Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani(May Allah be well pleased with him) - Life and Teachings

Sign to seek Islamic knowledge

Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad bin Qaaid Alwani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:

Translation: Hadhrat Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) told us:  Once in childhood, during the days of Hajj, I went into a jungle by chance.  I was walking behind a cow.  Suddenly, the cow turned to me and said: O ‘Abdul Qadir!  You have not been created for such things.  I grew worried and returned.  When I went to the terrace of the house, I saw the plain of ‘Arafaat and saw that people were waiting there.

I went to my mother and requested her:  Dear mother!  You please give over me to Allah Most High and permit me to relocate to Baghdad so that I can acquire Islamic knowledge, present myself to the pious and remain in their company.

My mother asked me the reason for this.  I related all that happened to her.  With tears in her eyes, she permitted me to go to Baghdad and advised me to remain truthful in all circumstances.  (Qalaaid Ul Jawahir Fi Manaqibi ‘Abdul Qadir, 8, 9)

We have much to learn from the permission that Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam sought from his mother.  Leaving home and hearth in childhood, bearing separation from mother and brother, traveling to Baghdad only on the basis of sincerity and reliance upon Almighty Allah and most of all the desire to benefit from the company of the pious elders, all these are things which provide guidance to us.

We have to reflect over the fact that the success of this world and the next doesn’t depend only on acquiring outward knowledge.  Along with it, the company of the pious and the elders takes one to the zenith.  When traveling to Baghdad, along with acquiring knowledge, Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) made it a point to seek the company of the pious and this has been the custom of the people of the truth that they have preferred the company of the pious and virtuous folk.