Selections from the Heart-Soothing Prayers of Righteous Friend, Shaykh Abdülkâdir Geylânî
The prayers of Shaykh Abdülkâdir al-Ghaylani (may Allah be pleased with him), a scholar and Sufi mystic, bring solace and peace to the hearts. In this article, we have compiled some of these prayers, which are an important part of his spiritual legacy.
Who is Shaykh Abdülkâdir Geylânî?
Abdülkâdir al-Ghaylani (1077-1166) is highly respected and loved throughout the Islamic world, and a significant figure in Sufi thought. He was born in Baghdad and spent his life devoted to knowledge, insight, and worship.
Prayers of Shaykh Abdülkâdir Geylânî
Allah’im! Grant us the ability to act with perfect reverence towards You and Your chosen ones. Do not make us susceptible to the trial of relying on means instead of trusting in You. Establish us firmly upon our tawhid (Oneness of God) and our tawakkul (reliance) upon You. Make us independent of others except for bringing our needs directly to You. Do not test us with our own words and deeds; do not punish us because of them, but deal with us through Your grace, Your generosity, by dispensing with our punishment, and with mercy – Amen! (Sohbet, 61)
Allah’im! O All-Creating Creator. O Originator of causes! Deliver us from the bond of associating partners with You in worship and creation. Allah’im! Make me, the one who makes du’a (supplication), not needy to anyone but Yourself! Let us be needy only to You. Let us find independence only through You; let us remember you alone. Let us ask only from You.
Allah’im! We all desire You. We long for You. Yet, calamities and obstacles block our path and prevent us from reaching You. (62) Allah’im! Awaken us from the sleep of negligence. Let some of us benefit others. Engage us only with Yourself so that our nafs (self) may be reformed. Show our nafs the path to You, and let us spend the remainder of our lives engaged in Your way.
Allah’im! Save us from destruction, we desire only your nearness from you. We wish to gaze upon You both in this world and in the Hereafter, with our hearts in this world and with our eyes in the Hereafter.
Allah‘ım! Turn all people towards Your door. This is my single and eternal desire. Everything belongs to You, it is dedicated to You. This is a general du’a that can be a means for me to earn reward.
Allah’im Send blessings and peace upon Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his progeny. Protect the leader of the Islamic ummah (community) and the entire Islamic ummah. Protect those who follow, and their leaders. Unite their hearts in good discourse; let them be united in righteous deeds; may they ward off each other’s evils; may they not harm one another.
Allah’im! You know our hearts; reform them. You are aware of our needs, so provide for them. You know our sins; forgive them. You know our shortcomings and flaws; cover them up. Do not let us be found in places You forbid; do not let us go to places You have prohibited. Do not let us fall into a state where we search for you in the places You forbade. Let us always be found in the places You command. Do not make us forget Your remembrance. Protect us from Your deceit (makr). Make us independent of anyone but Yourself; do not let us incline towards others and stretch out our hands to them. Separate from us everything that separates us from You. Inspire us with the remembrance, gratitude, and beautiful servitude of worship.
Allah’im! Do not expose our evil deeds. Do not tear down the veils that cover our sins. Do not punish us for our evil actions (amal). Do not leave us in negligence (gaflet) and do not punish us with negligence and forgetfulness.
Ya Rabbi! If we forget or err, do not hold us accountable for it.
Our Lord! Do not impose upon us a burden like what You imposed on those who came before us.
Our Lord! Do not load us with that which we have no strength to bear. Forgive our sins, grant us forgiveness, and have mercy upon us. You are our mevlana (Lord), and help us against the disbelieving people.
Allah‘ım! Return us to ourselves. Let us stand before Your door.
Allah’im! Make us for You, in You, and with You. Make us happy through service to You. Let our taking and giving be only for You; cleanse our hearts from being a place of love for others. Do not let us be found in places You forbid. Do not let us lose ourselves to You in the places You command. Protect our outward actions from committing sin, and protect our inner selves from associating partners with You. Release us from the hands of our nafs! Save us and bring us to You. Let all our actions and movements be only for You. We place our trust only in You, we rely only on You. Awaken us from the misery of being heedless of You. Clothe us with the garments of obedience, worship, and supplication. Taste in our hearts and souls the pleasure of nearness to You. Just as you separated the heavens from the earth, separate us from sins. Keep us away from sins. Just as You brought together the eye of Yusuf (peace be upon him) and Zulekha in terms of passion, so do with us in terms of servitude to You.
O One Creator! Make us among those who single you out for worship, those who unite with You. Save us from those who hinder our path towards You. Make us among Your chosen ones. Validate our claims with the proofs of Your grace and mercy. Purify our hearts. Ease our tasks, make them easy. Let us be united only with You; protect us from being attached to anyone but You. Let all our sorrows become a single sorrow – let it be nearness to You. May we have no sorrow other than the thought of being close to You in this world and in the Hereafter.