Manqabat Ghouse Azam

Short Biography of
Sultaan al Awliyaa Qutb al Aqtaab
Muhiyy al Din Shaykh al Kul Sayyiduna
al Ghawth al A’azam
Shaykh ‘Abd al Qadir al Jilani
al Baghdadi
(May Allah have mercy on him)
Shaykh Allamah Muhammad Qasim al Qadri al Ridwi
Manzar ul Islam ~ Vision of Islam ~
Jami Masjid Ghawth A’azam Muslim Foundation
Dar ul Uloom Jamia Manzar ul Islam
24 Gladstone Street Basford Nottingham NG7 6GA England UK
For more information contact 07534 895 338 SunniHanafi@hotmail.com
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Allah’s name I begin with the most Kind the Merciful.
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam (May Allah have mercy on him)
Sultaan al Awliyaa Qutb al Aqtaab Muhiyy al Din Shaykh al Kul Sayyiduna al
Ghawth al A’azam Shaykh Sayyid ‘Abd al Qadir al Jilani al Baghdadi (May Allah
have mercy on him) was born in Ramadaan in 471 al Hijri in the locality of Jeel
and passed away on 11th Rab’i al Aakhir 560 al Hijri in Baghdad Sharif. His father
Imaam al Atqiya Sayyiduna Abu Salih Sayyid Musa Jangi Dost (May Allah have
mercy on him) was from the lineage of the Prophet’s grandson Sayyiduna Imaam
Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) his respected mother Sayyidah Ammat
al Jabbar Faatimah Ummul Khair (may Allah be pleased with her) was from the
family of Sayyid al Shuhadaa Sayyiduna Imaam Husain (may Allah be pleased
with him). Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam (may Allah be pleased with him) was
a saint by birth. His Karaamat (miracles) began when he was a baby he refused
to drink his mothers milk during the daylight hours of Ramadaan.
Education and Spritual training:
He received his early education from Jeel his place of birth. At the age of
seventeen or eighteen he went to Baghdad, the centre of knowledge. At the age
of twenty-five he completed his education in all the prevalent knowledge of his
times. After this, for twenty-five years continuously, he busied himself in the
most difficult meditations and spiritual practices in isolated caves away from
distractions, and accomplished all forms of spiritual achievements.
Sermons, Preaching and Reformation:
It was in 521 al Hijri that he saw the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) and Sayyiduna Mawla ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) placed his blessed
saliva seven times, and Sayyiduna Mawla ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)
six times into the mouth of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, and ordered him to
start giving sermons and preaching. Sayyiduna Mawla‘Ali (may Allah be
pleased with him) the centre of sainthood, blessed him with the cloak of
Wilaayah (sainthood).
After this, Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam started preaching, and set up a
grand religious school (Madrassah) and boarding house for the students, and
arranged huge gatherings (with seventy thousand attendees) and started grand
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spiritual training of religious students. He prepared a great number of saints,
complete scholars, guides of Shari’ah (Islamic law) and reciters of the Holy
Qur’an, as a result of which, those that benefited from him, spread not only in
Iraq, but all over the world and hailing a revival of Islam. He is known as
Muhiyy al Din (reviver of the religion)
Karaamaat (miracles):
The proof of the karaamaat miracles of the Awliyaa is present in the Holy Qur’an
and authentic Hadiths. The biographers (including great muhaddithin (scholars
of Hadith), theologists, eminent scholars) write that more karaamaat (miracles)
are attributed to Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam than to any other Wali saint of
previous nations
Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (the guide of the Wahhabi sect) has written in his book
al-Iqtisaar
“The Karaamaat miracles of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam are numerous and
are proven from authentic narrations.
The biographers write that none of his sittings or meetings were without his
karaamaat miracles.
Hakim al Ummat of the Deobandis Molvi Ashraf ‘Ali Thanvi in his book al
Tazkeer part 3 has written about a karaamah miracle of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al
A’azam (may Allah be pleased with him). He writes that Sayyiduna al Ghawth al
A’azam placed his hand on the bones of a hen and said, “come to life with my
command; and the hen came back to life”
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam himself says in al Qaseedah al Ghawthiyyah
Poetry of al Ghawth al A’azam)

All the universe of Allah is under my command, and my time before me was
quite clear.
I saw the whole universe of Allah, like I see a small grain before me.
Scholars of all spiritual circles benefited from him:
Sanad al Muhaddithin Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abd al Haq Muhaddith al Dehlawi
(may Allah have mercy upon him) declares in Akhbaar al Akhyaar:
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam is the proof of the path of belief
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Verily, the great man of Islam and great religious guide. He enjoys a unique
status among all the saints. As the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him enjoys a unique status among the Prophets
(In “Nafhaat al Uns” page 357)
Mawlana Jaami has written that when the uncle (Shaykh ‘Abd al Qaahir al
Suharwardi) of Shaykh Shihaab al Din ‘Umar al Suharwardi (the chief inheritor
of Tariqah al Suharwardiyyah) presented me before al Ghawth al A’azam, and
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam placed his hand on my chest, at that very
moment, Allah filled my chest with al‘Ulum al Ladunniyah and I started talking
of knowledge and wisdom, and he said to me that I would gain great fame in
Baghdad in the end.
In the same way, the chief inheritor of the Chishtiyyah Spiritual Tariqah,
Khawajah Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri (may Allah have mercy
on him) obtained many blessings from Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, and
sought permission to work in Iraq. Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam said: I have
given Iraq to Shaykh Shihaab al Din al Suharwardi, you go to Hind to work for
Islam.”
So Khawajah Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri (may Allah have
mercy on him) did much work for the Propagation of Islam in Hind, and brought
millions of non-believers into the fold of Islam.
It is mentioned in authentic books that while delivering a sermon in Muhallah
Halba of Baghdad, Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam said in a condition of
spiritual enlightenment: “This foot of mine is on the neck of every saint.”
Khawajah Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri who was at that time
busy in meditation in the mountains of Khurasaan) bowed his neck so much that
his forehead touched the ground, and he said: “O, al Ghawth al A’azam, both of
your feet are on my head and my eyes.” In Baghdad, at the same time, Sayyiduna
Al Ghawth al A’azam said “Ghiyaath al Din’s son has excelled in bowing his
neck, so, very soon, he would be blessed with the sainthood of Hind.”
Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri wrote in an eulogy in praise of
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam:
The feet of the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him are the
crown of your head, and your feet are the crowns of the head of the whole world
The great saints of the world are lying at your door, as the beggars before the
king.
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Sayyiduna Shaykh Shams al Din (may Allah have mercy on him) says: al Ghawth
al A’azam said, “This foot of mine is on the neck of every saint” was the
command of Allah.
(Anwaar al Shamsiyyah page: 7, 9)
In “Khawaariq al Akhbaab fi Ma’arifaat al Aqtaab” Shaykh Abdullah al Balkhi
writes that during a meeting Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam said, “After 157
years, one Muhammadi al-Mashrab Muhammad Bahaa al Din Naqshband will
be born in Bukhara who will receive a special bounty from us.
When Sayyiduna Khawaja Bahaa al Din Naqshbandi entered the field of
wilaayah (sainthood), he went to visit Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam at the
beck of Sayyiduna Khidar (peace be upon him) and went to sleep, saying “alGhiyyath, al Ghiyyath Ya Mahbub al Subhaani” he saw Sayyiduna al Ghawth al
A’azam in his dream, and was gifted with many blessings.
It is in Tafreeh al-Khatir fi Manaqib al Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir of al Arbli” and
other authentic books that when Sayyiduna Shaykh Bahaa al Din Naqshband
started his spiritual journey, at the beck of Sayyiduna Khidar, attended to
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, he went to sleep saying “al-Ghayyaath, alGhayyaath”. He saw Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam in dream and was blessed
by him. According to “Tafreehal Khatar Arbli” and other authentic books that
when he was asked about Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam’s saying” This foot of
mine is on the neck of all the saints” he said without hesitation:
Your foot is on my eye and heart.
Even today, the following poetic verses of Sayyiduna Khawaja Baha-ud-Din
Naqshbandi (Allah bless him) are present in the holy shrine of Sayyiduna al
Ghawth al A’azam.
Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abdal Qadir is the king in both Worlds,
Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abdal Qadir is the king of the offspring of Sayyiduna
Aadam”.
The sun, the moon, the “Arsh” “Kursi” (the chair) and “Qalam” (The pen)
The light of the heart is because of the light of Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam
(Ref: Bahjaat al Asraar, Qalaaid al Jawaahir)
It is mentioned in Tafseer Ruh al Ma’ani the head of Silsilah Naqshbandiyyah
Mujadidiyyah Imaam al Rabbani Mujaddid Alf al Thaani Sayyiduna Shaykh
Ahmad al Sirhindi has attributed grand wilaayah sainthood to Sayyiduna al
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Ghawth al A’azam till the appearance of Sayyiduna Imaam al Mahdi. Sayyiduna
Mujaddid writes in one of his letters “Suns of the earlier people set, but your sun
will ever remain high and shall never set. In this way, all the saints get blessings
through him, because nobody enjoys this status except him, that is why, he said,
“The suns of the previous ones set, but our sun will ever remain shining in the
sky, and will never set”.
al Haaj Muhammad Imdaadullah Muhaajir al Makki, the religious leader of the
scholars of Deoband writes the following about al Ghawth al A’azam:
O, Allah! Through the king of Jilaan, and the Qutb (pole saint) of the ages, who is
the reviver of Islam, purge me of all thoughts, except that which is because of
you.
Shuyukh (scholars) of all spiritual circles have received blessing from al Ghawth
al A’azam directly or indirectly, and all the world has benefited from the
blessings of Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam. Shaykh al Islam Imam Ahl al
Sunnah Mujaddid Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (may Allah have mercy upon him)
says:
“You are such a Ghawth (helper) that every Ghawth is fond of you
You are that cloud that every cloud quenches its thirst from you
What is the relation of the saints with you!
Only that person is a saint who is your servant”
Khatam on the eleventh of every month Ghiyaarhawin Sharif:
Khatam Ghiyaarhawin Sharif is a training system with many benefits, consisting
of the recitation of the Qur’an, praise of the Prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi
wasallam, sermons and advice, preaching of Islam, dhikr (rememberance) of
Allah, Muraaqabah meditation, purification of the soul, food for the scholars and
general people, meeting the pious, iysaal al Thawaab (transferring of reward)
sending peace and salutations on the prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi
wasallam , supplications.
Shaykh al Mashaaykh Sayyiduna Shaykh Muhammad Sulayman al Tawnsawi
(mayAllah have mercy upon him) says that al Ghawth al A’azam himself used to
hold this event on the eleventh of every month. He says that to some scholars the
holding of this celebration by Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, was with regard
to the ‘Urs anniversary of the Holy Prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi
wasallam. (Intikhaab Manaaqib Sulaymaani Page: 130)
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After the passing away of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam on 11th of Rabi al
Aakhir 560 al Hijri, his successors continued noble Khatam on the eleventh of
every month.
Sanad al Muhaddithin Sayyiduna Shah ‘Abd al ‘Aziz al Dehlawi (may Allah
have mercy upon him) in Malfuzaat e ‘Azizi page 62, writes:
The King and the grand personalities of the city would gather at the shrine of
Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam (may Allah be pleased with him), and recite the
Holy Qur’an after ‘Asr Prayers to Maghrib, read eulogies in praise of Sayyiduna
al Ghawth al A’azam. After Maghrib the successors, surrounded by their
followers, would conduct circles of the remembrance of Allah and their mureeds
students would sit around them making Dhikr out loud, and in that state some
would feel a sense of spritual ecstasy. After this a sweet dish that was prepared
was distributed and after ‘Ishaa Prayers the people would leave.
Sayyiduna Shaykh Abd al Haq Muhaddith al Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy
upon him) has mentioned Ghiyaarhawin Sharif in his book Ma Thabata bi al
Sunnah and says that this teacher and spiritual guide Imaam ‘Abd al Wahaab
Mutaqi (Allah be pleased with him) and his esteemed Shuyukh also used to hold
Khatam on the eleventh of every month. He writes that Ghiyaarhawin Sharif
was introduced in our country (Hind) by the offspring of Sayyiduna al Ghawth
al A’azam and the esteemed Shuyukh.
The observation of Shaykh al Mashaaykh Sayyiduna Mirza Mazhar Jan Janaan:
Sanad al Muhaddithin Sayyiduna Shah Wali Allah Muhaddith Dehlawi (may
Allah have mercy upon him) in his book Kamaalaat Tayyibaat (in Persian) page:
78, writes:
In his “Maktubaat (letters) Sayyiduna Mirza Mazhar Jaan Janaan (may
Allah have mercy upon him) says, “I saw dream in which I saw a wide platform
on which there were many Awliyaa of Allah sitting meditating in a circle, with
Sayyiduna Shaykh Naqshband sitting among them, and Sayyiduna Shaykh
Junaid sitting leaning against a cushion. They were in a state of istighnaa maa
siwa Allah and kayfiyaat al fanaa in being free from all but Allah and in states of
fanaa annihilation. Then all these people stood up and left. I asked him what the
matter was. One of them told me that Amir al Muminin Sayyiduna Mawla Ali al
Murtada the Lion of Allah (may Allah ennoble his face) came, accompanied by
somebody, wearing a garment made of a goat’s hair, bare-headed, bare-footed,
entangled hair. Sayyiduna Mawla Ali (Allah be pleased with him) was holding
his hand with great respect. I asked who is that man? Sayyiduna Mawla Ali
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