Names and Titles of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani

All Praises is due to Allāh Almighty SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, choicest
Salāms and Salutations upon His Beloved Habīb, Sayyidunā
Muhammadur-Rasūlullāh SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, his noble family,
the illustrious Sahābah and distinguished Awliya Ridwanullahi Ta'ala
Alaihim Ajma'een.
A rich store of information about Gawth al-Aazam is conveniently
available, to those familiar with the religious and spiritual
tradition of Islam, in his names, his surnames, and the many titles
conferred upon him by his devoted followers. It is not unusual for
these to take up several lines in an Arabic manuscript, but let us
start with the short form of His name:
O Ghawth! You hold a place of prominence ... Your feet are above
others heads in eminence
Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani
Shaykh:
A term applied throughout the Islamic world to respected persons of
recognized seniority in learning, experience and wisdom. Its basic
meaning in Arabic is "an elder; a man over fifty years of age." [The
spellings Sheikh, Shaikh and Shaykh may also be encountered in
English-language publications.]
'Abd al-Qadir:
This is HIS personal name, meaning "Servant of the All-Powerful." [The
form 'Abdul Qadir, which the reader may come across elsewhere, is
simply an alternative transliteration of the Arabic spelling.] It has
always been a common practice, in the Muslim community, to give a male
child a name in which 'Abd is prefixed to one of the Names of Allah
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala.
al-Jilani:
A surname ending in "i" will often indicate the bearer's place of
birth. Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho was born in the
Iranian district of Gilan, south of the Caspian Sea, in A.H.
470/1077-8 C.E. [In some texts, the Persian spelling Gilani is used
instead of the arabicized form al-Jilani. The abbreviated form
al-Jili, which may also be encountered, should not be confused with
the surname of the venerable 'Abd al-Karim al-Jili Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala
Anho [A.H.827/1424 C.E.], author of the celebrated work al-Insan
al-Kamil, who came from Jil in the district of Baghdad.]
Let us now consider a slightly longer version of the Shaykh's name, as
it occurs near the beginning of Al-Fath ar-Rabbani :
O master! For the sake of your dignity ... Upon your servant's plight take pity
Sayyiduna 'sh-Shaykh Muhyi'd-Din Abu Muhammad
'Abd al-Qadir Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho
Sayyiduna 'sh-Shaykh:
"Our Master, the Shaykh." A writer who regards himself as a Qadiri, a
devoted follower of Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, will
generally refer to the latter as Sayyiduna , or Sayyidi .
Muhyi'd-Din:
"Reviver of the Religion." It is widely acknowledged by historians,
non-Muslim as well as Muslim, that Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir Radi ALLAHu
Ta'ala Anho displayed great courage in reaffirming the traditional
teachings of Islam, in an era when sectarianism was rife, and when
materialistic and rationalistic tendencies were predominant in all
sections of society. In matters of Islamic jurisprudence and theology
, he adhered quite strictly to the highly "orthodox" school of Imam
Ahmad ibn Hanbal Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho.
Abu Muhammad:
"Father of Muhammad." In the Arabic system of nomenclature, a man's
surnames usually include the name of his first-born son, with the
prefix Abu [Father of……..].
Radi Allahu 'Anhu:
"May Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala be well pleased with him!" This
benediction is the one customarily pronounced - and spelled out in
writing - after mentioning the name of a Companion of the Prophet
[Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala bless him and give him peace]. The
preference for this particular invocation is yet another mark of the
extraordinary status held by Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala
Anho in the eyes of his devoted followers.
Finally, we must note some important elements contained within this
even longer version:
The art of giving is you by inheritance ... The Prophet bequeathed to
you his pittance
al-Ghawth al-A'zam Sultan al-Awliya' Sayyiduna 'sh-Shaykh
Muhyi'd-Din 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani al-Hasani al-Husaini
al-Ghawth al-A'zam:
"The Supreme Helper" [or, "The Mightiest Succor"]. Ghawth is an Arabic
word meaning:
A cry for aid or succor.
Aid, help, succor; deliverance from adversity.
The chief of the Saints, who is empowered by Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala
to bring succor to suffering humanity, in response to His creatures'
cry for help in times of extreme adversity.
Sultan al-Awliya':
"The King of the Saints." This reinforces the preceding title,
emphasizing the supremacy of the Ghawth above all other orders of
sanctity.
al-Hasani al-Husaini:
"The descendant of both Imam al-Hasan Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho and Imam
al-Husain Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, the grandsons of the Prophet [Allah
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala bless him and give him peace]." To quote the
Turkish author, Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak Efendi [may Allah SubHanuhu wa
Ta'ala bestow His mercy upon him]:
"The lineage of Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho is known
as the Chain of Gold, since both his parents were descendants of the
Messenger [Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala bless him and give him peace].
His noble father, 'Abdullah Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, traced his
descent by way of Imam al-Hasan Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, while his
revered mother, Umm al-Khayr Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, traced hers
through Imam al-Husain Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho."
As for the many other surnames, titles and honorific appellations that
have been conferred upon Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani Radi ALLAHu
Ta'ala Anho, it may suffice at this point to mention al-Baz al-Ash'hab
.
He who sees your personality's halo ... Actually sees our Prophet's
spiritual shadow
11 Exalted Names of Sultan al-Awliya Shaykh
'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho
There are 11 names from amongst the names of Hadrat Ghawth al-Aa'zam
(Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho) that are a means of gaining blessings and
freedom from hardships. If these names are recited during calamities,
illness or in one's home and business then the reciter will gain much
benefit.
These names are as follows:-
سید محی الدین سلطان رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
1. Sayyid Muhiy'yud'deen Sultaan (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین قطب رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
2. Muhiy'yud'deen Qutub (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین خواجہ رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
3. Muhiy'ud'deen Khwaja (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین مخدوم رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
4. Muhiy'yud'deen Makhdoom (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین ولی رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
5. Muhiy'yud'deen Wali (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین بادشاہ رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
6. Muhiy'yud'deen Baadshah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین شیخ رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
7. Muhiy'yud'deen Shaykh (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین مولانا رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
8. Muhiy'yud'deen Mawlana (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین غوث رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
9. Muhiy'yud'deen Ghawth (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین خلیل رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
10. Muhiy'yud'deen Khalil (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
محی الدین رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ
11. Muhiy'yud'deen (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho)
[Fatawa Radawiyyah Sharif, Vol 26, Page 432]
Whose eyes can towards your head rise? ... Mystics kiss your feet with
their eyes
Some of his titles, beautifully rendered in the
prologue of Jala' al-Khawatir
The Shaykh,
The Imam,
The most learned scholar,
The pious abstainer,
The dutiful worshipper,
The knower by direct experience,
The avoider of excess,
The Shaykh of Shaykhs,
The proof of Islam [hujjat al-Islam],
The axis of the human race [qutb al-anam],
The upholder of the Sunna,
The suppressor of heretical innovation,
The crown of those who know by direct experience,
The love of those who tread the spiritual path,
The pillar of the Shari'ah ,
The mainstay of the Haqiqah ,
The signpost of the Tariqah ,
The chief of the saints,
The leader of the pure,
The lantern of those who travel the spiritual way,
The guide,
The captain of those who are devoted to their duty,
The lamp of the people of devotion and purity,
Shaykh Muhyi 'd-Din Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Qadir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho,
The son of Abu Swalih Musa al-Jili Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho
The grandson of 'Abdullah The Hermit Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho.
May Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala sanctify his spirit and illuminate his
mausoleum. May He (SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) gather us at the Resurrection
as members of his company, and may He (SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) grant that
we die in the embrace of his affection. May He (SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala)
allow us to enjoy the benefit of his blessed grace and of his spoken
words, both in this world and in the Hereafter. And may Allah
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala bless our Master Muhammad SallAllaho Alaihi wa
Sallam and his family SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and his companions SubHanuhu
wa Ta'ala, each and every one of them, and may He SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala
grant them peace in great abundance. And praise be to Allah SubHanuhu
wa Ta'ala, Lord of All the Worlds.
O Ghawth! Very sinful and dirty I have been ... Before my death please
wash me clean
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