Story: Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani (ra)

Sayyidi wa Imami, Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad, (ra), (1044-1132 A.H) in expounding ontawakkul (trust and reliance on Allah ) in his spiritual masterpiece Risalat u’l Mu’awanah (The Book of Assistance) explains the signs oftawakkul and supports his position with the example of Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani, (ra) whom he calls “sayyidi” (“my master”).

“The one whose reliance is sincere has three marks. The first is that he neither has hopes in nor fears other than God. The sign of this is that he upholds the truth in the presence of those in whose regard people usually have hope or fear, such as princes and rulers. The second is that worrying about his sustenance never enters his heart, because of his confidence in God’s guarantee, so that his heart is as tranquil when in need as when his need is fulfilled, or even more. The third is that his heart does not become disturbed in fearful situations, knowing that that which has missed him could never have struck him, and that which has struck him could never have missed him. An example of this was related of my teacher‘Abdal-Qadir al-Jilani, may God spread his benefit. He was once discoursing on Destiny when a great viper fell on him, so that his audience panicked. The viper coiled itself around the shaykh’s neck, then entered one of his sleeves and came out from the other while he remained firm and unperturbed, and did not interrupt his discourse”.

(Risalat u’l Mu’awanah, The Book of Assistance, translated by Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, p. 121-122).

This incident demonstrates that Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani was matchless in a very special way. It also reminds us about the following verses of the Holy Qur’an on the awliya Allah  (friends of Allah ):

“Surely, on the friends of Allah , there is no fear, nor do they grieve. Those who believed and guarded (against evil). For them are glad tidings in this world’s life and in the Hereafter; there is no changing the words of Allah ; that is the Supreme Triumph.” (10:62-64)