This book consists of 45 discourses that were given by Shaikh 'Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani in his school in Baghdad. These discourses, like the ones found in some of his other books, would have been transcribed by some of his listener. There are a number of surviving manuscripts of the book. The language of Shaikh 'Abd Al-Qadir's discourses is often permeated by symbolic references, metaphorical images, and poetic expressions. This style, which is characteristic of the Shaikh's discourses, reflects a number of facts. First, the Shaikh often speaks about spiritual matters that are completely unfamiliar to the layperson and which the language is incapable of describing with accuracy. These, in the Shaikh's words, are states, stations, visions, and experiences that "no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and has never occurred to any human being." Second, the Shaikh's words spring as much from his heart as from his mind, describing feelings as well as thoughts. He is forced to use common words to describe feelings that are known only to those who have had those spiritual experiences.No language is equipped enough to describe these feelings, in the same way that no words can assist in describing color to one born blind because it requires visual experience.
Third, the Shaikh often speaks about secret and intimate spiritual issues that he does not want to or cannot fully disclose, thus wrapping his words in metaphors. The words of Shaikh Al-Jilani do not describe one spiritual state and are not targeted at one person. They paint a fascinating picture of a myriad of spiritual states and stations and apply to people of very different beginnings, paths, and ends. The destination is the same, but the routes are different. Also different wayfarers end their journeys at different points. What is good for someone might not good for another, and what is required of two different people might be completely different, even though both have the same goal. This is why understanding the Shaikh's words and their applications is a science in its own right. As Sufis say: "The ways to Allah are as many as the creatures." The words of the Shaikh remain as relevant to the seeker of the truth and nearness to God as they were when he uttered them almost one thousand years ago.For sure, the world has changed a lot, but man's nature has not, and the diseases of his heart remain the same.
The Shaikh's words address these diseases and show man the way to salvation. His words lived a thousand years and will live to the day when this transient world is no more and is replaced by the permanent one. Like all beacons of truth, the Shaikh has been the target of attacks of the ignorant, the narrow minded, and the misguided. As happened to others who understood Islam to be about works of the heart not acts of the body, this pious servant, whose life was fully dedicated to serving his Lord, has often been accused of distorting the message of Prophet Muhammad by those who wanted to hijack Islam and turn it into a spiritless, legalistic system to serve their worldly ambitions. But, as history has been confirming everyday, the voice of truth can never be silenced and the words of wisdom will remain inerasable. It is ignorance of this fact, as well as mistaking falsehood for truth, that must have made some misguided individuals to use terrorism against the Shaikh as they bombed his shrine in Baghdad on 28th May 2007, damaging parts of it.These and similar criminals do not realize that what made great masters such as Shaikh 'Abd Al-Qadir live forever is not buildings that commemorate them or books written about them, but the teachings and examples they set that live in people's minds and love for God that they helped them develop in their hearts.
This is why almost one thousand years after his departure from this world people still feel immensely honored to serve the Shaikh and his sacred cause, including making his words more accessible to people.
Author Biography:
Shaikh 'Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani was born in Iran in 470 H / 1077 CE. When he was 18, he moved to Iraq for his spiritual journey, ultimately settling in Baghdad after twenty-five years of semi seclusion and continued worship. In Baghdad, Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir first accompanied Shaikh Hammad ad-Dabbas. He later accompanied Shaikh Abu Sa'id al-Makhzumi (al-Mukharrami) (513 H / 1119 CE) and took the pledge of the Ṭarīqa from him. Shaikh Abu Sa'id had a school he used to teach in. Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir was put in charge of the school in 521 H / 1127 CE, becoming its sole teacher. He lectured three days of the week. The number of those who attended his gatherings quickly increased until each sermon attracted thousands. He continued to teach in the school until he departed to the spirit world in 561 H /1165 CE, and he was buried in his school. Due to the spiritual status of the Shaikh, his continued blessings, and his tremendous following, his tomb, and accordingly his school, has become one of the most sacred and visited Islamic landmarks. It is impossible to exaggerate the role of Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir in guiding Muslims and propagating Islam. The number of Sufi Tariqas whose chains of Shaikhs are traced back to him largely exceeds the Tariqas of any other Shaikh. Accordingly, the number of followers of the Tariqa Qadiriyya exceeds the number of followers of any other Tariqa. Sufis in general, and Qadiris in particular, have played an exceptionally immense role in spreading Islam throughout Africa and Asia. Shetha Al-Dargazelli is a British scholar who was born in Baghdad, Iraq. She graduated from the Physics Department, College of Sciences, Baghdad University, where she also completed an M.Sc. in Nuclear Physics. She obtained a PhD in Elementary Particle Physics from the Physics Department, Durham University, UK. Shetha Al-Dargazelli taught at Universities in Iraq where she was appointed professor in 1991. She moved with her husband Louay Fatoohi to the United Kingdom in 1992, where she worked at Durham University and Aston University. She has published several books, including four university Physics textbooks, one book on Sufism, and another on the status of woman in Islam. She has published over thirty scientific papers in refereed scientific journals and more than thirty scientific articles in established Arabic cultural and refereed journals. She has given many talks in the UK and abroad about women in Islam and the spiritual dimensions of Islam. Louay Fatoohi was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1961. He and his wife migrated to the UK in 1992. He lives in Birmingham, England. He obtained a BSc in physics from Baghdad University, Iraq, in 1984 and a PhD in astronomy from Durham University, UK, in 1998. Originally from a Christian family, Louay reverted to Islam in his early twenties. In addition to being his faith of choice and way of life, Islam is for him is a subject of deep intellectual interest. He has authored over twenty books in English and Arabic, edited and translated two manuscripts, and published tens of articles. Louay is interested in Qur'anic and Islamic studies in general, but his main areas of research are as follows: - Comparative study of history in the Qur'an, Jewish and Christian scriptures, and independent historical sources - Sufism - History of the Qur'anic text and revelation - Quranic Exegesis
