and people from all over the world began to flock round him to reap the benefits of his lectures and sermons. Gradually the existing building proved too small for the ever-increasing students, and in 528 AH, adjacent houses had to be acquired. For thirty-three years between 528 and 561, he devoted himself to the cause of Education. He himself taught Muslim Law, commentaries on the Quran, Hadith, Syntax (grammar) and other Islamic subjects. Students from every part of Iraq and all over the Muslim world came to his Madras a, where they received free education with boarding and lodging provided.
The miracles of Hazrat Ghosul Azam recorded are innumerable, when compared to other Saints. Of these innumerable, miracles, a few are given below.
After Hazrat Ghosul Azam settled down in Baghdad remarkable stories about his power circulated in Baghdad. The day to day increase in the circulation of such stories made a large number of great scholars of the town to decide to visit him, altogether in other to test his knowledge by posing one, hundred difficult questions. On their arrival, the Hazrat foretold them of their purpose and gave each question the correct answer, even propounding to them explanations beyond the limits of their comprehension on their own special subjects. This" thought reading was daily manifested by him. It was not necessary for the visitors who came with petitions of desires to tell him, for he looked straight at them and gave them the answers.
Khalifa AImustanjid Billah once came to Hazrat and presented him some bags of gold. He refused the gift but when the Khalifa begged and pleaded for their acceptance the Hazrat took two bags and pressed them. Blood seemed to ooze out of them, which was indicative of the fact that the wealth had been amassed by oppressing people, which was represented by the blood seen.
Sheikh Shihabuddin Omar Suharwardy in his youth used to read voraciously books on scholasticism, in spite of the advice of his uncle to the contrary. Once his uncle took him to Hazrat Ghosul Azam and informed him that the boy was devoting all his time to scholasticism. Upon this Hazrat asked Sheikh Shihabuddin what books he had read on the subject. On getting a reply, he placed his palm on the breast of Sheikh Shihabuddin. No sooner was the plam removed; he surprisingly forgot all he knew of scholasticism. But in lieu of it, he felt his mind replaced by the knowledge of Allah. Sheikh Shihabuddin Omar Suharwardy ultimately became the Imam of the Suharwardy Order and is the author of the famous book on Sufism named "Awariful Maarif."
Hazrat Ghosul Azam lived an extraordinary sternous and glorious life mainly engaged in service to mankind during day time and occupied at night in prayer in contemplation of Allah. It is beyond common comprehension to assess his nearness to Allah, which by sheer devotion and sacrifice he had attained. His exemplary life was transparently glorious. Every lunar month, an angel in the guise of an Arab, used to wait upon him and inform him of the good and bad events that would take place in its course. In 560 A.H. in the month of Ramzan the said Arab bade him farewell thereby indicating that Hazrat would. Not-survive to see the next Ramzan. In the beginning of Rabi-ul.Akhir of 561 A.H. he fell ill. The illness grew worse daily and it became evident that his end was drawing nearer.
During his illness his son Sheikh Abdul Aziz was with him and enquired often his pain and condition. Hazrat said, "Let not any one ask me about anything about my being turned over and over again in the knowledge of Allah". Sheikh Abdul Aziz further asked him about his disease. To this, he "said, "Surely no one, be it a man, a Jin or an angel knows and understands my disease. The knowledge of Allah is not diminished by the command of Allah. The command changes but knowledge does not change. The Command may be abrogated but not so is, knowledge "Allah" causes things to pass away and establishes what Helpless] and with Him is the basis for the book. The Quran says," And He is not questioned what He does, and it is they who are questioned.
His son Abdul Jab bar asked him what part of his body was ailing. He said "All parts of my body are ailing excepting my heart which has no pain in it. It is in sound condition with Allah. As death approached Him he was saying, I seek the help of Allah with
"LA-ILA.HA.ILLAllah MUHAMADUR RASOOL Allah". There is no object of worship excepting Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah. Glory be to Him and be He exalted, the Everlasting, who does not fear annihilation. Glory be to Him who has established His superiority through His power and over powered His servants by means of death. There is no object of worship excepting Allah and Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon Him) is the Prophet to Allah. He was continuously repeating Allah, Allah, Allah and his voice grew fainter and fainter and stuck to his palate, then came to him the ultimate moment to breath away from this world of woe to the Infinite Beyond. His breath ebbed out slowly and peacefully. His exalted soul then lofts his body He was no more. It was 11th Rabi-ul-Sani. This date is commemorated by his admirer's up to this day and is known Girrwani Sharif. May He Allow His blessings to benefit us-and grant us all the Muslims a good end without abasing us and putting us in trial, 'and may He thus enable us to join the men of piety Ameen
