DESCIPLES AND FAMILY
                                                                                                       

Many of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani's (Allah's mercy be on him) contemporaries and older saints respected him and accepted his unique elevated position. They said, 'Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani was honoured by Allah and enjoyed highest spiritual status and nearness to Allah.' He was courteous, affectionate to the poor and to the lovers of knowledge and strict with wrongdoers. He never stood up for the caliphs and never accepted their invitations. The caliphs respected Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) and when they received letters from him to redress the wrong, they would do it immediately.

Through generations, historians, mystic poets and scholars have praised Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) and have expressed high opinion about him in their books.

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) established the Tarique-Qadiri i.e. Qadri order on the traditions set by Allah’s Messenger, which was followed by his Companions and by their followers (Taa-ba-in). The ideal as preached by Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) is to be lost in the service of Allah, absolute dedication to Allah, love of the Prophet, to avoid evil and worldly pleasures, and to do service to humanity modeled upon the life of Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam. This is Tasawwuf. The objective of the Qadriya order is to practice Taqwa (fear of Allah) and to establish society on sublime values.

All the illustrious sons of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) and many of his mureeds were elevated to khilafat by him. Some are :

1. Shah Abu Umar Qureshi Marzook
2. Shaikh Qareeb Alban Mosali
3. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mubarak
4. Shaikh Abu Saeed Shibli
5. Shaikh Shahabuddin Suharwardy
6. Shaikh Sayed Ahmed Rafai, etc.

Numerour followers of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) carried the torch of Qadiriya order to different countries of the world, e.g.

1. Shaikh Usman Morwadi Lal Baz Qalandar (Shewan Sharif, Sind, Pakistan)
2. Sayed Mubarak Haqani (Uch Sharif, Punjab)
3. Shaikh Aman Panipati
4. Shaikh Bahauddin Junedi (Sirhind, India)
5. Sayedna Abdullah Sahani (Thatta, Pakistan)
6. Shah Abul Muali Qadiri (Lahore, Pakistan)

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) was fifty years old when decided to get married so as to follow the sunnah of Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam. His first marriage took place in 520 AH 1126 AD. It was an honour to give one’s daughter in marriage to the most revered and respected saint like Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him). Altogether Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) had 4 wives.

1. Sayyida Bibi Madina d/o Syed Mir Mohammed.
2. Sayeda Bibi Sadiqa d/o Syed Mohammed. Shafi
3. Sayyida Bibi Mu'minah
4. Sayyida Bibi Mahboobah

His wives had great regard for him and there was mutual understanding amongst them. Inspite of being busy at the Jamia and prayer, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) used to devote time to his family. His house was adjacent to his Jamia wherein all his four wives resided in separate rooms. He had about 49 children. Out of them 27 were sons and 22 daughters. Many died in infancy and childhood.

Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) was a loving husband and an affectionate father. He gave personal attention to his children and also taught them. They were also sent to learned teachers and became famous.

Only about 4 daughter have come to light.
1. Sayyida Khadija
2. Sayyida Aisha
3. Sayyida Fatimah as-Samina
4. Sayyida Zohra. She was a scholar of Hadis and taught the girls in this subject.

Most of the sons of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him) were eminent scholars and some were saints and some served rural people and common folk.

1. Sayed Shaikh Saifuddin Abdul Wahab was the eldest son of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him), born in 521 AH. He learned Fiqh and Hadis from his father and by the age of 21 he had become a teacher in his father’s Jamia. He was a very good orator and was respected by all. The Caliph of baghdad Nasiruddin Ahmed appointed him as a public relation officer (575 AH – 622 AH). This helped him to serve the poor and needy. He also issued Fatwas later on and became advisor to the royal household. He died on 25th Shawwal 593 AH and was buried at Jalba-Baghdad. His sons lived in Baghdad and were known for their piety and knowledge and continued to preach the mission of their grandfather, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah's mercy be on him).

2. Sayed Shaikh Sharfuddin Asa. He was also educated as a scholar in the Jamia and later became a teacher. He was a mystical scholar and wrote many books especially Jawahirul Asrar and Lataiful Anwar. He was a poet and his poems shows his longing for Baghdad. He spent his later years in Egypt, preaching and imparting religious education. He died on 12th Ramzan 573 Ah (1178 AD) in Egypt and was buried there.

3. Sayed Shaikh Abu Bakar Abdul Aziz was born in 532 AH. He graduated in Fiqh, Hadis, Tafseer and other religious subjects from the Jamia of his father. He was famous for his excellence in calligraphy. He dedicated himself to impart Islamic religious training to the Kurds of Jibal in Iraq. He died on 18th Rabiul Awwal 602 AH at Akra and was buried there on a hillock. All his sons followed his mission e.g. preaching and spreading Islam. His daughter Shaikhulinnisa Sayeda Zohra was a scholar in Hadis and gave lectures. Abdul Aziz’s eldest son Mohammed Al Hatak carried out the Qadriya mission in Jibal. His son was Sayed Shirseeq who died young leaving behind 1 year old son Sayedna Shamsuddin Al Akhil who later on became a very pious and learned man. He traveled to the Holy cities of Makka and Madina and later on settled in Baghdad and died there in 739 AH. One of his sons was Sayedna Sharafuddin who served the Dargah Sharif and spread the preachings of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him). He had a son Sayedna Shaikh Zainuddin who served in Bagdad inspite of plague epidemic and Iranian seize.

4. Shaikh Sayed Sirajuddin Abdul Jabbar. He was a sufi and graduate form his father’s Jamia. He was found mostly in company of Darvesh and mystics. He died young on 9th Zil Hajj 575 AH 1186 AD in Baghdad. He is buried in the compound of Roza Aqdas of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him).

5. Sayed Hafiz Abdur Razzak Tajuddin. He was born in 530 AH and had graduated in all departments of religious knowledge. He specialized in Hadis. He was generous and was fond of seclusion. He died on 7th Shawwal 603 AH 120 AD. The progeny of Abdur Razzak flourised in Baghdad and were noted for their knowledge, piety and service ot humanity. After Halaku’s invasion, several persons from the family migrated to Huma and Cairo, and from then they spread all over the world the torch of Qadiri Order. There are many descendents and some of them were saints especially in India and Pakistan. Sayed Abdulla Jilani was the son of Sayed Mahmood, a descendent of Sayed Abdur Razzak, son of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him). After completing his education he came to Indo-Pak continent in the 11th century. He settled in the province of Sind at the Thatta on the Makli hills and preached Islam. At a young age he started preaching the people to enlightenment and do away with idolaroty. His piety and generosity made him famous and many came to seek his blessings. By his prayers and meditation, he was spiritually elevated by Allah. He was a great lover of Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam and his strict observance of the Sunnah earned him the title of “Sahabi”, spiritually though, not physically. He died in Thatta on 14th Sha’baan 1060 AD. He was survived by 2 sons. Once some Hindu pilgrims camped near his hut, Peer Yusufuddeen went to meet them, enquired about their welfare and preached Tauhid, oneness of Allah. At first they refused him and later agreed to accept his message on the condition that they could have the holy bath without going to Ganga. The saint agreed and prayed to Allah. He asked them to close their eyes, then once again ordered them to open their eyes. As soon as they opened their eyes they found themselves at their holy place. As soon as they had completed their bath they were asked to close their eyes and again open them. When they opened their eyes were at the same place where they were and their clothes were wet. They embraced Islam and asked the Shaikh to pray for their prosperity and many children for many generations. By the Grace of Allah his prayer was granted. These people today known as “Memons” and are simple and Allah fearing people. They follow the teachings of Islam as preached by the great grandson of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him). These Memons are philanthrophists and contribute to the welfare of the poor and destitutes and religious institutions. They have now spread to many countries.

6. Sayed Abu Ishaq Ibrahim. He had a perfect knowledge of tasawwuf and Fiqh. He preferred seclusion and later migrated to Wasit and died there in 592 AH 1192 AD.

7. Sayed Shaikh Abul Fazl Muhammed. He had specialized in Hadis and he died in 600 AH 1204 AD at Baghdad.

8. Sayed Shaikh Abdullah. He was also a scholar of Hadis and died at Baghdad in 589 AH 1193 AD.

9. Sayed Shaikh Yahya. He was born on 550 AH. He was brought up by his elder brothers and was educated at his father’s Jamia. Whilst young, he went to Egypt and returned in his later years. He died in 600 AH 1204 AD and was buried in the compound of the Rabat (inn) founded by Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him).

10. Sayed Shaikh Musa. He was born in 535 AH and received his education in Baghdad. Later he migrated to Damuscus and died in 618 AH 1221 AD.

11. Sayed Shaikh Abdr Rehman. He died in 587 AH 1191 AD.

12. Shaikh Sayed Abu Nasser Musa.

In 941 AH the Turks became conquerors. Sultan Suleman offered Fatiha at the Dargah Sharif after saying his prayers in the house of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him). He offered a sanad to Shaikh Zainuddin and appointed him as the first Naqib-ul-Ashraf (The chief of the Nobles). The 14th descendent was Sayedna Ali Al Mujaddid. He reorganized the affairs of Al Huqaf Al Qadirah. His son Sayed Abdullah Al Jilani had a progressive and constructive approach. He had 2 sons. The present senior trustee, Al Sayed Yusuf al Jilani and his elder brother Shaikh-e-Tariqat, Shaikh Kamaluddin Abdul Qadir Jilani. He died in Baghdad in 1930 AD, 7th Muharram 1349 AH.
(In the 15th Adescendent)
One of Sayed Abdullah Jilani’s sons (15), Sayed Salman had a son (16) Sayed Mustufa Jilani who died young leaving behind a son (17) Sayed Ibrahim Saifuddin Jilani. He was known as Peer Ibrahim and served the mission of Islam and Qadriya order in the Indo-Pak subcontinent. He was in India for about 30 years and in 1938 went back to Baghdad. He served as Naqib-ul-Ashraf till 1962 when he expired. After him this title was abolished by the government of Iraq. He is survived by a son Pir Sayed Namuddin and is buried on the compound of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him) Dargah.

Some of the saints of the descendents of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (Allah’s mercy be on him) and Qadiri order are in India and Pakistan.

1. Sayedna Abdulla Sahabi. Died in 1060 in Thatta.
2. Shah Abdul Murali Kadri. Birth 960 AH. Died 1024 AH in Lahore.
3. Sayed Ghous Jilani. Died 923 AH, Uch Sharif, Punjab.
4. Shah Fazeel Kadri Died 999 AH, Makli, Thatta.
5. Sayed Abdul Qadir bin Sayed Murid Ghous Jilani. Died 940 AH, Uch Sharif, Punjab.
6. Sayed Abdul Qadir Jilani, died 941 AH, Lahore.
7. Sayed Abdur Razzak Jilani, died 941 AH, Uch Sharif, Punjab.
8. Sayed Mohammad Ghous Bolapir, died 959 AH, Satghira, etc.