488, at the age of eighteen, left his native province to become a student in the great capital city of Baghdaad, the hub of political, commercial and cultural activity, and the center of religious learning in the world of Islaam. " - Taken from the 22nd discourse of the book Look to see whether you are a believer or a hypocrite, a monotheist or a polytheist. Take this touchstone and this mirror, and use it to examine the face of your heart. These characteristics are the touchstone and the distinction between the believer and the hypocrite.
When he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays."If a person is innocent of these vices mentioned by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), he is innocent of hypocrisy. These discourses cover every aspect of the spiritual path necessary for those who aspire to attain to the nearness of Allah. Treasured for centuries by those fortunate enough to have a handwritten copy, the entire 62 discourses are available in English for the first time. Longer than the discourses of Revelations of the Unseen, these profoundly moving lectures used to be attended by crowds of more than seventy thousand people.Īs we have been told in the Shaikh's biography, Necklaces of Gems, more than 400 inkwells would be used in one session by the scribes recording his every word. Sublime Revelation (Fath ar-Rabbani): Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir JilaniĦ2 Discourses by Shaikh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani in the guesthouse and the schoolhouse in Bagdad, between the years AH 545 and AH 546.