His Name:

Abdul Qadir bin Abu Saleh Musa (Jinki Dost: Mahib Al-Qital) bin Imam Abdullah bin Imam Yahya Al-Zahid bin Imam Muhammad bin Imam Dawood bin Imam Musa bin Imam Abdullah bin Imam Musa Al-Jawn bin Imam Abdullah Al-Mahd bin Imam Hassan Al-Muthanna bin Imam Hassan Al-Sibt bin Imam Ali and our Lady Fatimah Al-Zahra (Peace Be Upon Them).

His Birth and Beginnings:

Sheikh Abdul Qadir was born on the 11th of Rabi’ Al-Akhir in the year 470 AH in the village of (Nayef) in Gilan. Scholars have confirmed his lineage to the noble grandson, Imam Hassan (RA). His mother, Umm Al-Khair, Ummat Al-Jabbar Fatimah bint Abu Abdullah Al-Souma’i, was also from the family of Imam Hussain (RA), son of Imam Ali (RA). His mother mentioned that when he was born, he did not suckle from her breast during the day of Ramadan, and this led her to believe it was a sign of the noble birth.

When Sheikh Abdul Qadir turned eighteen, he asked his mother to dedicate him to Allah (SWT), and she agreed, allowing him to embark on his journey of knowledge and Sufism. He then left Kurdistan in Iraq and traveled to Baghdad, where his spiritual journey began.

His Life:

It is narrated that Sheikh Abdul Qadir spent twenty-five years traveling and living a solitary life in the deserts and ruins of Iraq, where he ate from plants and drank from rivers. He would perform Isha prayer with the same ablution as Fajr and begin reciting the Quran until he completed a Surah by dawn. He then met Sheikh Hamad Al-Dabbas in Baghdad on a cold rainy night, and this meeting marked the beginning of his journey. Sheikh Hamad gave him a prophecy, saying: “O my son Abdul Qadir, today the state belongs to us, and tomorrow it will belong to you,” a prophecy that came true later on.

Sheikh Abdul Qadir said about himself: “I used to wish to remain in the deserts and wilderness, unseen by people, but Allah (SWT) willed for me to serve creation. Through my efforts, over five hundred Jews and Christians accepted Islam, and over a hundred thousand of the unruly and the hardened repented under my guidance.”

His Characteristics and Qualities:

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Quddissah Sirruh was known for his sharp insight, strong will, and the profound effect he had on people through both his actions and words. He spoke of deep spiritual matters and expressed the inner truths of hearts. He had the ability to affect people and guide them toward goodness. His gatherings were so large that they overflowed, and people would stand on horses, donkeys, and mules around him, with up to seventy thousand people attending. His voice was heard by both those nearby and far away.

His Knowledge and Worship:

Sheikh Abdul Qadir studied the sciences of language and literature under Sheikh Ali bin Yahya Al-Tabrizi and became a skilled poet and orator. His knowledge in jurisprudence, principles, rational and transmitted sciences was of the highest level. He would study the Quran with various recitations after Dhuhr and read the sciences of hadith, schools of thought, and differences of opinion during both parts of the day. He also provided fatwas based on the Shafi’i and Hanbali madhhabs, and his fatwas were admired by scholars in Iraq.

His Path in Sufism:

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Quddissah Sirruh became the leader of Sufism in his time after Abu Said Al-Makhzumi, and was known as “Al-Ghawth Al-Azam” (The Supreme Helper). He had a unique approach to Sufism based on complete devotion to Allah. He worked on unifying Sufi orders and coordinating them to serve Islam and Muslims. He sought to correct Sufism and return it to its original purpose as an educational school focused on true asceticism and self-discipline.

His School and Social Reform:

Sheikh Abdul Qadir established his Qadiri school in Baghdad, which became a beacon of knowledge and religion. The school saw great interest from his followers and people from various social classes, and it produced scholars and saints who carried his teachings. The school was filled with students from different countries, and many scholars and saints who graduated from it spread his teachings around the world.

His Miracles:

The miracles of Sheikh Abdul Qadir were numerous, including the famous story of the rising waters of the Tigris River that almost submerged Baghdad. Sheikh Abdul Qadir took his staff and went to the riverbank, saying, “To here,” and immediately the water level began to recede. Another miracle occurred when, during a meeting, a large snake fell into his lap. He sat calmly and continued speaking, while the snake wrapped around him and then left without harming him.

Some of His Beautiful Words:

  • “Remove the world from your hearts and place it in your hands, for it will not harm you.”
  • “The greatest name is to say ‘Allah’ and have nothing else in your heart.”
  • “Be doorkeepers to the door of your hearts, and let in what Allah commands you to let in, and let out what He commands you to remove.”
  • “Do not wrong anyone, not even with your suspicion, for your Lord does not overlook the injustice of the oppressor.”
  • “The more you struggle against your soul and kill it with obedience, the more it will live.”

Books of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani:

  • Sir Al-Asrar
  • Al-Wasaya
  • Hadiyat Al-Muttaqin
  • Sabil Al-Arefin
  • Hizb Al-Raja wa Al-Intiha
  • Al-Risalah Al-Ghawthiya
  • Al-Ghuniya
  • Al-Fuyuzat Al-Rabbaniya Fi Al-Awrad Al-Qadiriya
  • Al-Kibrit Al-Ahmar Fi Salawat Ala Nabi ﷺ
  • Maratib Al-Wujud
  • Miraj Latif Al-Ma’ani
  • Yawaqit Al-Hikam
  • Jalaa Al-Khater Fi Al-Batin Wal-Zahir

His Passing:

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Quddissah Sirruh passed away on the 8th of Rabi’ Al-Akhir in the year 561 AH at the age of 91, leaving behind a great legacy of knowledge and wisdom that has had a profound impact on the entire Islamic world.