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Shaykh
Abd al-Qadir spent his early days Baghdad under extremely straitened
circumstances, but starvation and penury could not dampen his
zeal for knowledge. In (D.496/1104) he graduated in the fields
of Quraan, Hadith, Fiqh and other ongoing subjects which were
essential at that time.
After
his studies he received his spiritual training from Shaykh Abu
al-Khayr Hammad Ibn Muslim al-Dabbas (D. 525/1131), a saint who
was illiterate but renowned for his spiritual excellence. His
reputation at this time was one of a jurist (faqih), and the Sufi
circles resented his admission to the mystic fold. During this
time he endeavored very hard for inner development. He narrates
"for 25 long years i wondered in the jungles, deserts and
deserted places of Iraq, neither I recognized anybody nor people
recognized me in this period and during this particular period
I performed hard austerity." After that by the order of Hadrat
Khidr he took Bai'h and wore Khirkah from Shaykh Qadi Abu Sa'id
Mubarak Bin Ali Al-Mukharrimi (D. 513/1119or 508/1114).
After
the demise of Abu Sa'id he took over his institute as head as
Abu Sa'id had handed over this authority to him in his life. In
521 by the order of the Prophet (In a dream) he started delivering
lectures in the sai'd institute. In "Qala'id Al-Jawahir"
[According to Shaikh Abu Muhammad al-Jubba'i]: "Our teacher
[ustadh], Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir also said: 'I once saw Allah's
Prophet before the time of the midday prayer [zuhr], and he said
to me: "O my dear son, why do you not speak out?" So
I replied: "O dear father, I am a non-Arab man. How can I
speak fluently in the classical Arabic language of Baghdad?"
He then told me: "Just open your mouth!" So I opened
it wide, and he spat into it seven times. Then he told me: "You
must speak to the people, and summon them to the way of your Lord,
with wisdom and good counsel." I then performed the midday
prayer [zuhr], and remained seated after it. Many people gathered
in my company, but I was at a loss for words. "'I was then
that I caught sight of 'Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him),
and he said: "Open your mouth!" So I opened it wide,
and he spat into it six times. "Why do you not complete the
full seven spits?" I asked him, and he explained: "As
a matter of good manners, in relation to the Messenger of Allah."
Then he vanished from my sight." After this, he started delivering
his lectures. This incident occurred in 16 Shavval (10th Islamic
month)521 A.H. and this exercise continued till his death on 561
A.H.
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