Abdul Rasool Syed
THE month of Rabi-ul-Sani has an exclusive connection with Abdul Qadir al-Gilani, the founder of Qadria order, popularly known as Ghaus-al Azam and sultan-ul- Awaliya (The king of the friends of Allah). In this very month, the death anniversary of Shykh Al-Gilani is marked with profound reverence and homage all across the globe. The pious Shykh was born in the month of Ramadan in 470 AH (1077-78 AD) in the Persian province of Gilan (Iran), south of the Caspian Sea. His contribution to Sufism and Sharia was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of his time (Al-Ghaus-al Azam). On his blessed birth, many remarkable events took place.
At the time of his birth, his mother was nearly 60 years old, an age when women are usually unable to conceive. It is reported that on the night of the Mi’raaj (Ascension), the Prophet Muhammad’s blessed foot stepped on the neck of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA) to mount al-Buraq. When he was born, the impression of the footprint of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was present on neck of Shykh Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA). This alone was proof of his sainthood. Further, on the eve of his birth, approximately eleven hundred males were born in Gilan and every one of them became a Wali of Allah. Hazrat Abu Saleh Moosa (RA), Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (R.A)’s father, had a dream in which he saw our Beloved Prophet (SAW) who said to him: “O my son Abu Saleh, Allah, Most high, has given you a child who is my beloved son and also the beloved of Allah. His ranking among the Awliya is akin to my rank among the Prophets.”
The most interesting event pertaining to his birth was that during Ramadan, the infant refused to take milk from dawn until sunset, thereby implying that the newborn child was observing the fast. During the following year, when the moon could not be sighted due to dark clouds, the people decided to observe Ramadan on the basis of whether Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (R.A) had accepted milk during the day or not. Shykh Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA) was not like other children who spent their time in play and amusement. From a tender age he spent his time in the remembrance of Almighty Allah. If he at any time ever intended to join the other children, then a Voice from the Unseen would be heard to say, “Come towards Me, O blessed one.” At first, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (R.A) would become afraid when he heard this voice. He would go to his mother and sit in her lap. As time passed, he became accustomed to this voice. Instead of going to his mother, he would abandon the thought of playing and occupy himself in the remembrance of Almighty Allah.
When Shykh Abdul Qadir Gilani was nearly five years old, his mother got him enrolled into local Madrassah in Gilan. He studied at this Madrassah until the age of ten. During this period, a certain amazing event occurred. Whenever Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA) would enter the Madrassah, he would see bright figures walking ahead of him saying, “Give way to the Friend of Allah.” His son, Sayyidi Abdur Razzaq (R.A), reports that once Shykh Abdul Qadir Gilani (R.A) was asked when he first came to know of his Wilayah the great Ghaus (RA) replied: “When I was ten years old, I found angels walking beside me on my way to the Madrasah. When we reached the Madrassah, I would hear them say, ‘Give way to the Wali Allah, Give way to the Wali Allah.’ It was when this continued that I knew that I had been blessed with Wilayah”. For further studies, he took admission in Madrassah Nizamiya of Baghdad, which was the most prestigious and world-renowned educational institution of its time. Under the tutelage of some of the best teachers in the Islamic word, he reached an outstanding level of understanding in the following sciences: Fiqah,Tafsir, Sunnah, Hadith and Arabic literature. He studied the Hanabli Fiqah in particular under prominent Hanabli jurist Hazrat Abu Saeed al-Mukharrami. He was taught Tafsir, Sunnah and Hadith by Hazrat Abu Ghalib Ahmad and Hazrat Abu Qasim Ali. He also studied Arab Literature under Hazrat Abu Zakariya Yahya Tabrizi – the principal of Madrassah Nizamiya.
Finally, when Shykh Gilani (RA) was suffering from illness, his son Abdul Wahab asked him “Give me a parting admonition on which I should act after you have left this world.” The Shykh replied: Fear Almighty Allah. Fear none but Allah. Always turn towards Him. Ask all your wishes from Allah. Do not turn to any besides Allah. Do not have faith in any but in Allah. Remain firm on Tauheed (belief in One Allah). There is no salvation without Tauheed. When the heart becomes linked with Allah then nothing else seems to look good to him. I have reached the level of True Love. It is a domain where worldly love has no place. Just before his demise, he turned to the rest of his sons and said,” Move away from me. Right now, you seem to be before me, but in reality you are not the only ones here. With the exception of you, there are other creations of Allah here as well. Give enough space for them. Show respect to them. Give way. This is now a place of exalted pardon and forgiveness. Do not crowd this place. After saying these words, he would continue saying, “And may there be peace, blessings and Allah’s mercy upon you. May Allah forgive us all and may He bestow His mercy upon us.” This was his reply to the greetings of the angels that had presented themselves before him. It is stated that he replied to their greetings for a full twenty-four hours.
— The writer, an Advcate, based in Quetta Balochistan.
