Ghous e Azam Foot is on the Necks of all Auliya

There are many narrations of predecessor Masha’ikh approximately 100 years before the birth of Sayyiduna Ghawth al-A’zam Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho who foretold that shortly there will be born in ‘Ajam [non-Arab state] a person who will announce that his foot is on the necks of all the Awliya-Allah. On his announcement, all the Awliya will place their heads under his feet and enter the shadow of his sacred feet.

AlaHadrat Imam Ash-Shah Ahmad Rida Khan al-Qadiri have quoted many narrations and annotations in this regard from which 11 (Eleven) will be presented below in accordance to the Qadiri number (11) with a hope that the Sublime Lord SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala will bless us with the Barakaat of both the Worlds… inshaALLAH!

O Ghaus! You hold a place of prominence | Your feet are above others heads in eminence

NARRATION # 1 to 4:

Hadrat Imam Abul-Hasan ‘Ali bin Yusuf Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho narrates from Abu-Muhammad Salim bin’Ali Damyati Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and he narrates from six illustrious Mashi’ikh who were the Sufi Masters of Iraq. They were Hadrat Abu-Tahir Sar’sari, Shaykh Abul-Hasan Hafaf Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, Shaykh Abu-Hafs Buraydi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, Shaykh Abul-Qasim ‘Umar al-Dardani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, Shaykh Abul-Walid Zayd bin Sa’id Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and Shaykh Abu-‘Amar ‘Uthman bin Sulayman Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. They informed him that Hadrat Abul-Faraj ‘Abdur-Rahim Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and Abul-Hasan ‘Ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho both nephews of Sayyidi Shaykh Ahmad Rifa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho related to them:

کنا عند شیخنا الشیخ احمد بن الرفاعی بزاویتہ بام عبیدۃ فمد عنقہ وقال علی رقبتی، فسئلناہ عن ذٰلک فقال قد قال الشیخ عبدالقادر الآن بغداد قدمی ھذہ علی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ

We were present in the Khanqah (School) with our Murshid, Sayyid Ahmad al-Rifa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho in Umme-‘Obayd. Suddenly our Shaykh al-Rifa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho moved his neck forward and said: عَلَى رَقَبَتِي [“On my neck”]. We inquired from him about his action and declaration. He replied: “At this moment Hadrat ‘Abd al-Qadir has declared in Baghdad that his foot is on the necks of all the Awliya of Allah.” [Bahjat al-Asrar, Published Mustafa Al-Babi (Egypt), Page 13]

Note: Three more Narrations of different narrators with almost the same wordings are also stated on Page 13 and 14 of Bahjat al-Asrar published by Mustafa Al-Babi in Egypt.

NARRATION # 5:

Imam Abul-Hasan Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho states that the great Jurist, Rizqullah bin Muhammad bin ‘Ali bin Ahmad bin Yusuf Raqqi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho narrated to me that Shaykh Swaleh Abu-Ishaq Ibra’him Raqqi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho reported that Shaykh Mansur Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho narrated to him that Shaykh Imam Abu-‘Abdullah Muhammad bin Majid Raqqi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho said to him. Likewise, I received a sound narration from Shaykh Abul-‘Abbas Ahmad bin Isma’il bin Hamza Azji Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho who said that Shaykh Abul-Muzaffar Mansur bin Mubarak Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and Imam Abu-Muhammad ‘Abdullah bin Abil-Hasan Asbahani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho informed him. All these personalities said that we heard the noble Sayyid, Shaykh Abu-Sa’id Qay’lawi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho saying that

لما قال الشیخ عبدالقاد قدمی ھذہ علی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ تجلی الحق عزوجل علٰی قلبہ وجاء تہ خلعۃ من رسول اللہ صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ و سلم علٰی یدطائفۃ من الملٰئکۃ المقربین والبسھا بمحضر من جمیع الاولیاء من تقدم منھم وما تاخر الاحیاء باجسادھم والاموات بارواحھم وکانت الملٰئکۃ ورجال الغیب حافین بمجلسہ واقفین فی الھوأصفوفاحتی استد الافق بھم ولم یبق ولی فی الارض الاحناعنقہ

When Hadrat Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho declared that his foot is on the necks of every Wali of Allah. At that time Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala beamed a Tajalli (lustre) on the Shaykhs’ heart and Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam sent a sacred garb with a group of exalted Angels for the Shaykh. There was a gathering of every Wali of the past and present. The Awliya who were alive presented themselves physically and those who had passed on, their souls were present. It was in this splendid gathering that the Angels dressed the great Ghawth Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho with this consecrated garb. At that moment a huge crowd of Rijal al-Ghayb (Men of the Unseen) and Angels were also present. The birds in the skies tucked their wings in respect and absolute submission. All of them filled the horizons to witness this coronation. There was no Wali of Allah on earth that did not bend his neck in submission to the declaration of the Ghawth. [Bahjat al-Asrar, Published Mustafa Al-Babi (Egypt), Page 8-9]

NARRATION # 6:

Imam Abul-Hasan ‘Ali Shatnufi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho narrates from Shaykh Abu-Muhammad Hasan bin Ahmad bin Muhammad Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and Shaykh Khalaf bin Ahmad bin Muhammad Harimi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, they heard from their grandfather Shaykh Khalifa Akbar Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho who was often privileged of dreaming of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. He swears an oath that

رأیت رسول اللہ صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم فقلت لہ یارسول اللہ لقد قال الشیخ عبدالقادر قدمی ھٰذہ علٰی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ ، فقال صدق الشیخ عبدالقادروکفی لاوھو القطب واناارعاہ

One night he dreamt of the glorious Prophet of Allah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. He inquired from him SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam about the declaration of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho who said that his foot is on the necks of all the Awliya of Allah. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam replied: “Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir had spoken the truth and why not, because he is the Qutb and I am his shield .” [Bahjat al-Asrar, Published Mustafa Al-Babi (Egypt), Page 10]

Imam Ahmad Rida al-Qadiri Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho says:

Alhamdulillah! Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala ordered our Master to make this declaration and while declaring this, Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala beamed His Tajalli on his heart and Sayyiduna Raulullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam sent him a sacred garb with the exalted Angels. He was clothed with this garb by the Angels in the presence of all the Awliya of the past and present. There was also a huge assembly of Angels and Rijal al-Ghayb bent in submission saluting the great Ghawth Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho.

Now it is up to the individual to accept or reject the elevated status of the great Ghawth. If one is happy with his status then one will be happy and if one is unhappy the one will certainly be unhappy. All that can be said about the unhappy is the command of Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala:

موتوابغیظکم ان اللہ علیم بذات الصدور

Say: Perish in your rage: Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala knows well all the secrets of the heart.

In life, death and hereafter, my guide | Under your spiritual cover I want to reside

NARRATION # 7:

Imam Mullah ‘Ali Qari Hanafi Makki Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho (d.1014/1606) in his Kitab, Nuzhat al-Khatir al-Fatir trajuma Sayyidi al-Sharif ‘Abd al-Qadir states:

من مشائخہ حمادالدباس رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ روی ان یوما کان سید نا عبدالقادر عندہ فی رباطہ ولما غاب من حضرتہ قال ان ھذا الاعجمی الشریف قدماً یکون علٰی رقاب اولیاء اللہ یصیر مامورا من عند مولاہ بان یقول قدمی ھٰذا علی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ ویتواضع لہ جمیع اولیاء اللہ فی زمانہ ویعظمونہ لظہورشانہ

Shaykh Hammad bin Muslim al-Dabbas Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho was amongst the very first Masha’ikh of Sayyid ‘Abd al-Qadir Jilani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho. One day in the absence of Shaykh al-Jilani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho he said: “The foot of this young Sayyid will be on the necks of all the Awliya. Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala will order him to declare that his foot is on the necks of all the Awliya. Every Wali of his time will bend their heads in submission and due to his status, they will honour and respect him.” [Nuzhat al-Khatir al-Fatir trajuma Sayyidi al-Sharif ‘Abd al-Qadir (Manuscript), Page 8]

This submission of the Awliya will be due to the Divine Appointment of Allah Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho of the Ghawth. By the virtue of the fact that ALL the Awliya will acknowledge this, hence Sayyidi Shaykh Ahmad al-Rifa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho will be no exception, and he too also bent his neck in acknowledgement and compliance.

NARRATION # 8:

It is also recorded in Nuzhat al-Khatir al-Fatir trajuma Sayyidi al-Sharif ‘Abd al-Qadir that

The announcement of Sayyiduna Ghawth al-A’zam Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, قدمی ھذہ علی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ, the bending of heads in submission of the present and absent Awliya, the acceptance of the sacred feet of the Ghawth on their heads and the rejection of one Wali who was stripped of his Sainthood is mentioned by the author. Thereafter, he comments as follows:

وھذا تنبیہ بینۃ علی انہ قطب الاقطاب والغوث الاعظم

This is a brilliant proof to undoubtedly confirm that Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir Jilani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho is the King of all the Qutbs and the Ghawth al-A’zam (most senior Ghawth). [Nuzhat al-Khatir al-Fatir trajuma Sayyidi al-Sharif ‘Abd al-Qadir (Manuscript), Page 9-10]

NARRATION # 9:

Imam Ahmad ibn-Hajr Makki Shafa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho (d.853/1448) records in his Fatawa Hadithiyya:

انھم قد یؤمرون تعریفا لجاھل اوشکرا وتحدثا بنعمۃ اللہ تعالٰی کما وقع الشیخ عبدالقادر رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ انہ بینما ھو بمجلس وعظہ واذا ھو یقول قدمی ھٰذہ علٰی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ تعالٰی فاجابہ فی تلک الساعۃ اولیاء الدنیا قال جماعۃ بل واولیاء الجن جمیعھم وطأطئوارء وسھم وخضعوالہ واعترفوابماقالہ الارجل باصبھان فابٰی فسلب حالہ

Sometimes the Awliya are ordered to make lofty statements to inform those who are unaware of their high status. Sometimes these statements are made to thank Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala and publicize his favours on an individual. This is similar to the sudden declaration made by Sayyiduna Ghawth al-A’zam Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho made in his majlis that his foot is on the necks of all the Awliya of Allah. They all instantly reacted by bowing their heads in confirmation besides one person in Asbahan who was then stripped of all dignity and Spiritual Powers. [Fatawa Hadithiyya, Dar al-Ihya al-Turath al Arabi (Berut – Lebanon), Page 414]

Control over hearts is yours from above | Please make my heart a treasure of love

NARRATION # 10:

Imam Ibn Hajr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho lists some of the senior Awliya, who bent their heads in submission, as follows:

§ The patron Saint of the Suhrawardi Sufi Order, Hadrat Sayyidi ‘Abd al-Qahir Abu-Najib Suhrawardi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho who bent his head and said:

علٰی رأسی علٰی رأسی

“ On my head, on my head.”

§ Sayyidi Shaykh Ahmad al-Rifa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho bent his head and said:

علی رقبتی

“This small Ahmad is also amongst them on whose neck is the foot the Master.”

When he was asked about his strange action and comment, he replied:

الشیخ عبدالقادر الآن بغداد قدمی ھذہ علی رقبۃ کل ولی اللہ

“At this moment, Shaykh Sayyid ‘Abd al-Qadir Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho has announced in Baghdad that his foot is on the necks of all the Awliya of Allah, therefore I too, humbly said that this small Ahmad is also amongst them .”

§ Hadrat Sayyidi Abu-Madyan Shu’ib Maghribi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho also bent his head and said:

وانا منھم اللھم انی اشھدک واشھدملٰئکتک انی سمعت واطعت

“I am also amongst them. O Allah! I make You and all the Angels a witness that I heard the command of ‘Qadami’ and obeyed.”

§ Hadart Sayyidi ‘Abd al-Rahim Qanawi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho bent his neck to the ground and said:

صدق الصادق المصدوق

“The truthful has spoken the Truth.”

[Fatawa Hadithiyya, Dar al-Ihya al-Turath al Arabi (Berut – Lebanon), Page 414]

NARRATION # 11:

After recording the above, Imam Ibn Hajr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho then comments that Shaykh Najibudin Suhrawardi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, Shaykh al-Rifa’i Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho, Shaykh Abu-Madyan Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahim Qanawi Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho and many other exalted ‘Arifin elaborated that Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir Jilani Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anho did not make this statement on his own accord but he was commanded by Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala to do so.

فلم یسع احدًا التخلف

“Therefore no Wali had the courage to disobey this command. (Hence, they bent their heads and gladly took the foot of the Ghawth on their necks)”

We hope that these few lines will suffice for the just and pious. May the Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala grant every Muslim the Tawfiq to accept the truth and exercise Adab with the Awliya of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala. May the Merciful Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta’ala grant us decorous respect for his Beloved Servants and give us death in their ardent Love and raise us on the Day of Judgement amongst their dignified and pure company… Aameen!!

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