Spiritual Leaders

HAZRAT SAYYIDUNA IMAM JAFAR SAADIQ:

His position in the sisila: Hazrat Sayyiduna Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) is the sixth Imam and Shaikh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakaatiyah Razaviyah Nooriyah.

Birth: He was born on a Monday, the 7th of Rabiul Awwal in either 80 or 83 Hijri in Madina Munawwarah. [Masaalikus Saalikeen, Vol.1]

His name: His name was Jafar bin Muhammad, and he was also known as Abu Abdullah and Abu Isma’il. His titles were Saadiq, Faadil and Taahir.

Shaikh: He was the mureed and Khalifa of Hazrat Sayyiduna Imam Baaqir (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and attained great blessings from his beloved father.

His character: He was a very exalted and pious personality. His inner and outer appearance exuded brightness and radiance. He addressed the poor and the downtrodden with great love. Once he called all his servants and said, “Let us give our hands in the hands of one another and promise, that whichever one of us first receives salvation on the day of Qiyaamah, he will intercede for the rest of us.” On hearing this, they said, “O Ibn Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for what reason do you need our intercession, when your beloved forefather Rasoolullah ﷺ will intercede for the entire creation?” He then said, “I am ashamed to take my deeds and stand before the Holy Prophet ﷺ.”

Once Hazrat Dawood Taa’ee (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) came to Hazrat Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and said, “O Beloved descendant of the Prophet ﷺ please give me some advice as my heart has become dark.” Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “O Abu Sulaiman, You are a great zaahid of your era, what need do you have for my advice?” Hazrat Dawood Taa’ee (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “O descendant of the Prophet ﷺ, you have been blessed with the excellence of the people and to advise everyone is compulsory upon you.” He then said, “O Abu Sulaiman, I fear that on the day of Qiyaamah, Muhammadur Rasoolullah ﷺ will hold me by my collar and ask, “Why were you slow in fulfilling your right to submission?” What will I say then? Thus, this deed (of advice) does not depend on ones stature or family connections, but it deals with good deeds which are done in the Court of Allah.” Hazrat Dawood (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) heard this and began to weep. He then said, “O Allah! When such a great personality, who is the descendant of your Beloved Prophet ﷺ, and whose reality is filled with light and wisdom, and whose great grandmother is Hazrat Bibi Fatima (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), is so afraid of his future and condition, then what right does Dawood Taa’ee have to be proud of his deeds?” [Masaalikus Saalikeen]

His Ibaadat: He was without doubt the true successor to the Muslim empire and one of the greatest Imams of his era. Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was a great Aabid and Sufi. He was well known for his Ibaadat, and his striving in the Court of Allah. Hazrat Imam Malik (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “I spent a very long time serving him, and I always found him in one of three Ibaadaat. Either he was in Namaaz, or engrossed in recitation of the Qur’an, or he would be fasting.” He never narrated any Hadith Shareef without wudhu. [Tazkiratul Awliya].

His dua: He was without doubt a faithful servant of Allah, and he always attained everything that he asked for from the Court of Allah. Hazrat Laith bin Sa’ad (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) says, “I was on my way to Hajj by foot in 113 Hijri and I reached Makkah Muazammah. At around the time of Asr, I reached Jabl Abu Qais, and I saw a pious man sitting there making Dua. He was saying “Ya Rabbi Ya Rabbi” so many times, that breathing became difficult. Then in the same way, he said “Ya Hayy Ya Hayy” then “Ya Rab’bahu Ya Rab’bahu”, then in the same way he said “Ya Allah Ya Allah” in one breath continuously. He then said “Ya Rahmaanu Ya Rahmaanu, Ya Raheemu Ya Raheemu” and then he went on to say “Ya Arhamar Raahimeen”. He then said, “O Allah I desire to eat grapes. Please bless me with some, and my clothes have become old and tattered, please give me new ones.”

HAZRAT BAYAZEED BUSTAAMI (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu)

Hazrat Bayazeed Bustaami (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) used to distribute water in the Darbaar of Hazrat Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). Hazrat placed his saintly sight on Hazrat Bayazeed Bustaami (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) once, and he became one of the greatest mystics of his time. He then served in the Court of Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and became one of the greatest Awliya.

HAZRAT IMAME AZAM ABU HANIFA (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu)

Hazrat Imam-e-Azam AbuHanifa (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) attained great blessings from Hazrat Imam Jafar Saadiq(Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). It is narrated that once he asked Imam Abu Hanifa (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) concerning who is an intelligent person. Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “He who can differentiate between good and evil is an intelligent man.” Hazrat Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “Even animals have the ability to differentiate that. They can differentiate between those who love them, beat them or instil fear in them” Imam Abu Hanifa (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) then said, “O Hazrat, please explain who is truly intelligent?” Hazrat Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “An intelligent person, is one who can differentiate between two good things and two evils, so that he may choose the better of the two good things and that he may be able to repel the worse of the two evils.”

HAZRAT IMAM JAFAR SAADIQ (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh)

He is an example for Muslims in every way. His greatest Karaamat was his firmness on the Shariat. His every step was in accordance with the Sunnat of the Prophet ﷺ. A few of his Karaamats are quoted below.

Once, a man came to Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) before journeying for Hajj. He gave Hazrat 10 000 dirhams, and asked him to purchase a mansion for him before he returned. Instead of purchasing a mansion, Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) distributed the entire 10 000 dirhams in the way of Allah. After the man returned from Hajj, he went to meet Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) told him that he had purchased his mansion and then handed the title deed over to him. The title deed read as follows: ‘One wall of the house is adjoined to the house of the Prophet ﷺ, the other wall is adjoined to the house of Hazrat Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), the third wall is adjoined to the house of Imam Hassan (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and the fourth wall is adjoined to the house of Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).’ The man took this title deed, and asked his family members to place it in his grave when he passed away. After his demise, his family members found the title deed on the top of his grave and on the rear of the title deed the following words were written, ‘Hazrat Imam Jafar Saadiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was honest and loyal in what he said.’ [Masaalikus Saalikeen, Vol.1]

HAZRAT SHAIKH JUNAID BAGHDADI:(R.A)

His position in the sisila: Shaikh al Itlaaq, Mamba-e-Israar, Sultan-e-Tariqat, Hazrat Shaikh Junaid Baghdadi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu) is the eleventh Imam and Shaikh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakaatiyah Razaviyah Nooriyah.

Birth: He was born around the year 218 Hijri in Baghdad Shareef.

Name: His name is Junaid Baghdadi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). He was known as Abul Qasim and he was blessed with titles such as, Sayyidut Taaifa, Ta’oosul Ulama, Zujjaan and Lisaanul Qaum. SHAIKH-E-TARIQAT: He is the mureed and Khalifa of Hazrat Sirri Saqti (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).

His character and habits: Even though Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was such a great Wali, he was very humble. He always showed great respect to others, even to those who were not as exalted as him. Once he said to his mureeds, “If only I knew that it was better to read two rakaats of nafl than being with you, then I would have not sat amongst you.” He kept fast for most of his life.

His lecturers: Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) spent his entire life, serving the Deen of Allah and His Beloved Rasool ﷺ. Once his Peer-o-Murshid asked him to deliver a lecture and he said that he did not find it ethical to lecture in the presence of his Peer.

THE EARLY LIFE OF SULTANUL AWLIYA HAZRAT SHAIKH ABDUL QADIR JILANI

Hazrat Shaikh Junaid Baghdadi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) lived two hundred years before Sarkaare- Ghaus-e-Azam Hazrat Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Qadir Jilani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and foretold his coming in the following manner. Once while he was in a state of spiritual ecstasy, he stated, “His foot is on my shoulders, his foot is on my shoulders.” After he had come out of this spiritual condition, his disciples questioned him concerning these words and he said, “I have been informed that a great saint will be born towards the end of the fifth century. His name shall be Abdul Qadir and his title will be Muhiyyudeen. He will be born in Jilan and he will reside in Baghdad. One day, on the command of Allah, he will say, “My foot is on the shoulders of all the Awliya Allah.” While in my spiritual condition, I saw his excellence and these words were uttered by me without my control.”

Blessed birth: The birth of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was a great blessing to the Ummah. It was the arrival of Sultanul Awliya (King of the Awliya), which had been foretold for centuries before his birth. He was born on the eve of the 1st of Ramadaan 470 Hijri in the city of Jilan and was blessed to his mother at an age when women are usually unable to have children. Sayyida Ummul Khair Fatima (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) was sixty years old when Sarkaar-e-Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was born. This alone was one of the astonishing incidents related to the birth of the great saint.

THE TEACHINGS OF SULTANUL AWLIYA HAZRAT SHAIKH ABDUL QADIR JILANI:

Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) gained his spiritual training in Baghdad from two of the greatest Mystics of their time, Shaikh Hammaad bin Muslim Ad Dabbaas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and Shaikh Abu Sa’eed Mubarak Al Makhzoomi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). Although he had gained many blessings from both these personalities, he had not yet pledged his allegiance to a spiritual guide (Peer-o-Murshid). Finally, the time had come and according to the Will of Almighty Allah, he became the mureed of Shaikh Abu Sa’eed Makhzoomi (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) who showed much love and attention to this unique disciple and blessed him with gems of spiritualism and mysticism.

Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam’s (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) lectures were inspiring to all who frequented his gatherings. His words were kind but firm. He was not swayed by the power or status of anyone. If they were wrong, he did not hesitate to correct them in his gathering or anywhere else. He feared none but Allah and made those who were in his gathering aware of this. Once, one of the close ministers of the Khalifa Azeezuddeen came to the gathering of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). When he saw him, the great Saint said, “The condition of those like you is such that one man is lost in the slaveship of another. Who then is the true slave of Allah?” He then addressed Azeezuddeen directly and said, “Stand up! Keep your hand on my hand so that you may distance yourself from this mundane world and run towards your Creator.” “MY FOOT IS ON THE NECK OF ALL THE SAINTS”: One night, there was a gathering which included all the great Shaikhs of the time, to listen to the lecture of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). One of the Shaikhs present, Hafiz Abdul-Mughith ibn Harb (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states:

“That night the Shaikh was in a state of inspiration. Pearls of wisdom poured from his mouth. All of us were in a perfect state of peace and bliss, of a kind we had never experienced before. A moment came when the Shaikh pointed to his foot and declared, “This foot is over the necks of all the Saints.” No sooner had he said this than one of his students, Shaikh Ali ibn Al Hiti (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) threw himself at his master’s feet. He took the Shaikh’s blessed foot and placed it upon his neck. Then all the rest of us did the same.” Shaikh Sayyidi Maajid (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states, “When Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said these words, then every Wali on earth bowed his neck.” He also states, “There were 300 Awliya Allah and 700 Rijaalul Ghaib present in that gathering, and every one of them lowered their necks before him.”

Steasfastness on shariah: After gaining in-depth academic and spiritual knowledge, Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was not only the most pious and knowledgeable personality, but he was a guiding light to the misguided and a firm mountain when it came to speaking against that which was incorrect. He always said that even until Qiyaamah, none can change the Shariah. Any person who goes against the command of the Shariah is an evil person.

HAZRAT KHWAJA MUINUDDEEN CHISHTI AJMERI:

Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddeen Chishti Ajmeri (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was born in 536 A.H. in a place called Chisht, which is in Sistan, East Persia. Both his parents were Sayyid and he was both Hassani and Hussaini. His father was Hazrat Khwaja Ghiyasuddeen Hasan (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) whose noble lineage is traced to Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), and his mother was Bibi Ummul-Wara (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) also known as Bhabi Mah-e-Noor, a descendant of Hazrat Imam Hassan (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). [Masaalikus Saalikeen] He was born at a time when the Muslim world, especially Sistan, was in turmoil, experiencing bloodshed and plunder at the hands of the non-Muslims. Due to this his father one day decided to leave Sistan for a safer place and hence migrated to Neshapur. He bought an orchard with a windmill in the vicinity of Rewand with the intention to settle there. However, the destruction of the barbarous Tartars and other rebels soon spread to this city as well, and fields were being destroyed, Ulama and Sufis were mercilessly being murdered, honour of the women was brutally being outraged, girls and boys were being taken as slaves, and mosques, hospitals and educational institutions were being destroyed.

Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddeen Chishti (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) showed signs of his rare piety and sacrifice for others from the time of his infancy. Whenever any woman with a baby came to see his mother, and if the baby cried for feeding, he used to make a gesture to his mother to feed the crying baby from her own breast. When his mother would do this, it would please him very much. At the age of 3 he used to share his own food with his playmates. Once he was going to the Eid-gah for the Eid Namaaz in rich clothes. On the way he saw a blind boy in rags. He pitied the boy so much that he at once gave him some of his own clothes and led him to the Eidgah with all due affection.