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ARTICLES & OPINIONS
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The Biographies of Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani
Some scholars have written whole books of biography on Shaykh ‘Abdul
Qadir Jilani Rady Allahu ‘Anhu. Some have written articles on him while
others have mentioned him in their writings by way of illustration. A
preliminary survey reveals the following biographies of the Shaykh in various
languages.
A: In Arabic
Biographies which deal with the virtues and the glorious deeds of a Muslim
luminary are called manaqib in Arabic. Some of the learned scholars who
have written the manaqib of Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani, expounding
on his exemplary character, his achievements in piety, and his miracles are:
Imam Muhyiddin an-Nawawi (631-676 A.H), in Bustan u’l ‘Arifin
(Gardens of the Spiritual Masters).
Shaykh Abu’l Hasan ‘Ali ash-Shattanawfi of Egypt (passed away
713 A.H, 1314 C.E), in Bahjat al-Asrar (Splendour of the
Mysteries). This is the first major biography of the Shaykh from which
others have benefited.
Shaykh ‘Afif u’d Din al-Yafi’i ash-Shafi’i of Yemen
(718-768 A.H, 1318-1367 C.E), in Khulasat al-mafakhir fi’ktisar manaqib
ash-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir (A Biography of Shaykh ‘Abdul
Qadir summarising his glorious qualities), and in Mir’at al-Jinan
(The Mirrors of Paradises).
Al-Hafiz Imad-ud-Din ibn Kathir (701-774 A.H, 1302-1373 C.E), in his
Tarikh (History) entitled Al-Bidaya wa’n Nihaya (The
Beginning and the End).
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Yahya at-Tadifi (passed away 963 A.H, 1556 C.E),
in Qalaid al-Jawahir (Necklaces of Gems), translated by Shaykh
Muhtar Holland. In this major biography, Shaykh at-Tadifi records, in
addition to the ones mentioned above, more than 40 great Imams and
mashaayikh who have expounded on the spiritual achievements of Shaykh
‘Abdul Qadir Jilani, among them being:
- Shaykh As-Sayyid Ahmad ar-Rifa’i (passed away 578 A.H,
1182 C.E),
- Shaykh Abu Madyan Shu’ayb (520-594 A.H, 1126-1198 C.E),
- Shaykh Shihabuddin ‘Umar as-Suhrawardi (539-632 A.H,
1145-1234 C.E),
- Imam Ahmad ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (773-852 A.H)
He also quotes from about a dozen biographies of the Shaykh by various
well-known ‘ulama (learned scholars).
Shaykh Hasan ibn ‘Umayr ash-Shirazi in ‘Iqd al-‘Iqyan.
This is a manaqib (biography) of 17 chapters in poetic prose in which
the verses alternatively rhyme in the letters “yaa”, and “alif”.
Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Ahmad al-Qadiri az-Zayla’i,
entitled “Fayd ur Rahmani” (“The Grace of the Beneficent”), consisting of 11
chapters in Majmu’a Mushtamila (A Compendium of Writings).
Habib Muhammad ibn ash-Shaykh Sidq Muhammad Ibrahim al-Qahiri, given in
Al-Fuyudaat u’r Rabbaniyya (Emanations of Lordly Grace),
Rahmatullahi ‘alayhim ajma’een.
B: In Urdu, by
Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri, in Jinnat Ka Baadshah (The
King of Jinns and Other Marvels of Ghawth-e-Azam), in which he has
primarily referenced the original source, that is the biography of the
Shaykh entitled Bahjat al-Asrar of Shaykh ash-Shattanawfi. He also
quotes a few verses from Shah Waliyullah Dehlawi Rahmatullahi ‘alayh
(passed away 1176 A.H, 1762 C.E) in honour of the Shaykh.
Miya ‘Umar Din, in Anwar-e-Qadiriyya (The Lights of the
Qadiriyya). This is a comprehensive biography of about 200 pages. In it,
Miyan ‘Umar Din has given an Urdu translation of 412 selected pieces
of advice from the discourses of Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani which he
considers constitute the core of this teaching. He has also included
biographical accounts of the Shaykh written by
- Mujaddid Alfi Thani Shaykh Ahmad Faruqi as-Sirhindi,
Rahmatullahi ‘alayh (972-1034 A.H, 1564-1625 C.E) who has written about
Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani in Maktub Number 123 in his Maktubat
(Letters).
- Shaykh ‘Abdul Haqq Muhaddith Dehlawi Rahmatullahi ‘alayh
(passed away 1052 A.H, 1642 C.E), in Akhbar ul-Akhyar (Narratives
About The Chosen Ones). He translated the Futuh al-Ghaib of the
Ghawth al-A’zam into Persian.
‘Allamah ‘Abdur Rahim Khan Qadiri, in Sirat-e-Ghawth-e-A’zam
(The History of the Ghawth al-A’zam). This is another
comprehensive biography of about 250 pages.
Mawlana ‘Ashiq Ilahi Mirthi, in the “Introduction” to his
translation of Al-Fath-ur-Rabbani.
Mawlana Sayyid ‘Abd ud Daim Jilani , in the “Introduction” to his
translation of Al-Ghunya Li Talibi Tariqi’l Haqq.
C: In Turkish, by
Shaykh Muzaffar Ozak Effendi, in Ziynet ul Qulub (The Adornment of
Hearts), translated by Shaykh Muhtar Holland.
D: In English, by
Dr. Zahurul Hasan Sharib, Rahmatullahi ‘alayh, entitled Ghawth
ul A’zam Pirane Pir (The Greatest Spiritual Helper, The
Shaykh of Shaykhs).
Dr. Muhammad Haroon, Rahmatullahi ‘alayh, “The World Importance of
Ghawth Al A’zam Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani”.
Shaykh Tosun al-Jerrahi al-Halveti, in the “Introduction” to his
translation of Sirr al-Asrar (The Secret of Secrets).
Shaykh Muhtar Holland, in the “Introduction” to his translation of
Futuh al-Ghaib (Revelations of the Unseen).
Shaykh Muhammad al-Akili, in the “Preface” to his translation of Al
Fath-ur- Rabbani (The Endowment of Divine Grace).
Professor Shetha al-Dargazelli and Dr. Louay Fatoohi, in the
“Introduction” to their translation of Jila al-Khatir (Purification
of the Mind).
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