"My Foot is on the Necks of all the Awliya of Allah" [Gawth al-Aazam]

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:

‫ فسئلنا ہ عن‬،‫کنا عند شیخنا الشیخ احمد بن الرفاعی بزاویت ہ بام عبید ۃ فمد عنق ہ وقال علی رقبتی‬
‫ٓ بغداد قدمی ھذ ہ علی رقب ۃ کل ولی الل ہ‬
‫ٰذلک فقال قد قال الشیخ عبدالقادر الن‬
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: ‫عَلى َرَقَبِتي‬
َ [“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 ھذ ہ علی رقب ۃ کل ولی الل ہ تجلی الحق عزوجلع ٰلی قلب ہ وجاء ت ہ خلع ۃ‬
‫من رسول الل ہ صلی الل ہتعا ٰلی علی ہ و سلمع ٰلی یدطائف ۃ منالم ٰلئک ۃ المقربین والبس ھا بمحضر من‬
‫جمیع الولیاء من تقدم من ھم وما تاخر الحیاء باجساد ھم والموات بارواح ھم وکانتالم ٰلئک ۃ ورجال‬
‫الغیب حافین بمجلس ہ واقفین فی ال ھوأصفوفاحتی استد الفق ب ھم ولم یبق ولی فی الرض الحناعنق ہ‬
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 الل ہ صلی الل ہتعا ٰلی علی ہ وسلم فقلت ل ہ یارسول الل ہ لقد قال الشیخ عبدالقادر قدمی ھ ٰذ ہ‬
‫ فقال صدق الشیخ عبدالقادروکفی لو ھو القطب واناارعا ہ‬، ‫ع ٰلی رقب ۃ کل ولی الل ہ‬
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 الل ہ 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 مشائخ ہ حمادالدباس رضی الل ہتعا ٰلی عن ہ روی ان یوما کان سید نا عبدالقادر عند ہ فی رباط ہ ولما‬
‫غاب من حضرت ہ قال ان ھذا العجمی الشریف قدمًا یکونع ٰلی رقاب اولیاء الل ہ یصیر مامورا من‬
‫ھذا علی رقب ۃ کل ولی الل ہ ویتواضع ل ہ جمیع اولیاء الل ہ فی زمان ہ‬
ٰ ‫عند مول ہ بان یقول قدمی‬
‫ویعظمون ہ لظ ہورشان ہ‬
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:

‫و ھذا تنبی ہ بین ۃ علی ان ہ قطب القطاب والغوث العظم‬

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:

‫ان ھم قد یؤمرون تعریفا لجا ھل اوشکرا وتحدثا بنعم ۃ الل ہتعا ٰلی کما وقع الشیخ عبدالقادر رضی الل ہ‬
‫تعا ٰلی عن ہ ان ہ بینما ھو بمجلس وعظ ہ واذا ھو یقول قدمی ھ ٰذ ہع ٰلی رقب ۃ کل ولی الل ہتعا ٰلی فاجاب ہ فی‬
‫تلک الساع ۃ اولیاء الدنیا قال جماع ۃ بل واولیاء الجن جمیع ھم وطأطئوارء وس ھم وخضعوال ہ‬
‫واعترفوابماقال ہ الرجل باصب ھانفا ٰبی فسلب حال ہ‬
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:
‫ع ٰلی رأسیع ٰلی 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:

‫ٓ بغداد قدمی ھذ ہ علی رقب ۃ کل ولی الل ہ‬

‫الشیخ عبدالقادر الن‬
“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 من ھم الل ھم انی اش ھدکواش ھدم ٰلئکتک 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 احًدا 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)”

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

I 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!!

Mazar Sharif of Hadrat Gawth al Aa'zam Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho

in 1950s

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BY
MOHAMED ABDUL HAFEEZ B.COM.
TRANSLATOR OF TADHKIRTAL AULIYA
HYDERABAD, INDIA.,
--------------------------