Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA): Life, Spiritual Practice, Teachings and Spiritual Influence

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) is among those Sufi saints and religious personalities whose influence in the spiritual and intellectual history of Islam has extended century after century. He was a religious scholar, khatib, teacher and Sufi saint. In twelfth-century Baghdad his teaching, sermons and spiritual practice exercised influence over many people. Later on, a widespread Qadiriya tariqa grew centred on his name, and in various regions of the Muslim world he became a most highly honoured Sufi personality.

Concerning his life, the conventional biographies contain many miraculous events and legends. However, in a historically grounded discussion, the relatively reliable facts of his life and the later Hagiographical or legend-based accounts need to be viewed separately. The research sources too mention this difference regarding his biography.

Who Was Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)?

The Arabic name of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) is Abu Muhammad Abdul Qadir ibn Abi Salih. He became known as 'Jilani' or 'Jilani' because of his connection with the region of Gilan, his birthplace. According to historical sources, he was born in 470 Hijri or 1077-78 AD in the province of Gilan in the southern region of the Caspian Sea. Later he went to Baghdad and received religious education, and there his principal field of work took shape.

He gained recognition as a scholar of Hanbali fiqh and a popular religious speaker. At the same time he was associated with Sufi practice. An important feature of his personality was the emphasis upon religious knowledge, moral teaching and self-purification.

Birth and Family Identity

Both ancient and modern research generally mention the Gilan region as Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) birthplace. But in the later biographies various claims are found regarding his lineage. In some hagiographical books he is presented as a descendant of the prophet Muhammad (SAW); on the other hand, modern historical research views parts of these genealogies with caution. The name 'Jangidost' associated with his father's name has also become a subject of research concerning his family and cultural identity.

Therefore it is not proper to view together the conventional religious tradition regarding his lineage and the historically verifiable facts. Rather it may be said that, along with his later fame and spiritual status, various traditions regarding his lineage also developed.

Coming to Baghdad and Student Life

Historical sources mention that he came to Baghdad at about the age of 18. Baghdad was then one of the most important centres of knowledge of the Islamic world. There he studied religious knowledge, including Hanbali fiqh. Through study and the pursuit of knowledge under various teachers he gradually became established as a scholar.

His stay in Baghdad changed the course of his life. On the one hand he concentrated upon religious law and the pursuit of knowledge; on the other, he advanced in the sphere of self-purification and Sufi practice. Later his teaching and spiritual practice created a widespread influence among the common people of Baghdad.

Spiritual Practice and the Life of Solitude

A notable chapter of Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) life was his long period of spiritual practice and solitude. Historical accounts say that he lived a life of solitude for about 25 years in the desert regions of Iraq. This period is considered an important phase of his self-purification and spiritual preparation.

In the Sufi tradition special importance is given to self-restraint, controlling oneself from worldly attachment, the remembrance of Allah and the formation of moral character. The importance of these matters is clearly seen in Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) teaching too. In his later lectures and writings the themes of self-purification, reliance upon Allah, sincerity and morality come up again and again.

Establishment in Baghdad as Teacher and Religious Speaker

It is mentioned in the research article of the Encyclopaedia Iranica that at about 1127 AD he began publicly teaching and giving religious lectures in Baghdad. His lectures quickly became popular, and people of various classes and professions began coming to him. Later a madrasa and a residential religious institution were established for him, where he conducted educational and spiritual activities with his family, students and followers.

The principal feature of his lectures was calling people to self-examination, moral life and obedience to Allah. His influence was not confined within any single social class; contemporary accounts record the people of various classes being influenced by his speech.

His Connection with the Qadiriya Tariqa

The connection of the Qadiriya tariqa with Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) name is most intimate. The Qadiriya, as one of Islam's most ancient and widespread Sufi tariqas, later gained expansion in various regions of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia. After his death his teaching spread to various regions through his children, disciples and followers.

However, rather than the simple explanation that the 'Qadiriya tariqa' was established in its present organisational form exactly during his lifetime, it is more reasonable to say that the Qadiriya tradition later became well organised and widespread through his teaching, followers and successors.

The Principal Themes of His Teaching

The central theme of Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) teaching was self-purification and sincere obedience to Allah. In his writings emphasis has been laid, alongside outward religious observance, upon the state of man's heart and moral character.

Some important aspects of his teaching are:

• Reliance upon Allah: the importance of tawakkul or reliance upon Allah in man's life.
• Self-purification: the effort to correct oneself from arrogance, greed, envy and the uncontrolled desires of the appetites.
• Ikhlas or sincerity: the teaching of keeping worship and good deeds free from show.
• Moral character: truthfulness, patience, humility and responsible conduct towards people.
• The remembrance of Allah: the improvement of the heart through dhikr and spiritual awareness.
• The combination of religious knowledge and spirituality: the tendency to view the knowledge of the shari'ah and inner practice not in isolation from one another.

In modern research too, analysis of his writings has shown that in his thought is found a combined structure of Sufi practice, religious knowledge and moral teaching.

His Famous Writings

Quite a few books are associated with Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA). Among these Al-Ghunya li Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Futuhul Ghaib and Al-Fathur Rabbani are particularly known. Research notes that, alongside his writings, his speeches and teachings have also been preserved through the compilations of his disciples.

Futuhul Ghaib

Futuhul Ghaib is one of his best-known books. It is essentially a compilation of his religious and spiritual addresses. The book discusses various subjects of self-purification, the state of man's heart, reliance upon Allah and spiritual progress. According to the information of the TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, the book is compiled from his lectures and admonitions and contains 78 chapters.

Al-Ghunya

Al-Ghunya li Talibi Tariq al-Haqq is known as an important book combining religious knowledge, morality and Sufi teaching. In it are discussed, alongside Islamic belief and observance, various aspects of self-purification and the spiritual life. It is considered important for understanding his thought in research literature.

Miraculous Events and Legends

Numerous miraculous stories are current in Muslim society concerning Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA). Detailed accounts of these events are found in the various biographies of his devotees and followers. But not all these accounts can be historically verified to the same degree.

In particular, in some biographies written about a century after his death are found accounts of his countless karamat or miraculous events. Researchers have noted that in the later hagiographical literature the accounts of the miraculous surrounding his life became much expanded. Therefore, in historically grounded articles, it is more appropriate to present these events as “current accounts” or “narratives described in the Sufi tradition”.

His Teaching to People

Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) teaching was not confined within personal practice alone. In his addresses emphasis has been laid also upon man's character, social responsibility and moral conduct. It may be considered an important aspect of his teaching that a man's spiritual progress should also be expressed through his conduct and moral life.

In the light of his teaching, a man is called to be aware of his own weaknesses, not to wrong others, to avoid arrogance, to remain on the path of truth and justice, and to live a responsible life with trust in Allah.

His Influence in South Asia

In the later centuries Abdul Qadir Jilani's (RA) name became widely known in the Muslim society of South Asia. In the Indian subcontinent followers of the Qadiriya tariqa grew up, and his name became associated with many Sufi khanqahs, religious literature and folk traditions. According to the information of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, in South Asia a long tradition of reverence towards him and of various rituals associated with his name grew up.

In Bangladesh too his name is well known in Muslim society. In various places discussions, waz, milad and religious events are held centred on his life, teaching and spiritual ideal. However, if one is to write the history of any particular story or place current at the local level, separate local sources need to be verified.

Passing Away and Tomb

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) passed away in 561 Hijri or 1166 AD and was buried in Baghdad. Later his tomb became an important religious and spiritual memorial place. Though the tomb was damaged during the Mongol attack upon Baghdad, it was later rebuilt.

Even today his tomb in Baghdad is known as an important place to the devotees and visitors coming from various regions of the world.

His Historical Legacy

The historical importance of Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) is not confined within his personal life alone. The Qadiriya tradition associated with his name has gained expansion over several centuries in various societies and cultures. Through his addresses, writings and spiritual teaching have been propagated the importance of self-purification, morality, the remembrance of Allah and the religious life.

The vast literature and folk tradition created about him in later times is also an important aspect of his social and religious influence. At the same time what is needed for a historically conscious reader — is to consider the facts of his own time, the later biographies and the folk beliefs separately.

A Brief Profile

Conclusion

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) is a personality of Islamic history whose full impact cannot be understood if his life is seen only as the biography of a Sufi saint. He was an influential personality associated with the pursuit of religious knowledge, teaching, lectures and self-purification. His teaching and addresses in Baghdad exerted influence upon the contemporary society, and later a widespread Qadiriya tariqa tradition grew centred on his name.

In evaluating his legacy, the most important matter is to understand his teaching and writings properly and, at the same time, to keep the legends that grew up later separate from the historical facts. In this perspective the life of Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) may be considered an important chapter in the history of self-purification, the pursuit of knowledge, morality and spiritual practice.

References

• Encyclopaedia Iranica — “ʿAbd-al-Qāder Jīlānī”.
• Hamza Malik, The Grey Falcon: The Life and Teaching of Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī, Brill, 2018.
• TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi — “Fütûhu’l-Gayb”.