Desk Report:
Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) is one of the most revered Sufis and scholars in history. His full name is Abu Muhammad Abdul Qadir Ibn Musa Jilani. He was born in 470 AH (1078 AD) in the coastal city of the Caspian Sea in the province of Jilan, Iran. He is called ‘Jilani’ with reference to the province of ‘Jilan’.
From his childhood, he developed an indomitable desire for knowledge and a deep passion for spirituality. From the beginning of his academic career, he was very talented and diligent. He went to Baghdad and began studying Islamic knowledge and gradually received higher education in various subjects including Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic law).
Abdul Qadir Jilani was the greatest scholar of the sixth century, a notable jurist of the Hanbali school of thought, and a famous Sufi mystic. The people of Baghdad used to come in droves to listen to his advice. His speeches were so influential and heart-touching that they radically changed people’s thinking and lives. His name is immortalized in history as the founder of the Qaderiya order of Sufism. Numerous miracles occurred during his lifetime. Of course, the number of strange stories in this regard is not small. Among his works, ‘Guniyatut Talibin’ and ‘Fathur Rabbani’ are appreciated worldwide.
Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him) used to regularly give lectures on the Quran, Hadith and Islamic Fiqh. He had equal origin in the Hanbali and Shafi’i schools. Most of the great scholars of the time and even some special advisors of Nuruddin Zenki and Saladin Ayyubi were his direct students.
What is found in the description of his physical appearance is that he was tall, had a noble broad face, sharp eyes and a sweet voice. His complexion was light copper, and his beard was long and moderately thick.
Abdul Qadir Jilani died on 11 Rabi’ul Akhira (Rabi’us Sani) 561 AH (21 February 1166 AD). He was buried in Baghdad. Even today, hundreds of thousands of people visit his grave.
