Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Volume 2, Page 421
Is the book “Ghunyat al-Talibeen” genuinely authored by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله)? Also, what is his status according to the Hadith scholars and the Imams of Jarh wa Ta’deel?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the attribution of Ghunyat al-Talibeen to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله). However:
◈ Hafiz Dhahabi (d. 748 AH) and Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795 AH) have affirmed that this book is indeed authored by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله).
Hence, the more correct view is that this book was indeed authored by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله).
Note:
Currently, I am not aware of any authentic and connected chain of transmission for the existing printed editions of Ghunyat al-Talibeen.
Wallahu A‘lam.
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) holds a very high rank among the Imams of Hadith and the scholars of Islam.
“The Shaykh, the Imam, the Scholar, the Ascetic, the Gnostic, the Role Model, Shaykh al-Islam, the Luminary of the Awliya…”
(Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala, Volume 20, Page 439)
“Shaykh al-Islam Abdul Qadir bin Abi Salih al-Jayli narrated to us.”
(Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala, Volume 20, Page 440 – with authentic chain)
“A righteous, pious jurist of good religion.”
(Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala, Volume 20, Page 20; Tarikh al-Islam, Volume 39, Page 89)
Note:
This statement is missing from the five-volume printed edition of al-Ansab by al-Sam‘ani.
Wallahu A‘lam.
“He gained immense acceptance… and Allah made wisdom flow from his tongue.”
(Tarikh al-Islam by Dhahabi, Volume 39, Page 92, Deaths of 561 AH)
He mentioned Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) in his renowned book al-Muntazam.
Even though he differed with him strongly, he did not perform any form of criticism (jarh) against him.
(Tarikh al-Islam, Volume 39, Page 189; al-Muntazam, Volume 18, Page 173, Entry No. 4259)
Based on all these statements and the testimonies of Hadith scholars:
◈ Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) was a trustworthy, truthful, and pious scholar of Islam.
◈ The book attributed to him, Ghunyat al-Talibeen, does contain some weak and fabricated narrations, and their presence cannot be ignored.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
Is the book “Ghunyat al-Talibeen” genuinely authored by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله)? Also, what is his status according to the Hadith scholars and the Imams of Jarh wa Ta’deel?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
Attribution of “Ghunyat al-Talibeen” to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله)
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the attribution of Ghunyat al-Talibeen to Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله). However:
◈ Hafiz Dhahabi (d. 748 AH) and Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795 AH) have affirmed that this book is indeed authored by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله).
- Hafiz Dhahabi, in his book al-‘Ulu lil-‘Aliy al-Ghaffar (Page 193), attributes the book to Shaykh Abdul Qadir.
- Ibn Rajab, in adh-Dhayl ‘ala Tabaqat al-Hanabilah (Volume 1, Page 296), also affirms this attribution.
Hence, the more correct view is that this book was indeed authored by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله).
Note:
Currently, I am not aware of any authentic and connected chain of transmission for the existing printed editions of Ghunyat al-Talibeen.
Wallahu A‘lam.
The Status and Rank of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) in the Eyes of the Hadith Scholars
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) holds a very high rank among the Imams of Hadith and the scholars of Islam.
✔ Statement of Hafiz Dhahabi (رحمه الله):
“The Shaykh, the Imam, the Scholar, the Ascetic, the Gnostic, the Role Model, Shaykh al-Islam, the Luminary of the Awliya…”
(Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala, Volume 20, Page 439)
✔ Statement of Imam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله):
“Shaykh al-Islam Abdul Qadir bin Abi Salih al-Jayli narrated to us.”
(Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala, Volume 20, Page 440 – with authentic chain)
✔ Hafiz Dhahabi quoting Imam Ibn al-Sam‘ani (d. 562 AH):
“A righteous, pious jurist of good religion.”
(Siyar A‘lam an-Nubala, Volume 20, Page 20; Tarikh al-Islam, Volume 39, Page 89)
Note:
This statement is missing from the five-volume printed edition of al-Ansab by al-Sam‘ani.
Wallahu A‘lam.
✔ Statement of Hafiz Ibn al-Najjar (رحمه الله):
“He gained immense acceptance… and Allah made wisdom flow from his tongue.”
(Tarikh al-Islam by Dhahabi, Volume 39, Page 92, Deaths of 561 AH)
✔ Commentary by Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi (رحمه الله):
He mentioned Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) in his renowned book al-Muntazam.
Even though he differed with him strongly, he did not perform any form of criticism (jarh) against him.
(Tarikh al-Islam, Volume 39, Page 189; al-Muntazam, Volume 18, Page 173, Entry No. 4259)
❖ Conclusion
Based on all these statements and the testimonies of Hadith scholars:
◈ Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (رحمه الله) was a trustworthy, truthful, and pious scholar of Islam.
◈ The book attributed to him, Ghunyat al-Talibeen, does contain some weak and fabricated narrations, and their presence cannot be ignored.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
