Moomtaz Emrith
(Windsor, ON, Canada)
Mysticism is that process in human spiritual endeavour where the mystic seeks to merge himself/herself in divine love through contemplation and meditation about Allah/God. It is a discipline that is not confined to any one particular faith. There are well known mystics in Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and, sure, Islam — which boasts a whole array of world-renowned adepts or Sufis, as they are called, and who, through the centuries, have continued to touch and influence, through their teachings, the lives of millions around the world.
Sufism is a sophisticated spiritual exercise that involves deep love for the one and only Allah/God, the Creator and Master of the Universe, and the aim is always to seek that love and be absorbed or consumed by it. Sure, it’s not given to anybody to be a mystic or a Sufi. It is a personal calling between the Sufi and Allah (God). It entails intense faith and devotion, and self-sacrifices and love for Him that induces the mystic/sufi to spend his/her time in meditation and reflection about his/her Maker – the Beloved – and expressing that sublime love through inspirational lyrics and songs while the physical world around him/her literally ceases to exist. Examples of such devotees – SUFIS – are replete in Islam and their fame and influence among their followers have transcended boundaries and nationalities and time.
In Islam, the Sufis are venerated religious figures, who are generally grouped in different Silsilas or Orders, irrespective of regions or climes they came from or lived. What unites the Sufis is their love for God/Allah and, as such, they spend their time glorifying Him and hailing His attributes, and ever singing His praises. It is a religious discipline that has had countless followers around the world and some Sufi Masters have attained such austere status in their communion with God/Allah that they enjoy sublime respect and adulation among their followers, irrespective of the faith they belong to and each enjoys, in his/her own right, the undisputed status as a religious icon. In other words, they are ‘Holy Men/Women’ or ‘Saints’ and their life-stories have remained inspiring models of intense faith in Allah/God and they themselves have remained perfect paragons of devotion that have touched – and continue to touch — the lives of millions and inspire and influence the (spiritual) lives of generations of believers in the world. Examples of such personalities abound in Islam – more particularly in the Middle East, India and South East Asia. Besides, Islamic literature is full of the glorious examples of such Masters who have marked Islam with their personal examples, teachings and philosophy, and who, even to-day, continue to be a big influence in the spiritual lives of millions.
The spiritual history of Islam, as stated above, is full of examples of such ‘holy’ personalities –some call them ‘Saints’ and their followers in Islam call them ‘Awliyas’ – who, through their deep infatuation with divine love, have left the world an immense legacy of sublime verses and poems which continue to impact the lives of generations even to-day. One such august spiritual Master was, undoubtedly, Peeran–e–Peer or Ghaus-e- Azam Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani – 1078-1166 A. D.– (R.A. – may Allah be pleased with him!), whose religious influence has been so great that it transcended space and time and he is venerated as a ‘holy’ man in the Islamic world – including our own tiny Mauritius. Indeed, at Castel, Phoenix, right at the busy intersection of Main and Allée Brillant Roads, stands the lovely large green-domed Mosque named after the Sufi Master – “Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani Mosque.”
Mauritius is but one small example. In fact, Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani has followers or disciples worldwide. Every year, his death anniversary (URS) is celebrated with unusual pomp and fervour by his disciples all imbued with touching frenzy with eulogies through songs, qassidas, naats — all glorifying his name and calling upon the Lord to be pleased with him and to bless him.
Qadriyya Tarika
Sufi Order
Sayyedina Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.) was born on the first day of Ramadan in the year 1078 A. D. in the town of Nabilfa in Jeelan, Iran. His full name was Muhiy–ud’Din Abu Saleh Abd’al Qadir al–Jilani al Hasani wa’l Husayni. He was a descendant of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) through his daughter Fatima, mother of Imam Hassan and Imam Hussayn. Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.) would grow up to be a great preacher, a mystic, an eminent Islamic jurist and theologian who, through his personal example and teachings, would touch the lives of millions.
Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.) is the founder of the Qadriyya Tarika Sufi Order, of which Islam boasts several well-known ones, notably: the Chisti Order in Ajmer, India; the Nasqshabandi Order, also in India; and the Order of the Whirling Dervishes established by Maulana Rumi in Konya, Turkiye, among others. The spiritual influence these Orders have on the adepts of these holy teachers – Awliyas – is immense and continues to be so even to-day.
Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani’s status, as a great Imam in Islam, has ever been high, and amazing and humbling. Even in Mauritius, his fame as a spiritual Master has been prime and he is honoured and venerated with deep grace as testified during the commemoration of his Urs (death anniversary) every year. The prayers, songs (qassidas) and love and adulation that he enjoys in the heart of his countless disciples, have all remained undiminished through the years – as demonstrated by his countless followers in the Muslim community around the world – including Mauritius, where there is a Mosque at Castel, Phoenix, named after him.
His Urs (death anniversary) is commemorated annually with touching fervour at the Mosque bearing his name and which is decorated and also illuminated with streams of lights for the occasion. The highlight of the event is always the “Community (Urs) Dinner” in which the whole neighbourhood (Muslim) community happily partakes. In fact, it is an annual ‘community festival’ well prized and honoured by the fervent devotees of the Sayyedina.
Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.), whose influence in the Middle Eastern countries is high and where he is venerated as a religious Master – indeed, as an ‘Awliya’ — was honoured, during his life time, with several auspicious titles that speak of the status he enjoyed as a religious scholar and spiritual leader. As a matter of fact, in the Middle Eastern countries – particularly in Baghdad, where he died in 1166 A.D. and is buried and honoured with an imposing blue domed-mausoleum. Friends who have visited Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jilanee’s shrine in Baghdad all assert that in the Middle East, Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.) is a household name. “You must be there to realize in what awe and reverence he is held and the aura around his shrine is just mesmerizing!” one of them confided to me. I was not surprised.
As a great Master/Teacher and Founder of Qadriri Sufi Order (Silsila), Ghaus–e–Azam enjoyed a reputation second to none. It was no wonder that he was dubbed ‘Ghaus–e–Azam’ – the Great Teacher and Master of all Pirs (Sufis). Quotes from his teachings are numerous and memorable. They reflect his piety, his wide knowledge about Islam and personal charisma which, together with his commanding personality, are studied assiduously by his disciples and practised. To quote one, picked at random: “Listen to your heart and not your ego. Your ego prompts you to boast in vain assertions to obtain the glory of this world. Turn away from vanity and seek Him in the recesses of your heart and soul.”
Added to his charisma and austere personality, Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A), truly emerges not only as a great religious figure but also as one who commands respect and awe. He is also said to have performed countless miracles – not that he wanted to prove anything but rather they just happened as a show, despite himself, of his sincerity and unstinting faith in his Master – Allah! In fact, his miracles are, in themselves, worthy of another article.
Besides, Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani’s genius also shines in the many books he authored and which are still read and studied by students and his countless followers.
It is now more than thirteen hundred years since Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani (R.A.) left this world but his memory and influence continue to be high and his status as an Awliya has remained ever undiminished. There are, in fact, few personalities in Islam who are as revered and adulated as Sayyedina Abdul Qadir Jeelani R.A.).