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Abdul Qadir Gilani عبد القادر الجيلاني | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Abdul Qadir Gilani. Created inMughal India inc. 1680 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1077 or 1078 (1Ramadan 470 AH) |
| Died | 1166 CE (11Rabi' al-Thani 561AH) |
| Resting place | Abdul Qadir Gilani Mosque, Baghdad |
| Children | Abdul Razzaq Gilani |
| Main interest(s) | Fiqh,Sufism |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanbali |
| Tariqa | Qadiriyya(founder) |
| Senior posting | |
| Disciple of | Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi |
Disciples | |
Abdul Qadir Gilani (Persian:عبدالقادر گیلانی,romanized: 'Abdul Qādir Gīlānī;Arabic:عبد القادر الجيلاني,romanized: ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī) was aHanbali scholar, preacher, andSufi leader who was theeponym of theQadiriyya, one of the oldest Sufi orders.[1]
He was born in 1077 or 1078 in the town of Na'if,Rezvanshahr inGilan,Persia, and died in 1166 inBaghdad.[2][3] Gilani (Arabic:al-Jilani) refers to his place of birth,Gilan. He also carried the epithetBaghdadi, referring to his residence and burial in Baghdad.[4][5]
He had the honorific title ofMuḥi al-Dīn, denoting his status according to many Sufis as areviver of Islam.[6]
Abdul Qadir Gilani held the highest position in the hierarchy ofSufi saints (Awliya) having achieved the rank (Maqam) of the succour (Ghawth).[7][8] He famously declared that: "My foot is raised over the neck of everysaint ofAllah", in reference to his station ofGhawth al-Azam.[9]
Gilani was born in 1077 or 1078. Despite his popularity, his background is uncertain.[1] His father (or perhaps grandfather) had the Iranian name of Jangi Dust,[1][10] which indicates that Gilani was of Persian stock.[10] Hisnisba means "fromGilan", an Iranian region located on the southwestern coast of theCaspian Sea.[1]
During his stay in the city ofBaghdad, Gilani was calledajami (non-Arab), which according toBruce Lawrence may be because he spoke Persian alongside Arabic.[10] According to theal-Nujūm al-ẓāhira by the 15th-century historianIbn Taghribirdi (died 1470), Gilani was born in Jil inIraq, but this account is questioned by French historianJacqueline Chabbi.[1] Modern historians (including Lawrence) consider Gilani to have been born in Gilan.[10][11][12] The region was then politically semi-independent and divided between local chieftains from different clans.[13]
Gilani is claimed to have been a descendant ofMuhammad's grandsonHasan ibn Ali; this claim is generally considered genuine by the Muslim community, including theQadiriyya.[1] Lawrence finds this claim inconsistent with Gilani's apparent Persian background, and considers it to have been "traced by overzealous hagiographers."[10]
Gilani spent his early life in Gilan, the province of his birth. In 1095, he went to Baghdad. There, he pursued the study ofHanbali law underAbu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi andibn Aqil.[14][15] He studiedhadith with Abu Muhammad Ja'far al-Sarraj.[15] His Sufi spiritual instructor was Abu'l-Khair Hammad ibn Muslim al-Dabbas.[16] After completing his education, Gilani left Baghdad. He spent twenty-five years wandering in the deserts ofIraq.[17]
Gilani belonged to theHanbali school of law. He placed Shafi'i jurisprudence (Fiqh) on an equal footing with the Hanbali school (madhhab), and used to givefatwa according to both of them simultaneously. This is whyal-Nawawi praised him in his book entitledBustan al-'Arifin (Garden of the Spiritual Masters), saying:
We have never known anyone more dignified than Baghdad's Sheikh Muhyi al-Din 'Abd al-Qadir al-Gilani, may Allah be pleased with him, theSheikh of Shafi'is and Hanbalis in Baghdad.[18]
In 1127, Gilani returned to Baghdad and began to preach to the public.[3] He joined the teaching staff of the school belonging to his teacher, al-Makhzoomi, and was popular with students. In the morning he taughtHadith andTafsir, and in the afternoon he discoursed on the science of the heart and the virtues of theQuran. He was said to have been a convincing preacher who converted numerous Jews and Christians and who integrated Sufi mysticism with Islamic Law.[3]
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Gilani converted thousands of people to Islam through his compassionate and inclusive approach to inner purification and devotion towards Allah. His emphasis on inner purification, divine love, and ethical living resonated deeply with many, attracting followers from diverse backgrounds.[19] One of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Gilani's most significant contributions was the establishment of the Madrasah al-Qadiriyya in Baghdad. This institution became a center for Islamic learning and spirituality, attracting students from various regions. The curriculum included the study of the Quran, Hadith, Fiqh (jurisprudence), andTasawwuf (Sufism), providing a comprehensive religious education.[20] The influence of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Gilani extended to political and military leaders of his time. His teachings inspired rulers to adopt more just and ethical governance. Prominent figures such asNur ad-Din Zangi andSalahuddin Ayyubi were known to respect and follow the principles advocated by the Shaykh, which contributed to their own reforms and successes.[21]
Al-Gilani died in 1166 and was buried in Baghdad. Hisurs (death anniversary of a Sufi saint) is traditionally celebrated on 11Rabi' al-Thani.[10]
During the reign of theSafavid ShahIsmail I, Gilani's shrine was destroyed.[22] However, in 1535, theOttoman emperorSuleiman the Magnificent constructed a new shrine over his grave, which still exists.[23]
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