HAZRAT SHEIKH ABDUL QADIR JILLANI

Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him), arrived in Baghdad during the reign of Abbasid Caliphate in 488 AH (1095 AD).Due to diverse sects and interest and lust for power there was a choas and disunity in the Islamic world. The Muslim rulers had lost sense of heed towards Islamic teachings. But there were many learned scholars in different fields who imparted knowledge to students coming from all over the world. After few days of search he met Hazrat Shaikh Qazi Abu Saeed Mubarak bin Ali Mukharruni (Allah’s mercy be on him ), became his disciple and took admission into his Jamia for higher education.
Who were his teachers and what do they have to say about him? Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him ) had great interest in Hadis Nabavi and he attended classes taken by Hazrat Abu Muhammed Jafar al Siraj, Hazrat Abdul Gani Muhammed bin Ali Manoon al Farasi ,Hazrat Abu Usman Ismail bin Muhammed Ali Ashabani , Hazrat Abdul Barkat Talha al Aquib (Allah’s mercy be on them) and many more. He was efficient in Tafseer, qirat (rectation of Qur’aan) and skilled in philosophy, logic (montiq) and lughat (vocabulary). He perfected himself in shariyat (islamic law) and tariqat (spiritual and moral path) and philosophy, from Hazrat Abu Zakria al Tabrezi (Allah’s mercy be on him). He mastered Jurisprudence in Hambali and Shafaee Fiqh from :

1. Hazrat Abu Saeed Mubarak al Mukharruni.
2. Hazrat Abul wafa Ibne Aquil.
3. Hazrat Shaikh Abul Khattab Mehfooz al Kalawani.
4. Abul Hassan Muhammad bin Qazi Abul Ala.
5. Hazrat Muhammed bin Husain (Allah's mercy be on them).

His other teachers were Hazrat Abu Bakr Bin Muzaffar , Hazrat Abu Ghalib Baklani, Hazrat Abu Saeed bin Habish and Hazrat Abu Talim bin Yusuf (Allah's mercy be on them).
Every student at the institution had to make an effort to study as well as provide oneself with the necessities of life.Education, knowledge, struggle, hardship became the aim of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’smercy be on him).He was blessed by Allah with great forbearance and thirst for knowledge. Due to his natural talents and devotion he became master of all the subjects and his efficiency and respectful nature made him very popular. He was very truthful and charitable and also had to endure great hardship. Together with his studies he used to practice Mujaheda (to conquer the self). He often used to fast and perferred to go without food rather than ask for it. He practised all that he had learnt in the books.
His teachers Hazrat Abu Saeed Mubarak Mukharruni was very fond of him and blessed him and this teacher said that Shaikh would bring in a new era in the Islamic religion and all will benefit from him. At the graduation ceremony the master congratulated Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him) and praised him as being a genius, His mastery over the subjects was profound and on several occasions they had benefited from Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani ‘s (Allah;smercy be on him) interpretation of Hadis, After completing his education he started teaching in his master’s school. He became very famous and many students from all over the world came to attend his classes. Eight long years of spiritual training and Islamic education, and contact with elevated personalities filled his heart with the love of Allah and by the age of 26 years, he had received inspiration by the Grace of Allah.
What kind of Ibadat and Mujheda did he performed? Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) often used to camp in lonely deserts and jungles of Iraq. He endured hardships and self-denial to discipline his self (anaa, ego) and purify his soul, heart and mind. He urged his entire self towards Allah as it was done by Prophet Hazrat Muhammed (Blessings of Allah and peace be on him). He would recite Qur’aan Al-Kareem every now and then and used to complete the whole Qur'an Al-Kareem in Nawafil during the night. Most of the times he used to start Ibadat after Ishan and keep performing Ibadat throughout the night until Salatul Fajr. He wore a long woolen robe and lived on dates and water.
Once Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) had nothing to eat for several days and he wandered near the ruins of the palace Kasra in search of Mubah (something permissible). But when he reached there he saw 70 other holy men searching for food. Seeing them he returned to Baghdad, tired and sad. On the way back he met a foreigner who had a message from his mother, she had sent him some money. It was a gift from Allah. Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) went back and distributed the money amongst the 70 pious people after keeping some for himself. [As narrated by Hazrat ShaikhTalha bin Muzaffar (Allah's mercy be on him)].
After many trials and tribulations, developed tolerance and will power and had great determination and complete faith in Allah. He avoided situations and conditions that would disturb his prayers as he longed for closeness towards Allah. He uplifted those standards of quality and steadfastness according to which Allah measures His aspirant loved ones.
Once Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) decided neither to eat or drink or change dress until he was given all those by a pious person favoured by Allah. Thirty nine (39) days passed in this manner by meditation and prayers.
On the 40th days some one left a plate of food by his side and went away. Although he was attracted towards the food due to hunger, he did not break his pledge. Also he was a Syed, and if the food was Zakaat or charity then it was forbidden to him. Hence, he decided not to partake the food.
After sometime his teacher, Abu Saeed Mukharruni (Allah's mercy be on him) arrived and enquired about his welfare and invited Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) to his house. He accepted his master’s invitation and informed that his nafs (self) was restless but his spirit was blessed by Allah and His secret was now revealed to him. Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani's (Allah's mercy be on him) successful struggle (mujaheda) made the master so happy that he served Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him) food with own hands. He also awarded Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) the khiqa (robe) and made him enter his khilafat. The teacher also informed that his sole robe was of prophet Hazrat Muhammed (Blessings of Allah and peace be on him) who had bestowed it to Hazrat Ali (Allah's mercy be on him) and thereafter it passesd on through generation from saint, to saint, until it had reached him.
In what all countries did he visited for Tableegh-e-Islam ? Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani visited several countries in all over Asia and Arab.