An introduction to Ghaus e Azam رحمتہ اللہ علیہ
Sayyiduna Ghaus e Azam رحمتہ اللہ علیہ was a great saint of Allah, in fact, he was the leader of saints. His blessed name was Abdul Qaadir, his epithet was Abu Muhammad and his titles were Muhy-ud-Deen, Mahboob-e-Subhani, Ghaus-eSaqalayn, Ghaus-e-A’zam, etc. He رحمتہ اللہ علیہ was born on the 1st of Ramadan in a town near Baghdad called ‘Jilaan’. From his
paternal side, he رحمتہ اللہ علیہ is the 11th grandson of Imam Hassan Mujtaba رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ , the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Disregard for the riches of the world
Sayyiduna Shaykh Abdul Qaadir Jilani رحمتہ اللہ علیہ received a letter from the King of Neemroz (which is now a province of Afghanistan) stating that he wished to gift him some of the country’s land so that he too could live a life of luxury and comfort like the King. Replying to him, Shaykh Abdul Qaadir Jilani رحمتہ اللہ علیہ wrote four lines of poetry in Persian (the translation of which is as follows):
If my heart has any desire for the Kingdom of Sanjar, then may my fortune be darkened like the dark crown of Sanjar’s King.
This is because I have obtained the kingdom of staying awake in the remembrance of Allah Almighty at night, and so, the Kingdom of Neemroz does not even hold the value of a grain of barley before me.
Ghaus e Azam رحمتہ اللہ علیہ worship
Our beloved Shaykh Ghaus e Azam رحمتہ اللہ علیہ would abundantly perform worship and recite the Glorious Quran.
It has been reported that he رحمتہ اللہ علیہ completed the Quran every night for 15 years. (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, p. 118) He رحمتہ اللہ علیہ would offer one thousand units (Rak’aah) of voluntary prayer (Nawafil). (Tafreeh Al-Khaatir, p. 36)
One night, when he رحمتہ اللہ علیہ intended on performing worship, his Nafs exhibited laziness and encouraged him to sleep for a bit and then worship upon getting up. Immediately, he stood on one leg in the exact place where this thought came to his mind and completed the recitation of the whole Quran. (Saanp numa jinn, p. 15)