|The Set of Sets, considered one ofthe gests works of clea _ SuG pyatesn ane interpreted fee fr the Gr tne in Engl fy higkh Town Bayt al-Jenahi, was writen by “Abi al Chea ‘aot (1079-1166), tbe eponymous founder ofthe Qacixya orden, ihe fistofthe great Sui brotherhoods which diate throughoucehe Islamieyvorld- Born ner the Caspian Sea, he was the son ofthe great saine Fagina bine ‘Abdullah alSawna's ARer a period of iteme intlectal an myst traning ‘Abd al-Qlereeive the bhiga + {tobe of nition) and wis soon recognised saint and scholar, «onstted lve and revered by caliph and proper alike. As one of| {he most venerated figures in Sufism his burl pice in Bight sl tacts numerous visors rom many country. "De Sere of Sees revea in a bref compass he very csence ‘of Sufism, showing how outvand pacies sich a prayer, fisting and alnsaiving contain a weal of nner dimensions which must be dhaovered and enjoyed if extemal ation ate to pervoned in a manner plesing to God. When this is achieved the sul finds {guepeace and the prita life becomes compete, The book founs a bnilge between two ofthe author's more famous Works, Hal for the Seekers (GhunyataleTalba), and is Openings of hs Use (Gulab s-Ghayb) Tisai hae unl one hs dscvered che Soe ‘nesnay note able oabson the impact of ehe Open "Teun Dayrak hag abo provided an inroliction fo the vork in ‘he long sanding tradition of those who have venerated the Shaykh, an attbuted 6 hin numerous mineles—a tadiion that began $oonaffer‘ Ab lei’ dah and hs continued trough theaes (Other works by Tos biyakalbferahi nce The Met Broil Nan, and easton of ton alHasyn a-Si Way ofS hia ue ‘ Pe DN orcs cea193: ay I Interpreted by laykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al- ras i a‘The Secret of SecretsThe Secret of Secrets wy HADRAT ‘ABDUL-QADIR ALJILANT Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al_Coppi ©The ne Tet Secs to Fx palihedin by ‘neste ees Socrty snes Mar Lane Cron Suaison ‘case e422 Seno hu ry Caagige-oon Ds Actgue re fr tha bok svi ore ei Liar Aleighrnral Nope fe btn poe, ine es rtm aon vty mans de, media phasing, serial, wi her en en fe pies, Contents Foreword “Tansitor Inodusion/ ‘As Addis othe Resor’ The Secret of Secrets tarda’ Mark Retin Home tothe Origa Soue/13 “The Des of Mn he Ln of th Tow “The Paces ofthe Sus in te Body20 On Kowlaie/as ‘on Repentance On aching bys Wad/ On Macy an he Sis 40on Reventane/4s ‘The Neeay Condon for Remerance/at Conch Vion of Als Avni Love of eng ‘he Matifsaion othe Dine Exc “he Vb of Lig and Darkness, he Jo Being Go che Misery oe Rebs “The Dewan ons Po ofthe Sei’ (On the Measng of Rial Webi nd Woship/73 (On te Purification ofthe Peet Man, ‘who has ost lise on, and Seed Himself of All Worldly Concern/76 ‘On Chaiy/79 ‘on Fasing Prescribed by the Religion fd On Spestal Fusing 82 (On the Pigrimage to Maka 2d the laser Plriage to the sence ofthe Hea (© Watnesing Divine Trt ehiovgh fhe Sate of Peace Coming fm Abandonment ofthe World and crough Eom (Within om the Wein Sechison an On Solae/93, Prayers and Rectations Perainingt2 the Path of Selasion98 ‘On Dress 08 ‘On he Fllowes ofthe tial Pth/an6 ARerword/ 120Foreword And when you Lond sai the angel, aging pla the th owe and He tag Aa al te nines And Iter We sid 0 the gel: Make obese 20 Ada, they id besa. (Sra Baga, 33,34) ‘Wares Arta reed Ada He mide im spetioe othe angle by endowing him with knowledge of the sence of the ere tention, The Names taught to Adam 2 were Alls acaba, and qualities, Fach pec divine quality invobved i he cretion of {am object is mane in that object When Adan receted the [Names all hee quis were inplaed within hit Being. and ‘rou ehem he tndertood the whole universe Ash then set im within the world 9 seve a Hi vicerepent “The decendans of Adam = her this endowment 26 3 potential apc, varying i matare om svi to inal [As people lis di, ako do thir range of econ to [Allah and che paticulae fort thet wcetepency am ae Th 150 cremate highest levels, 2 i lasted in Sora Kat (60 8) by the deren sles played by Moss 2, dhe enbodnent of ‘orl nghteouies, and Khigr che demonstrator of ys insight Buc the supreme ieregenc; univers and comprehensive ws mnfeted in the Propet Mubamad &.Tes neces foreach india to derstand the nate ant range of his potential gif Only then cat he know his a relationship with che universe snd Creo tl al is rte Fantom ofvceregency that eb creed, Ant only then ct he realize the rue meaning and siuemnce ofthe divine aninnces brought by the Holy Propet 2 ‘Witiout dhs andersundng thee s danger hat the acing of elgion may remain only an exter! drt, co be adhered to ‘sararlly bur nor actvced iewardy Whe this happens, the practice of region cus imo a role of esto and conven, fd the presence of Ah within te eas not reve Tes ue tha Paradies promised to thse sh simply an ia ery follow Allah’ commandmens and the Prophet imtctons, ‘bu The who we beer sm a he ne, Ash wil sre tei nak (Stra Maya 1), abd, Ave oe oe eared al tae ho ae er? Sa Za, 9). ‘Ser Wag shows that che lina divin of humic wil be into thee exept an no jue owe people bound for Hel People bound for Parade, and, ou of the later peopled 6 ‘lah Sra Wii's, 7-10), In the final feckoning, dose who bave sven ad have been bese with knowledge of therseles and hse Land wil have 4 higher rank. For this Knowledge incre one love for Ala and the Prophet 3 andthe more one lows, the coer one ca dew With sch knowledge, one undersea tht the practices of lgion are the form of wisdom and tht by aceping the frm an ees thesubtnce The ways and meas ofeaizing the aubance within ‘he form make up what called Sain, ‘Si als gives, ein ref comps, the very sence of Sufism Though many Sos al writen before him, i was Hlagat “Abdul-cici ae, may Allih be plese with him, who mest clealy defined the path and explained the tects which, since thea, have become acepted segs, ln this book he gies Su ‘explintion ofthe fundamental des of lati—piyer sing lining and pilgrimage. Te ths Frm bridge betwee: hi ‘ore famous works, Glam ala, "Weath fr Seeker which Fonvor is meant inspite men and won tobe god practicing Maslin ane Fol "Revelation ofthe Unseen alate cllecton of Jeers on mye spies, Unless one pase through Sir al-eni, fe miy not be ae o aprecit all the Shay sys in Fath hab Sra the gateway eo that cy of knoe dg. ‘iy trasaing his ook ino English, Shaykh Tou Baya hs one a great sevice «@ thote who do not know Arabic or canon find the test its orginal lnguage 1 Ah wil, this ork will aman many sous, ar lead those who have sled received Slmistion inc the higher regions of knee, May Als shower blesings on the soul of Hidest Abdl-CQlir 21 may Allen be plese with hin, a lead all of ws ito that sep ar higher elm of knows, so tat we may al be aed to the sat of toe ‘clout to Ab Syed Ab Asia Director General The bhnie Acadeny Cambie‘Translator’ Introduction We venerable Mulyidn ADS. Mamma "Abdul-Qidir ale in, may his soul be sonciied, 6 alghawth alt zan—the ‘uation of Allah atibut the AlZ-Powerfi who Bese the cy for bel and saves the ones i need and weg a zam—the pole the centre, the sume of sprit evoition ee spit ule ‘ofthe world the source of widen, contziner ofall knowedge, the example of tit and lan: awe iabertor ofthe perfection fot the Prope Muammad 2 peTee man; and the founder of tie Qi, che mystical one dat hs prea far and wide znd preserved the tae meaning of aie Sain troughout these ‘enries unl ou ine He was born in 470A. (2077-78 ). nthe region called af Jin whats today a. Tas date sted on is ates oh son that he was eighteen when he wee 10 Baghdad, sn dhe year chit the fimo scolar aT ed. This wa 488 4.0. Hip mae [Unml-khaye Flaine be Shaykh “Abily SO, wa for the line ofthe Prophet Maannad 2, though his radia, the venerable say, His mother ees, My son ‘Abdi- Qe was born ia he month of Ramadi, No matter how har T wid, he eefised to ck in the dayne. “Thnoughowe bi infincy he would never ke foo durin the sont offing(One Raman uring is ifaney the stare of the month Fl tm a cloudy day when people could note the new moon. Not knowing if the month of Esti ad acy Began of at eey ‘came © Unmul-Rhaye and asked i the child taken food hat iy Ace a no they surmised dha he a at beg “The veneratie “Abdhi-Qlii ees, ‘When twas sled every dy La vite by a ange in he shape ofa eal yong iat. He would walk wth Ime fron our house to school and make the cen in the ‘lass ve me a place inthe Fit row He woul ty with me the whole day and then bring me ick hone would len in single day more tan the oder side ern i a wsk, 1 Aid not tow who he wa One day Take ian he “Yam one of Alas angel. He sent me eo you assed oe wath yo a ng yo stay? Speskng agin about his childhood, her, ach time 1 fla deste to go and pay with other chien 1 woul! hear 1 wice syn, "Come to Me nex, O bleed ‘one, come to Me" In Hot {would go and seek the com {oct of my mothers arms. Now even ih my tos igen devotions an Tong secu, 1 cannot est that voice a ley ‘When he ws asked by someone what brn him ois high spiral level, he sid, “The wuthlese which promised oy mothe’ Hl veld he flowing sory ‘One day, on the eve of “ML aLAGDE , went to oa fields to help ill the round. AS 1 wax walling behind the ox it turned its head and looked a me aod sid "You wete scented fr ths! Tas wey afaid ann ome and clined tp on ou fat woot AS T Looked oot Ts the plein feed on the plan of Arabi, in Ari, righ foe of T went tomy mothe, who wa then 2 widow, and asked ter, "Send me tothe path of Tach, give ane permision Thala’ eduton 4 go 10 Baghdad to acquire knowledge, to be with the ‘wise and those who ae love co Allah” My mother asked ze what was eh reson for thi den request | eo hee what had happened 20 me. She ese, but she brought ont city pieces of gol, which ay all da ny ither fa eft sm iheriance. She pir aside fry pices for my broke, “The othe ory she sewed ino the azn of my eat. Then she permuted me to lave, but before she let me go she made me promse her Uae 1 wos tell che erith and be teshfl, whacever happened. She sent me of with shew swords "May Ash procct and guide you, my on, [cpa rye om char which i dears co me for ATAKY ake. 1 now tac wll noe be ate wo ee you wnt he day of Last Jaden? Tjomned a smal caravan going to Baghdad. As wele behind he ity of Haman, a band of highseaymen, sty horsemen song. ticked ut. They took everything that everyone hd ‘One of these came to me and asked, "Young man, what ponessions do you have? I told hi that {had ory pices fof gol! He sad, "Wher" (old him, "Under my arm He lighed and eft me alone Another bandit came and asked the sme, and f fold hi the th. He ab lett me Alone. They must have repented the incidenc wo tei lead, Because he calod me to the pace whete they were didi, the booty He asked i] had any vb, tld in dat | Id fre pecs of gol sewn in my coat under my am. He took my coat, tore the armpit, sd found the gold. Then he asked me in amazement ‘When your money sas fe whit compelled yout nist en tli thst you had it and where st was hidden?" Fase‘ ane el the rath unde ay jcreunsences, aT promised tomy mother? When the chit fof the bandits head this he wept and sid, "reneged on ty promise to the One Who cated me. 1 sole and le \Whac will happen o me?" And the oes, seo him, sd, "You hive been our ler all dese yeus in sinning. Now be aio our leer in repemtng!” All Sty of them held yyDana and repented and changed their ways. Those sy ae the fst who took my hand and found forges fr thet ‘When the venerable ‘Ablul-Qidi came to Baghdad, he was wighteen yeas old AS he washed the yes ofthe city, Khife appeared and prevented iow fom entering. He eld him tat was ANY one tht he not enter Baghdad for another seven yews Kid took hi co a euin in the desert and si, Stay exe and not eave tis place He remained tee the yrs, Every Yea KEhide would appear to hin andl hit o aay where he was. “The sai els out these years Dorin my say inthe deserts ouside Baghdad that appears beanfl bu is tezporal and of this word cameo sedce me Alla prcected me fom thet hart. The Devi appearing in irene forms and shapes, kep coming tome, empting te, bothering me, and fighting me. Allah ered me viterious ‘over him. Mie visted te dyn my on for and sap, begging me to be is end, Wien {would wefise it would antatk me, Allah rendered me vitoriow in my continuous fighe aginst it nti Twas le to make i my prone ad "eptiewith me all hse year, forcing to stayin the us ofthe desert whole year Tate the gases andro ou Find and did noe drink ny wae Another yet T dank water but didi eat a mowel of food. Another year [neti at, nor drank, nor slept. AL this ved inthe int of the {ncen kgs of esa in Kak, 1 walked barefoot ove the ‘keser thors and if a thing. Whenever tse 4 cif, climbed it dave a minute resto comfore 0 680, tothe lw desis of ny sh ‘Arthe endofseven yeas head voice a night “O“Abd itr, you ate now permed eo enter Bagh Tame co Baphdaand pen fw dither, Soon could ot sand the sedition, mit, and intrigue that dninated Thtr’ nrodusion the ci. To save myself fom the harm ofthis degenerate cy tnd vse ny fh, 1 ef All Took with me wit ny Qu ‘Ast eame tothe gate oft ity, on my way to seclsion in he der Fear a voice. "Where are you going? esa, Rerum, ‘You mt serve he people "What do I cae about che people?” 1 protested. I have my fig o sve "Reta, and never fa or your th he woceconsned "Nething will ever ham you" I could noe see the one who spoke ‘Then something happened to me, Cot of fom the out- side lino an inner state of medion, Une the next day I coneeneated on a wish and prayed t0 Allah that He Inght pate dhe wi for ae 30 that T Knew whit shold be dove The next diy 6 1 was wandering though «neighbour hood called Mafiryy, + man whom T had never seen ‘opened the door of is howe and alld to me, “Come i, “Abdal-Qiie” As came to hi door, he si “Tell me, what did you wish fom Alin? Whit di yo pray for yey?” ‘Tas fozen, with anzement V could not Gnd work t0 nse him. ‘The ma looked 4¢ my fice and sane dhe Alor with such lence that the dase was red all sound tne and covered me fem head to fot. I waled sway won ering what | had asked from Allah the day before, Then 1 remenibered. Terned back wo ell the man, but I could find neither the house nor hin, 1 wt very woried a 1 realized he vas aman close 0. Alah. In fact, ter 1 was to Tern that he was Hamid al-Dabis, who became my shay (On a col and any night an invisible and ed Hart “Abdl- i the te, the mystical lodge, of Shaykh Hanmi sba Maslin a-Dabis. The shay, knowing by divine inspiration of Tis coming, hath doors ofthe edge shu a he Highs poe ox ‘A Abdal-Qide tthe il the locked door, sleep came uponhim, He ad noctaml emison and went and bathed hiss st the ver and ook his lution. He fll aleepayain and the ‘ame thing happenedseven ies daring that night Hah dine he bated ard ook acon in dhe ie-ald water In dhe morning the {ates were opened adhe entered ue Sul lade, Shaykh Hand Sace upto geet hin. Weeping with joy, he embraced him and Sad, "O ny on ‘Abul-Qiait, good foreune is our today, but tomorow it will be yous. Do not ever leave dis path’ Shaykh Laman became bis fst teacher inthe cences of mystica. I way holding bis hand cathe tok hie vows ad entered he puch othe Sais Heelies 1 adi wth many teacher in Baghdad, bt whenever 1 ‘coulda wadentand something oF cme pon 2 sere that [wished to no, it was Shaykh aDabbis who woul en Ign me Sometines {wold leave him go seek owledge ffom eaere—to lun theology, radon, religous aw, ad ‘other sciences. Each ine I retro he would wl ne, "Where Jae you ben? We hve had 3 much wonder food or out bodies, mind, and soul whe you were gone ad we vent Jepe a thing for you” Ac ake tines he woul! sy ‘or Al- 1a sake, where do you go there anyone around bere who ‘nos mote dan you do? His devises would ease me con ‘inoouly and sy, "You ae aman of aw and aman of eters, man of knowledge, a sient. What business do yeu hae ‘among ws? Why dont you get out of hee?” And the shaykh ‘woul chide hem and ny, Shame on you! swear dha there none like his among you. None of yu wil rie above Ii toc IF you eink Ts a with him ad you date sn, doit bring him to perfection an 0 tes its. Lee im in dhe spina veal sy a2 rock, big as moun Halt “Abdul-Qidir was the retest example ofthe fe dat in a 0 seek knowlege ia sired obligation For all men and ‘women fom the eae to che grave, Fe sought oot the greatest ard wise men of hi tme, He memorized the Holy Quin and sud Tati interpretation fron “AI AbGI-WAEtal-CQuyl, Abi Khao DMabfi, and Abl-Hsin Mubannadal-Q&. According vo some Sources, he studied with Qi Aba Sad al-Mubak sb “AI al Muharram, the greatest tan of knowledge o it cine in Bagh ‘Ahough Hadi ‘Abdkl- Qe lemned the sciences of the nyse jth fom Shaykh Hanmi al-Dabbis and entered the Sut path by his band, he was given the dervish cloak, the symbol of the le ofthe Propet df, by Ql Abt Sid. The prt lineage ff QS ADD Said pases though Shaykh AbO-Hasan “A shu ‘Maliammad a-Qurast,Abal-Fary alas, alarming, Shaykh ‘Abu Bakr al-Shibh, Ab-Qisin alchnayl, Sui abaya, Mara al-Kal, Dawid a7, Habtb a Ajamt, and Hasan a-Ba, to Haire 'A iba Abt Talib, Hada “Ab took the cloak of service fom the hands of Maharamad the Beloved ofthe Lord of the Unies, and he fom che archangel Gabel ant he om the Divine Trth Someone asked Shaykh “Abdhi-Qiie what he received fom Aah Mos High. He answered, “Good conduct and knowledge" (Ql Abs Si a- Mahara ad "nde, Abi- Qe took the devise cloak fom my hand, bt tw eee my loa of service fn his and” ‘Als Sd al-Maharran taught at a school of his wn at Bab ab “jin ghd, Later be ave that chool to Shaykh‘ Abl- Qi, who began o teach there, Shay ‘Aladl-Q&dir ws ever By yeas od by that tne. His word were 4 eftive and nracalos da they tanformed the ‘ones who hear then. His student and congregation increased i ‘umber very rapidly. Soon thete wa no pice erin or sound the school o accommodate hi fllowes, ‘Shaykh ‘Abdul-Qircls bout the Beginning of hi teaching (One morning 1 saw dhe Messenger of All, He aed me, "Why do you no speaksai," but Pesan, how can Tspeak withthe eal Arabic of Bagh? ‘Open your emouth He sid 1d, He Bw bis beth seven times in my mouth and a “Go adres mankind and invite them othe path of your Lond with wise and Besuifal word? performed my noon prayer, and atned tose many people ‘wating for me wo speak, When Taw them I became excited aun tongue-tied. Then {saw the bles Imam “A. He cae ‘ome and aed me o open my month, then blew bis ow bei nc tse times ake, “Why dil you not low seven times like the Messenger of Allah” He si "Beenie of my respect for hi and disappeared, From myojen mouth came the won, “The ind isa diver, ving deep imo the sea of the este to find the pes of wwsdom, When he brings dan othe shore of is beng, hey spilloat words fom hi, and with thee he bays priceless ‘devotion io Ash marks of worship...” Then Ua ina hight sech as one of ming if eof yo should il is ow esis, that death would este 50 set chat he would not be het este anything ee in this wot” From hen on, whether was awake o asleep Tp my dty sn eaching Thre war ich an immense amour of knowledge about Fh and religion sn me, IF dn lk aad pou Ht fou, [fl that i would drown me. When I strted teaching Thi only evo ordre eden, When they head me, eit numbers incase to seventy thowsnd [Nahr his school nor is vicinity could contain his olaen More space had 10 be found. Rich and poor helped in adding ulin, the rch aiding financialy and the poor helping with theirhbour, The women of Hagha alo works. A young orm ‘who was working a boure without pay brought her hab, ‘who vas unwiling co work for ahi. a presented him othe ‘Shaykh "This iy shan she sai. wok tent pieces of gold ‘om bi as downy. wl give half oft hack hi fe, and for the “Tit Itoton ‘other ba wish him to work here” She ive Heat Abdu- Qi ‘he gold nd the man sarted working He did no sop when the money 18 out. Nonetheless the shay kee paying hin, bese hehe har he was needy Het “Abdl-Qihr alin wot the thority, he ina, religious mater, theology and lv, and the leader ofthe Shift find Hanalt benches of lm, He was 8 man of great wisdom tnd knowledge. All sien profited fom him. His prayers were inumedielyaecepted, bod when he pray for good and when he prayed for pasment. He peered many maces, He wie 2 perfec man, of consinsous conscious and remembrance of ‘Allah meditating, hnkng, king nd giving leone. He hat a sof heart pene ratte and 3 sling fice He was sersive and posesed the best of manners. He ws aitocatie n ‘rater, generous and gig bab of mater things and of advice tnd knowledge. He loved peopl, bu especially the who were believers and who served and worshipped the One in Whom they believed He vas handsome and well-desed. He dd not speak exceivey but when he did speak, though he spoke fs, very singe won! ad syle was clear. He spoke Beall and he spoke the erat. He spoke the eu without fax for he did not cate whether be ws Praised or criticized and condemned ‘When che Caliph a-Mugaf appointed Yay hn Sed ‘or Chit ance, Hagrt "Abdl-QSdir accused ins in public, saying, “You Inve appoinced the worst tyrant a judge over the belies. Let us ee how you will answer for youself womoezow ‘when you will be presented tothe Grew Jodgs the Lott of the Universe" Hearing thse elphwarted to shake and hed tas “The judge was msmeditelydamised. The Fopulaion of the ety of Baghdad wow degenerate in is ‘moras and behaviour. Thug his ialueace, most ofthe citys People repented, and lowed the good moras ad prescriptions fof am. He cane 1 be loved and respected by eryone, and his influence spread everywhere. AS the righteous loved hit, 40 fyrans and wwongioes feed him. Many people, inladngings, vier, and wise men, cme to inst ak questions and eck oltions, Many Jews and Christians scepted la thro him. Thre ws very wie and nue pis in Bagdad who ld ‘any flower. Thin ad wat knowledge nt ony ofthe adc tn Christian radios bu aloof aH kw la athe Holy Qu?in and had great love and appreciation forthe Prophet ‘Mubaniad df. The caph respected the pris and hoped tat he and is fllowes would Become Mili one dy Indeed, he was ready to accept the selon, except for one thing. The ding that prevented him, which he could neither accepe nor understand, vat {he physical scenson of the Prophet Muamnad & tthe heavens ring his fete. “The Ascension ook place when one nigh, the Prophet & wat tough body and sul om Matina ro Jerse and fom hereto lhe seven esiens, whee be sw many dings. He vsted Paradise ‘nd Hell, and went beyond chs wo met his Lond, Who spoke hineythowsnd wore with him. He reed before hit be had cooled, and befre 4 laf which he had roche in paving had stopped wembling The mind of the priet could not accept the ascension ofthe Prophet and his coming back eo tll about i Indeed, when the Prophet 2 him dele ithe day ater i Inppened, ‘many Mains dd oe believe and et their seigion. This then fear tot of tue Bath, fr the mind cannot conecwe af sich + thing, The clip ineoduce ll the wise nen atl eachers ois ine to the priest in ower to eliminate his doubs, bur none of dem succeeded. Then one evening he sent word to Haat “Abd (li, asking hin if he coukt convince the pret of the eu of the Atcenson ‘When Haat “Abdu-Qiir came co the palace he found the priest and the caliph playing chess. As dhe pre led a ches icce © move i his ees met those ofthe shaykh. He Bink his ey. —-and se opened then agin be found inwel downing ina pilyranning re! He ws shouting fr bal whe 2 young Thal arodton stephen jumpe into the water to save him. As dhe shepherd eld fm hi, he reazed cat he was ake! and bad been ansfrmed i 2 young sa The shepherd ple her oot ofthe water and asked her whose aughtr she wat and where she ved. When the priest mentioned aghdady the shepherd said char dey were then ata dstace of 4 few months jotrney fom that cy "The shepherd honoured her and kept her and protected her, but eventually 2 she had ower ogo, he married he. They had ee childtn, who grew ow. ‘One day 2 she was washing unary in the same vive where she had appeared many yeas before, se spp and fll As she opened ber eye. he Fund hime siting cos fom de aiph, boldng ce ches pce as sl looking wp nto the eyes of Hage "Aual- Ql who sd tin, ‘Now; venerable pict, do yo il ible? The pit, unsure of what bad Kappened eo hin ad hiking tha i vas 4 diem, responded wth the word, "What do you Deshaps you woud ke to se your fy” the sit ingied. ‘Ashe opened the door, there stood the shephen! and the three ‘lire, Seeing this, he priest belived. He and his congregation momber among the five duos Christians who became Man by the nde ada Abdl- Qi Tn his teaching and his sevice to mankind he apple qulies ‘which he inherited fom the high. He id, ‘A spiral teacher is not a uve teacher unless he posses ‘evel qualities. Tw ofthese qualities ate fom the 2 ‘of Aah Mose High. They are 1 hide the fauls of man sd {he rest of exon, not only fom ethers, but even Gon |ensehes and to have compasion and forgives for even {he wort on. Two aati ae ered fom the rope “Mulbanmad 2 love and getlenes. From Haat Ab Bak, the fist ofthe four Clip, tue teacher ners rath,honey ad inert well devotion ad gencroniy. From ada ‘Una, juste, and imposing the right and preventing ‘he wrong, From Hea ‘Uthm, humilis and yng ake tnd pryig whe the we of stand ae ep. From Hat "Ai knowles courge He wa a devoted a 4 father to all ht tens of thousand of followers. He knew them by tame, and cared for their worly Mas as wells eheir pv sate. He helped them and saved ‘em fom diater, even if they were atthe ater end of the ‘worl. He sata chi wth the chen, and ete them with the uomosttendemes and compasion. With those much older than he, he Became as folder than thy, and eee the wth respect "He kept the company ofthe poor andthe weak; he di nt sok he company of the famous an powerful. With sich people he behaved aie were the king’ ov King ‘One ofthe ont of i eran ete that hi Fier, Malamnad bn alKhidr served Shy “AbdhI-Qsir fr dhitcen years. He never sa a fy ston him, nor did he ever see him Blow his owe, Although the shay treed the wea and he poor with rest spec, hs servane never sw in gt up when suns came fo vst im, neither did he vist them, noe did he ea thir Food facet once. When a king came to vise im he would lee the reception room and would come back afer the king and is pary eee Sette so chatty would gee him by sanding tp. When fhe wrote 2 leter to de clip he would say that “Abdal-Qidie orders him eo do his oF da, a that ie was an bligion forthe caliph to obey him, since fe was their leas ‘When the caliph ceed sucha Teter he would is i before he eu it an sy. "The shay i ight indeed he is eling the vest ‘One of the gers of hein, ABS-Hiasn lates {beard the clip aLMugtaf tl his miner Iba Huta, ‘Shaykh “Abdl- Qi i idling une, making clear to thowe around hiv tht he means me I ws epoted oe ToatrsInedin hat he pointed a a dat-pal in his orchard ansaid, "You'd beter behsve, Dost go too far o I wll behead you!” Go to hand alto hi aloe ad sy, "You should nc vile tnd rete che eli, You must know that ee sation ofthe Caliph sacred and aso be espected” “The vizier Ibn Hubayea went wo the shy and found im. fn the company of «wt crowd In his lk, atone point he suddenly decked, "Indeed, ¥ would behead him, coo!” The ‘nie kha ce shay mean him, and ened he fed nd {old wat bad bapened othe ei, The caliph was browghe to tus and ai, "Truly the shah is great” He went 10 se hi sl. The shay gave him much advice and he cap cried and erie! Although he war most compasionate and bad the best cha acter and manner geile and loring, keeping his promise ‘ya jt, and stern his joie. He never thowed anger be ‘ase of anything done fo hi, but if any wrong at were ‘ommnitedgimt the fh and the religion, in his anger be ‘would become awesome and his punisment would be svi and Tad ‘Ashagkh ofthe ine, Abi-Nab al Suhr, elas In the year 523 Hijet Las with Shaykh Hamma the teicher of Shaykh "Abdol-Qid, who war abo present. Say ‘Ad-Qii made a grand tem. At dst Shaye Hamad tld im, "0 “Abshl-Qidh, you te to lofi! 1 fea fo you the disapproval of All “vbiel-Qiir pot his hand ow the chest of Shaykh amunid “Look st my pln wih the eye of your heat! he si" ell me what wrigen en i? When Shaykh Hammad could not my Abd-Cir He. is hard om the shaykh chest and showed the palm to his. On i wis 2 Tumiaows writing ying He has received seveny promises Som Allah that he wal never be dsappated ‘When Shaykh Hammad saw thi, he sd, "Thee coo never be an ejection to a man blesed with sucha divinepromise, Noone could ever objeto him, Alla lees whom cer He wis among is servis! Shay *Abdu-QJe ase oa: None of my fllowers wil de before they repent They wil all dias thers of Alb, Fach of m9 good flowers twill sve seven of it snl brothers fom heli, In dhe far wes, the piace pars aFone of my flowers were to be ‘naivety exposed, we, alhough se were inthe ft es, ‘would cover them before anyone could otc. have Been given a book, 2 book as longa any ee could see, which contains al the names ofthe nes wh wil allow te unt the end of tine. With Ala essing we will se all fof tem, Bleed ate those who see me I yearn fr the ones ‘who wil nese me All those who atuched dhenmeles co him were alway peace and jyfl. Someone asked him, "We know the sate of your good folawers and what ava them inthe Heteafer. But whit about the ai one? He answered, The god ones are devoted me and Tam detec saving the Bad one ’ yong gl who rx Flower ofthe shay ved in Ceylon (One diy she ws tacked in Toney lace by 2 man intending to dishonor her. Hepes, she shouted, “Sve me, O my shah “Abul” At chat moment dhe shh was king his ablation in Bagdad. eople sw hi tp, ange grab is wooden shoe, sin throw tin the ae They dd nese the shoe fll dawn. That ‘hoe fll on the head ofthe vin who wa tacking the gil i Ceylon nd led im. esa thatthe hoe isl ete, hep ancl ‘Sahl iba ‘Abdul l-Tawa sles that ome dy Shaykh ‘Adda ici flowers in Bagh lst him. The looked everywhere for him. Someone tol them he had been seen going towand the Tiss Rive, and i fllowers an thet afte bins When they aie ¢ the ie, he was in dhe midst oft walking over the water towards Trt’ noduson hen, Al theft weeping hei eas out ofthe wate sd ng i reing ren the tne othe oom ret They saw above ens wat carps spread ove thet heady vering the whole ky. I a 4 Geen capt don Hin gd and aver were ebro che fron Tk fo the fond of lh there i iter or or so. (Sra ‘sus, 62) O fan of th Pople, Ala pee an Besins be jo aed He le spy and mes gvis (Sra Ln) The capo ote ke the fying cep ofthe prope Solomon and desended to the ground. The peopl, inspite, quiet and pecefl, walked towands ‘The shykh, cad in bes cates, Stepped upon the earpee and led ders a payer upon it When he tase hi hands and ad “AISA great dhe whole sky echoed the tame words Ae he prayed, the angels of the seven evens in chorus repented his pry When he sid, “Il pase i de to Allah? fren light nated fom his mouth, covering the thy, At the end ofthe prayer he opened his hands and sail, "O Tord, forthe sake of my ancestor your beloved Muhammad peace te upon hin, and forthe ike of those among your cretion who far and Tewe you, donot take any of my’ fllowes to you unt they ate fogven of thie sins and nl hei faith i Complete? One andl ean the han of ee angel saying “Amin Following the angels, they too sad ‘Ain? Then they all heard 3 ice fom inside of them saying, "Rejoice! 1 have acepted your prayers? The Prophet Mamma ss, “The perfect shay is ke a prophet 0 his people’ Indeed Lrat ‘Abdul-Qidr was one of thote peter says who opened to people the yates of ty sn thie wold andthe gates of Prades the nese Te wat only afer Hagia“ Abdsl-CQide had tered is egy and become a perfect man. and only by de inpited command of the Holy Prope & that he became teacher and esablished contact the people, ews so at this ime hat, lowing the exampleof his ancestor the Prophet Multa 2, he nave four wives, cha model of ite and devoted to hit He wis fy-one yeas ‘ol, He hd forty-nine chides: ewenyseven ots and twenty 20 Auger ‘One dy his wives came to bien an id, "O possesor ofthe bt of characters, your litle som hse ded and we haven't sen 4 sing ein your ees, nor have yu show any sgh of ses or concern Don you have any ompasion for someone who isa patt ot you? We ate Ben oer double in sorrow et You go abou your ‘snes asi wching hs happened. You are our mae, opie, ‘our hope for this wold athe Heres, bur if your hea hand and there isn compasion thee, how ean we, who hope to hold ‘to you onthe day of Last Judgment, ne ith tht you wil sve “The shay id, ‘© my dar fend, donot chink that my heae {shan pity the nth fr his unhfnes, 1 pity the dog. ‘who ites me and pyc Als http biting people, vot taf ‘mind beng biten, but because others wil dow ones ait, Dont ‘you Know thar 1 have inherited compasion from the one whom ‘Allah snes merey upon the universe “The wormed, “deed you have fing ewe fr the dog, ‘hich ites you, how si that yous do no stow ay eling fr your ‘wn son who his ben sien withthe sword of death?" ‘The shaykh si, “O my sad companions, you ery becase you. fel spate lm your om whoa you love an alway wth the ‘one Hove. You sw your son in the dream hich chs worl and you hve lost him in another drum. Ash say, "This wold sta ream” tesa dream forthe ones who are alecp Tam ava tsa ison wien he was within the cic of ime, Now he hs walked ‘out of that ce Tlsce him and he & with me. He playing, sound me js a he dl before. For when you sce that which rea with she ee ofthe hear, whether dead orale, the uth does or dapper One day the saykh and some of is follvers were tavelng on footin he desers. was the month of Ragin andthe desert ws ‘hot He relat rr Thala node as exceedingly tied and tis. My fllowers were walking ahead of me- All ofa sudden 2 cloud appeared overhead ke fn umbrella prowecting ws fom the hot sun. In font of us fsppened a gushing spring and a dte-pam laden with ripe fu. Finally there came around igh, brighter eh the sd sanding apart fom i A voice cae fom is deeon. Tes °O people of Absu-Ci, Tam your Lord! Tata dink, for Phive made lw for you what have made unlavfal for othe!” My people, who vere ahead of me, used tothe spring drink, and tothe date-an to et fiom it Tshoutd at them 0 stop and ifing my head tows the dtection ofthe woce I showed,“ ake sefage sn Alb fom the aecared Devil! The cloud, the light he spring and dhe dep al Adssppeared. The Devi stood i rat oF wal is ne. He ake “ow did you know that it was. me? Told the [Arcaned One who har been town tof Al mercy chat the addres of Al ot oad ard with the eas, nor toes come fom outs. Furthermore, {knew that Als lao ae constant and are meane for al. He nither changes them, nor render dae whi unkswl lawl to the ones He fours. ‘Upon heaving thy, the Dev wed his Ut empation of arousing pide. “O “Abdul-Qiie! he sid,“ have fooled seventy popes with chi wick. Your knowledge i a, your ‘wid greater han that ofthe prophet!” Then pointing ny followers be went ots dhs handfl of foo’ your ely fallosing? The whole word should all you, fr You at at ood 31 prophet? T sid "Take rege fom you in my Lond Who i Al hearing nd Al-knowing. Tori it not my Knowledge, nor ty wid, svhich saved ae Flom you, butte mercy of 7 Tot" He sw everything a from All, dl everything for Ala sake, and aehoted nothing to any creed ein, sncaing hiwele‘What e si he did. Complinene or critic, benefit o& los, were the same tim. His knowledge was ll-encompasing 2d hit ‘ison supreme. He considered the ones who know and do not apply thei Knowledge as no bewer than donkeys carrying heavy brooks ‘One ofthe reat shaykhs ofthe ime, Shaykh Magar Manse Shy abd - Ws, eltes 1 eame to visit Shay “Abdul-Qidir with some of myst ‘ens. 1 was carrying 3 book om phony sn my hand. He fected ws and looked a ws, chen dt ne, "What bad an thy fiend you ae holding in your kan! Go and wah i” sawed by the shaykhs angry words He eould ot hve anon te contents ofthe book, which {loved an which 1 had amor memorired 1 debated with myself whether to get up and hide the book somewhere and pick icup an my departure. AST es bout to go and do thi, he give me a ange look and 1 ‘ould’ it myself flo my sea. He onered me co give the book to him. AST was doing so 1 opened it for 2 hse lo. mw only empry white pags All that was ten had appeared Trav he book to him, He sok i browsed through and ve back to me, sing, Hee i "The Wisdom ‘ofthe Quen” by tbe Dirk gok i ad opened and indeed the book of philosopy had been eataormed ito aid al-Qur'n by tba. Dis, writen inthe mow bea caligapy. Then he sid tome, De you wis your hes to repent wien you voice your repentane F answered, “Tadeed do! He si, "Then sand up’. AST rose co sand, | fle all of my kowledge of phlesophy descend fom ny mind tnd nto the groond, Not a word of errand in my memory ane a ret number of people gered around Shaykh di, hoping that he would speak. He st or 4 xery Tong, time without saying a wor the congreption ako stand waited Yr Tot’ enaduson slenaly. Mier awhile 2 seange ecstasy vecame them, if hey fd been emptied of al ought and imagination. Then al of her ropether though the same thing “What che sbgkh thinking shou” ‘Asso 3 hisustion ve tein ther indy, agra Abl- ir spoke, Js now aman vas trnported from Mca t0 agi ian stant, repented i ay presence, and Hew back esa “The congregation thought 3 ne: “Why shou aman who cul fyin an insane Fn Mee to Baghdad nest repent He si, To Ay in the ie i one thing, Bue to el lowe someting ee. Legh hi how 0 lve? “Abs aya eles In the year 60 Iwasa he school of Haat “Abdal-Qiie ‘One ys hi leaving his house wit is sa is aad {sid 0 yal "wish he world show me a ale with hat sft! He lookel at mean sme and stuck the sa igo the ‘d,s i trmed ita bea of iaense ight sing out ofsght mothe ky, sllminatingeeryhing for an how. Then Ihe held that beam of ight. Te armed Back ito an ondary all He looked ame and sai, "© Zayas ha all hae you waned? ‘Ach ands move dan five chousand Jes and Christa be came Mims: More than a hundred thousand rutans, ou tarderes, eee, and bands repented and became devout Mus Tins and gentle devs, He exis how he reached tha bese For eweny-sie years [wandered inte deserts of leg. slept Sn ruins. In pace a Shas, ruined ease i dhe mide ofthe deer wel das jourey fom Dag Tsay in sechsion for elven yeus. 1 promised ny Lod tae 1 would ether est nor drink until I reached spit perfection, On ‘he fret 4 man came with lal of bred and omefod and placed them in Font of mean spp. My ss screamed, ‘Tam hungy, tam hungry? My ego whispered, "Your promises fled. Why dont you ex” Bue Fd ot break my vow 0 Ah By chance the scholar Aba Sid al-Muharrant happens to be pang by He head ee screams of hngr oft sh, though Twas deaf o them. He came ands my emaciated sete and sid to me, “What thi ee ad ear, O'Abul= Qa" "Dont mind i,m tend aie only the wie of he Aisbedien, unruly eg, whi ll you he soa x bowed in font ofits Lord ands hope and peace an joy "Please come tomy school BS aA he ake. i not answer, but inwardly si, will not leat place without