The Shaykh's Names and Titles

The Shaykh's Names and Titles

A rich store of information about the author of these discourses and
Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth is conveniently
available, to those familiar with the religious and spiritual tradition of
Islam, in his names, his surnames, and the many titles conferred upon
him by his devoted followers. It is not unusual for these to take up
several lines in an Arabic manuscript,but let us start with the short
form of the author's name as it appears on the cover and title page of
these books.


Shaykh

A term applied throughout the Islamic world to respected persons of
recognized seniority in learning, experience and wisdom. Its basic
meaning in Arabic is "an elder; a man over fifty years of age. (The
spellings Sheikh and Shaykh may also be encountered in English
language publications.)


'Abd'al-Qadir

This is the author's personal name, meaning "Servant [or Slave] of the
All-Powerful." (The form 'Abdul Qadir, which the reader may come
across elsewhere, is simply an alternative transliteration of the Arabic
spelling.) It has always been a common practice, in the Muslim
community, to give a male child a name in which 'Abd is prefixed to one
of the Names of Allah.


Al-Jilani

A surname ending in -i will often indicate the bearer's place of birth.
Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir was born in the Iranian district of Gilan, south of
the Caspian Sea, in A.H. 470/1077-8 C.E. (In some texts, the Persian
spelling Gilani is used instead of the arabicized form al-Jilani. The
abbreviated form al-Jili,which may also be encountered, should not be
confused with the surname of the venerable 'Abd al-Karim al-Jili, author
of the celebrated work al-Insan al-Kamil,who came from Jil in the
district of Baghdad)

Let us now consider a slightly longer version of the Shaykh's name, as it
occurs near the beginning of Al-Fath ar-Rabbani [The Sublime
Revelation]:Sayyiduna 'sh-Shaykh Muhiyu'd-Din Abu Muhammad 'Abd
al-Qadir (Radi allahu ta'ala 'anhu).


Sayyidunaa 'ash-Shaykh

"Our Master, the Shaykh." A writer who regards himself as a Qadiri, a
devoted follower of Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir, will generally refer to the
latter as-Sayyiduna [our Master], or Sayyidii [my Master].


Muhiyud-Din

"Reviver of the Religion." It is widely acknowledged by historians, non-
Muslim as well as Muslim, that Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir displayed great
courage in reaffirming the traditional teachings of Islaam, in an era when
sectarianism was rife, and when materialistic and rationalistic tendencies
were predominant in all sections of society. In matters of Islamic
jurisprudence [fiqh] and theology [kalaam], he adhered quite strictly to
the highly "orthodox" school of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.


Abu Muhammad

"Father of Muhammad." In the Arabic system of nomenclature, a man's
surnames usually include the name of his first-born son, with the prefix
Abuu [Father of–].


Radi allahu ta'ala 'anhu

"May Allah be well pleased with him!" This benediction is the one
customarily pronounced–and spelled out–in writing after mentioning the
name of a Companion of the Most Beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and
give him peace). The preference for this particular invocation is yet
another mark of the extraordinary status held by Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir in
the eyes of his devoted followers.

Finally, we must note some important elements contained within this
even longer version:al-Ghawth al-A'zam Sultan al-Awliya' Sayyiduna 'sh-
Shaykh Muhiyi'd-Din 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani al-Hasani al-Husayni (Radi
allahu ta'ala 'anhu).


Al-Ghawth al-A'zam

"The Supreme Helper" (or, "The Mightiest Succor"). Ghawth is an Arabic
word meaning:

(1) A cry for aid or succor.
(2) Aid, help, succor; deliverance from adversity.
(3) The chief of the Saints, who is empowered by Allah to bring succor to
suffering humanity, in response to His creatures' cry for help in times of
extreme adversity.


Sultan al-Awliya'

"The Sultan of the Saints." This reinforces the preceding title, emphasizing
the supremacy of the Ghawth above all other orders of sanctity.


al-Hasani al-Husayni

"The descendant of both al-Hasan and al-Husayn, the grandsons of the
Most Beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)." To quote
the Turkish author, Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak Efendi (may Allaah bestow
His mercy upon him): "The lineage of Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir is known as
the Chain of Gold, since both his parents were descendants of the Most
Beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). His noble
father, 'Abdullah, traced his descent by way of Imam Hasan, while
his revered mother, Umm al-Khair, traced hers through Imam Husayn."

As for the many other surnames, titles and honorific appellations that
have been conferred upon Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, it may suffice
at this point to mention al-Baz al-Ashhab [The Gray Falcon].

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