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

Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) – The leader of the Auliya

 

When Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:

 

Translation: This foot of mine is on the necks of every saint.

 

On hearing this, all the Saints lowered their necks. 313 elite saints spread in the whole world lowered their necks. Out of them, 17 were in the Holy sanctuaries of Makkah and Madina. 60 were in Iraq. 40 in non-Arab lands, 30 in Syria, 20 in Egypt, 27 in the lands of North Africa (Maghreb), 30 in the east, 11 in Africa, 7 in Sadde Yajooj, 7 in the valley of Serendip, 47 in Koh e Qaaf and 24 in islands.

 

Hadhrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was engaged in worship in the mountains and caves of Khorasan.  He expressed such respect for this declaration that when he heard the declaration of Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him), he placed his head on the ground.  In effect, he was saying:  O Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him)!  Not only on my neck but your foot is also on my head.  Tareeh Ul Khatir)

 

When Hadhrat Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshband (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was asked about the declaration of Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said:  Not only the neck, his foot is on my eyes and on my foresight.  (Tafreeh Ul Khatir)

 

Hadhrat Shaykh ‘Adi bin Musafir (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) was asked whether this would be the case in every era and he replied in the affirmative.

 

Apart from Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), no one else was ordered to say this.  When asked whether he was ordered to say this, the Shaykh said: Yes, that is why all the Saints lowered their necks.

 

According to Imam Tadfi (May Allah shower His mercy on him), there is difference in scholars that whether the foot meant here is the real, physical foot or is it meant in a metaphorical sense.

 

This saying of Hadhrat Ghouse-Ul-Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) is for those people who draw near to Allah Most High through the path of Walaya.  The Companions (May Allah be well pleased with them) drew near to Allah Most High through proximity with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), so this does not include them.