A Story of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani

When Abdul Qadir al-Jilani used to address his followers his individuality would sometimes become completely veiled by a cloak of Divine attributes or of Prophetic attributes. When he was in such a state the Divine would manifest through him, and his speech would become awe-inspiring, but, to those who had not yet attained a sufficiently high station, very disturbing and even shocking.

Perfection may only be understood by perfectly complete individuals, and not at all by the unregenerate man. As for those on the way of Truth, they understand perfection in accordance with their respective levels of development, and the followers of Abdul Qadir Jilani were not on a level to be able to receive those outpourings.

Once a Grandshaykh was addressing his followers from the pulpit of a mosque. He recited a verse of the Holy Qur'an and explained it a little. Then he said:

"This explanation will help everyone here understand this verse on a level corresponding to his attainment, but its real meaning is not for you. You can't understand what I am saying. There is only one person in attendance who has been able to appreciate the deep meanings of this discourse-and he is hiding behind a pillar wearing a veil. My words have been directed to that person-not to you-understand this, and do not think of yourselves as the suitable receptacles of every piece of precious wisdom. If you hear something from me that you understand, then fine and well, make good use of it on your way, but if you hear something you do not understand, be careful not to reject it. Whenever that occurs just hold your peace and be humble enough to accept that it may have been directed to someone else in the audience, someone who has attained a higher potential of understanding than you have".

Then that Grandshaykh proceeded to another, even deeper level of meaning of that verse of the Qur'an, and said: "Now, this is even beyond the level of that person behind the pillar".

When Jilani came to himself his followers informed him of the nature of his utterances while in that state of absence from himself. Jilani then told them: "Oh my sons, if it is true that I say things contrary to the Shariah (Divine Law), then you must smite me with your swords". What Jilani meant by "contrary to the Shariah" meant, in fact, "contrary to your understanding of the Shariah", as people are not all on the same level of understanding Shariah.

At the next gathering Jilani again said something belonging to the realm of the knowledge of Allah Almighty. Then, in accordance with the Shaykh's instructions the followers drew their swords and began to strike-but their swords passed through the Shaykh's figure as readily as they would pass through thin air. They slashed and slashed but it was as if his body were a mirage.

When Jilani came to himself again his followers told him: "Oh our Master, you again spoke such words". "What did you do about it?" "As you instructed us, we struck you with our swords, but they passed through you as through thin air". "Then I must not have been there. There was no more Jilani to be cut by your swords. Jilani was dissolved in the Oneness of the Lord, Almighty Allah. It was He Alone speaking to you".

Certainly some people will raise objections, saying that there is no scriptural evidence for the contention that Allah may speak through an intermediary other than a Prophet. Both the Qur'an and the Torah mention that Allah spoke to Moses through a burning bush, and every believer accepts that. In your opinion, which is a more noble vessel for Divine Light, a more noble instrument for Divine Wisdom, bush or man? Is man or bush the "crown of creation"? Are there any grounds upon which to reject this point?

When a person attains the station of Unity he leaves behind his own existence and is admitted to the Lord's existence, so that Divine Oneness overtakes him: you may see him as Jilani, but he is not Jilani.

We all stagger under the weight of the burden of this life, but we bear that burden only because we have not set it down. Some foolish people are not satisfied with carrying only their own loads but envy the loads of others. The result is this that as long as you carry that weight of the ego so many others attack you, and you are pierced by arrows and spears, slashed by swords of envy and enmity. Attaining the gate of Oneness with the Almighty is the only way to be released from the sufferings of this world, and all of God's Prophets have imparted methods for attaining this goal. However, man's resistance is very great, and, generally the larger our share of worldly fortune the tighter do we grasp it.

excerpted from

Mercy Oceans: Oceans of Unity

S HAIKH N AZIM AL- H AQQANI AL- Q UBRUSI AL- N AQSHBANDI

Disclaimer: I don't think this story is true, but reflects how those who claim to follow him deviated