Sheikh
Sayyiduna Abdul Qadir’s Jilani (may Allah be pleased with
him) was a constant
presence in Alahazrat's Imam Ahmad Raza Khan's (may Allah be pleased with
him) life in terms of ritual and
practice. This included saying Fatiha in the Sheikhs name
when a wish was granted, and celebration of the Shaikhs
birth date on the 11th of every month. Maulana Zafar ud-Din
Bihari (may Allah be pleased with
him) records an occasion when someone asked Alahazrat to read Fatiha (the opening Sura of the Quran) over some
food, offered in the Sheikhs name in thanksgiving:
Alahazrat first asked all those present to make ritual ablution
and he did so. The container of food was placed in front.
Everyone stood facing the direction of the Sultan of Baghdad
which is 18 degrees north of the Qibla (Mecca) He then
instructed everyone to say Bismillah, and to follow this
with Durood Ghauthia (prayer calling down Almighty Allah’s
blessing on Ghaus-ul-Azam), seven times. Then they were to
read al-hamd (giving thanks to Allah) once, the Ayat
ul-Kursi once, and say Qul huwwa Allahu (Allah is all) seven
times. After reading the Durood Ghauthia thrice, they should
offer the nazar (the food) to the Sarkar-e-Baghdad. After
completing the reading Alahazrat asked for a plain
tablecloth to replace the existing one which had verses
written on it. Then a bowl and a cup were placed in front of
every one and they said Bismillah once more, and sat down to
eat. When they had finished, Alahazrat told them not to wash
their hands immediately, but to line up in rows turning
towards Iraq and raise their hands to make duah (prayer of
supplication for Ghaus-ul-Azam). He said the Sadat (plural
for Sayyid) should be in the front row, in front of everyone
else. He himself stood behind them. After they had said the
duah, everyone washed their hands carefully, as he
instructed, and moved the used water to a safe place,
commanding each one to drink a little of it rather than
rinse it out.
Padwick
quotes a typical poem of the Qadiriyya
Sufi Order, which is an invitation to men to come with
their cry for help (istighatha) to the founders Sacred Tomb:
My
Tomb is the House of Almighty Allah.
He,
who comes to visit it, hastening thither, will be granted
might and exaltation.
My
mystery is the mystery of Almighty Allah, current to his
creation.
Cleave
to my side if thou wouldst have my affection.
My
command is the command of Almighty Allah: If thou sayest,
“Be,” is shall be, and all things are under Almighty
Allah command; then judge of my power.
I
was seated in the Holt vale on Mount Sinai;
I
was exalted in my robe of honor.
And
all men in all lands call me blessed…
And
all the countries of Almighty Allah are truly my Kingdom,
And
their Pole-saints under my command and obedience
[Manzuma
bi l-wasila (Qadiriyya)]
The
method of seeking Sayyiduna Abdul Qadir’s (Allah bless him and give him
peace) help (istighatha)
by members of the Qadiriyya according to Padwick's translations into
English is as follows. After the evening prayers or the
prayers of a night vigil, having given the final 'peace', the worshipper is told:
Prostrate
yourself again before Almighty Allah after the 'peace'
and ask for your need. Then raise your head and call down
the blessing on the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless
him and give him peace) 11
times. Then raise and take 11 steps in the direction of
Iraq to the right of the Qibla, and say as you take the
first step, "Oh Shaikh Muhyiddin!" [A cry on Shaikh
Sayyidi Abdul Qadir Jilani is given for each footstep,
ending with him], "O Lord of Lords Abdul Qadir,
Muhyiddin!"
Then say, "O little servant of Almighty Allah, help me
(aghithni)
by permission of Almighty Allah. Oh Shaikh of the heaven
laden, help me and grant me supplies to meet my
need." [Finally, there is a dua to be read 3 times,
which returns from the Saint to Almighty Allah:] "Oh
Almighty Allah, Thine are all things and through Thee are
all things and from Thee are all things and to Thee are all
things, and Thou art the All and All of All." [al-Fuyudatu
r-rabbaniyya, pg.45]
The
visitor approaching the tomb at Baghdad should thus address
the Saint:
Peace
be to thee O King of the age, O Imam of the place, O wielder
of the command of the Merciful, O heir of the Book and
representative of the Apostle of Almighty Allah, O thou
whose benefit is heavenly and earthly, O thou to whom all
the people of the time are his family. Thou through whose
petitioning help comes down, through whose blessing
supplication is efficacious. [Ibid. pg. 194]