The king of the friends of Allah – Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu
By: Moulana Nabeel Hanif Ismail
All praise is due to Allah, peace, blessings and salutations upon the best of Allah’s creation Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
The URS of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu takes place throughout the world on the 11th of Rabiul Akhir.
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu was born on the first of Ramadhan 470 AH and He made Wisaal (departed) from this world in the year 561 AH.
In order to learn more about this esteemed personality and understand why He was the King, a few narrations wil be discussed.
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu states;
“I was once visited by the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam while I was awake before Zuhr Salaah”.
He asked me, “Why don’t you lecture?”
I replied, “O Rasoolulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, how can I lecture while so many powerful speakers are present in Baghdad?”
He then told me to open my mouth and placed his blessed saliva inside it seven times, saying afterwards, “Now you may begin speaking without fear.”
Thus after performing Zuhr Salaah, I sat to begin my first lecture and found that before I could even speak, people were beginning to gather around me (and created some congestion).
Hazrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu then emerged from the crowed and asked, “why have you not started yet?”
I replied, “I have no courage to speak in front of so many people.” Hearing this, he then ordered me to open my mouth and placed his blessed saliva inside it six times.
When I asked him why he did so, he replied, “In respect of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. If I had done it seven times, it would have been an action seeking equality with him, which is disrespectful. For that I did it one less time.
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu continues, “All the veils were then lifted off me and I began to deliver an honorable sermon.” (Bahjatul Asraar, page 25)
This was the blessing bestowed upon Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu. He is regarded as the King of All the Awliyah Allah, as He stated Himself in a Qaseeda written by Him which is known as Qaseeda Ghauthiya:
“And ALL the Friends of Allah are by my feet and I’m by the feet of The Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.”
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Radiallahu Anhu once stated;
“If Shariah wasn’t stopping me, I would inform you of EVERYTHING you eat and store in your homes. You are like glass bottles in front of me. I see both your internal and external states. (Bahjatul Asraar, page 24).
Allahu Akbar! This was the knowledge and status of the king of the Wali of Allah, such that words alone cannot even provide a befitting description for such a personality.
NOTE:
Any Friend of Allah (WALI) cannot reach the status of the Prophets Alaihis Salaam, neither can He reach the status of the Sahaba Radiallahu Anhum Ajmaeen.
May Almighty Allah guide us all on the strait path and may we become good followers of Islam. Insha Allah, Ameen.
Moulana Nabeel Hanif Ismail