His Birth and Upbringing

Sayed Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Kasnazani Quddissah Sirruh was born in 1235 AH (1815 AD) in the village of Kasnazan, located in the Qaradagh district of Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq. He was born into a religious and noble family, and he descends from the pure lineage of the Ahl al-Bayt, where his genealogy meets with that of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) and Fatima Zahra (AS).

His Title: Shah Al-Kasnazani, meaning “Sultan of the Unseen”.

His Path

Sayed Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Kasnazani Quddissah Sirruh was raised under the guidance of his maternal uncle, Sayed Sheikh Abdul Qadir Qazan Qaya, who taught him the lofty Qadiri path, later known as the Kasnazani order in his name. He was a model of asceticism and worship, dedicating himself to spiritual purification and applying the noble Sufi way he learned from his teachers and mentors into his daily life.

His Beginnings

From his youth, Sayed Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Kasnazani Quddissah Sirruh began practicing his spiritual struggles in complete isolation. He secluded himself in Mount Sahrkirma, where he remained hidden for four full years. During this period of retreat, he survived on plant leaves and pure clay, spending his days engaged in the remembrance of Allah and his nights in prayer, bowing, and prostration with deep devotion. His secret retreat was kept hidden until Allah revealed it to his brother, who went to the mountain to see his condition. Upon finding him, his brother hurriedly asked him what he was eating, to which the Sheikh replied that he was eating a piece of clay mixed with plant leaves. His brother was amazed by the sweetness he felt in the taste, and the Sheikh remained satisfied with it for two weeks.

His Miracles

Sayed Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Kasnazani Quddissah Sirruh was known for many miracles that were witnessed by his disciples. Some of his most notable miracles include:

  • During a time of severe drought when people were suffering from hunger, Sheikh went with his nephew to buy barley from a nearby village. When his nephew said, “O uncle, you are one of the great ones of your time, why don’t you ask Allah to bless us with wealth this year?” The Sheikh pointed his staff at a stone on the road, which split open and gold coins emerged from it. However, the Sheikh returned them saying, “My son, barley is sufficient for us; gold will not suffice.”
  • On another occasion, Sheikh visited Barzinja to meet his ancestors, where local scholars welcomed him. One of them privately thought, “How can Sheikh Abdul Karim be a Sheikh without a beard?” The Sheikh immediately responded saying, “O scholar, the beard is not the essence of worship; worship is in the sincerity of intention to Allah.”
  • He also had a moment with a pious dervish who asked to see the Prophet ﷺ in a dream. The Sheikh took him to a cave in the mountain where it was filled with gold. The Sheikh told him that money is not the aim of the ascetic believer and assured him that wealth lies in contentment. That night, the dervish saw the Prophet ﷺ, who called him, saying, “Come closer, you are my noble son.”

His Asceticism and Piety

Sayed Sheikh Abdul Karim was known for his extreme asceticism and piety. He lived a simple life, refraining from accumulating wealth or material possessions. He forbade himself from drinking water from a village that had been seized by a landowner, even though the water was available. He preferred to drink melted snow for many years while he stayed in Iran.

His Passing

Sayed Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-Kasnazani Quddissah Sirruh passed away in 1317 AH (1899 AD) after leaving behind a great legacy of spiritual knowledge and miracles. He was succeeded by his brother, Sayed Sheikh Hussein Al-Kasnazani Quddissah Sirruh, who continued spreading his teachings and preserving his spiritual legacy. He was buried in the village of Karbajneh, northern Iraq, where he resided and where his disciples gathered.