Identity and Titles
The Master of Baghdad’s given name is Abdul Qadir, and his patronymic (kunyat) is Abu Muhammad. He is famously known by titles such as Muhiyuddin (the Reviver of Religion), Mahboob-e-Subhani (the Beloved of the Sublime), and Ghaus al-Azam (the Greatest Helper).
- Birth: 470 AH in the famous town of Jilan (hence the name Jilani).
- Passing: 561 AH in Baghdad, Iraq, where his blessed shrine remains a center of spiritual grace for his devotees.
Noble Lineage
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani is a "Najib al-Tarfayn" Sayyid, meaning his lineage traces back to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through both parents:
- Paternal: Hasani (descendant of Imam Hasan RA).
- Maternal: Husaini (descendant of Imam Husain RA).
His father, Sayyid Abu Salih Musa Jangi Dost, was a man of extreme piety and a brave warrior of the faith, dedicated to "enjoining the good and forbidding the evil." His mother, Umm al-Khair Fatima, was equally renowned for her righteousness and sanctity.
His maternal grandfather, Hazrat Abdullah Saumai, was a leading Sheikh of his time—highly intelligent, virtuous, and known as Mustajab al-Da'wat (one whose prayers are always answered).
Marriage and Divine Command
Once asked why he chose to marry, the Ghaus al-Azam replied:
"In truth, I did not intend to marry, fearing it might distract me from my devotions. However, one night the Holy Prophet (PBUH) appeared in my dream and commanded: 'O Abdul Qadir! Get married. In the eyes of Allah, there is a fixed time for every task.'"
Following this prophetic instruction, he married four times, and Allah blessed him with four wives who were deeply devoted to him.
Glad Tidings of His Birth
Even before his birth, his father received divine tidings. On the night of his birth, his father saw the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a vision, accompanied by the Companions, who said:
"O Abu Salih! Allah has granted you a son who is a Wali (Saint), and he is the beloved of Allah and myself. His status among the Saints and Poles (Aqtab) will be like my status among the Prophets."
This spiritual station is often summarized in the Persian couplet: "Ghaus al-Azam is among the Saints, just as Muhammad (PBUH) is among the Prophets."
Other great saints also foretold his coming:
- Imam Hasan al-Basri (RA): Detailed the arrival of the Ghaus centuries in advance.
- Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (RA): Predicted that a "Pole of the World" (Qutb al-Alam) named Abdul Qadir would appear in the mid-5th century.
- Sheikh Abu Bakr (RA): Foretold that a man from the non-Arab lands would settle in Baghdad and declare: "My foot is on the necks of all saints."
Miracles of Infancy and Youth
The Ramadan Miracle: He was born on the first of Ramadan. From the day of his birth, he would only drink milk during Sahoor (pre-dawn) and Iftar (sunset), effectively fasting as an infant.
Angelic Companions: Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani mentioned that at the age of ten, while walking to school, angels would accompany him and tell the other children: "Make way for the Saint of Allah to sit."
Mastery of Knowledge and Scholarship
In Baghdad, he was recognized as the supreme authority in both Sharia (Divine Law) and Haqiqat (Spiritual Truth).
- Thirteen Sciences: He used to deliver lectures in thirteen different branches of knowledge.
- Encyclopedic Depth: It is narrated that he once explained a single Quranic verse in eleven different ways, providing distinct evidence for each. Other reports suggest he could provide up to forty different interpretations of a single verse, leaving the greatest scholars of the era in awe.
Testimonials from the Greats
- Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (RA): In a spiritual manifestation at his shrine, the Imam is said to have embraced the Sheikh and declared himself a "needy seeker" of the Sheikh’s spiritual and legal knowledge.
- Sheikh Ahmad Rifa'i (RA): He stated that Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani held the "ocean of Sharia" in one hand and the "ocean of Reality" in the other, with no equal in his time.
Devotion and Worship
- Purity: For forty years, he performed his Fajr (dawn) prayers with the Wudu (ablution) of his Isha (night) prayer.
- Quranic Recitation: It is recorded that for fifteen years, he completed the recitation of the entire Quran every single night.
- The Miraculous Voice: During his massive public sermons, despite the crowds stretching as far as the eye could see, his voice would reach the person at the very back as clearly and loudly as it reached the person sitting right in front of him.
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