Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani
Encyclopedia
Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani (Dec. 14, 1891-Sept. 30, 1973) Shaykh of the Naqshbandi
Haqqani Sufi order. He was born in the Caucasian region of Daghestan (then part of the Russian Empire
) in 1891. He had never received Sufi ijazah
, and he is not recognized as Sufi Shaykh in Dagestan. Both his father and elder brother were medical doctors, the latter being a surgeon in the Imperial Russian Army. Abdullah was raised and trained by his maternal uncle, Shaykh Sharafuddin Daghestani (1875–1936). He showed remarkable spiritual aptitude from a young age and this attracted the attention of many local people.
Sometime in the 1900s Abdullah’s family (indeed his whole village) wearied of the repression imposed on Daghestan by the Russian government and decided to make Hijrah (emigration) to the Ottoman Empire
. They first settled in the northwestern Anatolian city of Bursa
, and then after a year moved to a place called Reşadiye (now known as Güneyköy). A new village was established that was populated by Daghestani refugees. Shortly thereafter, Abdullah’s father died and at the age of fifteen he was married to a Daghestani girl named Halima.
In 1910, after merely six months of marriage, Shaykh Sharafuddin ordered Abdullah into sacred seclusion (khalwa
t) for five years. This practice included severe austerities that were intended to raise his spiritual rank.
He successfully completed this seclusion and when he returned to secular life he found the Ottoman Empire embroiled in the First World War. Along with many young men of his village, Abdullah entered into military service and took part in the Battle of Gallipoli
. During a firefight he was severely wounded by Allied fire and he endured a near death experience that only led to a deeper understanding of Reality.
In 1921 Abdullah was instructed by Shaykh Sharafuddin to enter another long seclusion for that would last for five years. He completed this and, as it has been described, “the power of his spiritual attraction increased. He became so renowned that even during his Shaykh's lifetime, people used to come from everywhere to learn from him.” He was then granted a license (ijazah
) to be a master, a shaykh, in the Naqshbandi Path.
With the anti-Sufi regulations in the new Turkish Republic impeding religious practice, Shaykh Abdullah began to contemplate leaving the country. After the death of Shaykh Sharafuddin in 1936, a delegation came to Reşadiye from King Farouk to pay their condolences, as he had many murids in Egypt. One of the delegation married a daughter of Shaykh Abdullah and the family moved to Egypt.
Shaykh Abdullah resided in Egypt until his daughter’s divorce. The family then left Egypt for Syria
. Shaykh Abdullah resided for a time in Aleppo
and from there moved to Homs
and then finally to Damascus
near the tomb of great saint Sa’d ad-Din Jibawi. There he established the first tekke
for his branch of the Naqshbandi Order.
In 1943 he moved to a house on Jabal Qasioun mountain, a house that was bought by his first Syrian murid
and later khalifah
, Shaykh Husayn Ifrini. This house and the mosque next to it still stand, and it is now the site of his türbe (tomb).
Over the years Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani became well known throughout Damascus for his spiritual teachings and he attracted many thousands of individuals who sought out relief from the weight of worldly life. He died on September 30, 1973.
It is significant that Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani is the Khatm ul Awliya and as such his Spiritual Rank is unmatched. More information on Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani being the Khatm ul Awliya is found at the following link :- http://www.sheiknazim2.com/khatmulawliya.html.
For a short, but comprehensive Biography of the Sheikh, please visit the following link:- http://naqshbandi.org/chain/39.htm
His Successor, Shaykh Nazim al-Qubrusi, made remarkable progress in spreading the Sufi teachings of Shaykh Abdullah to the West.
Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...
Haqqani Sufi order. He was born in the Caucasian region of Daghestan (then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
) in 1891. He had never received Sufi ijazah
Ijazah
An ijazah is a certificate used primarily by Sunni Muslims to indicate that one has been authorized by a higher authority to transmit a certain subject or text of Islamic knowledge...
, and he is not recognized as Sufi Shaykh in Dagestan. Both his father and elder brother were medical doctors, the latter being a surgeon in the Imperial Russian Army. Abdullah was raised and trained by his maternal uncle, Shaykh Sharafuddin Daghestani (1875–1936). He showed remarkable spiritual aptitude from a young age and this attracted the attention of many local people.
Sometime in the 1900s Abdullah’s family (indeed his whole village) wearied of the repression imposed on Daghestan by the Russian government and decided to make Hijrah (emigration) to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. They first settled in the northwestern Anatolian city of Bursa
Bursa, Turkey
Bursa is a city in northwestern Turkey and the seat of Bursa Province. The metropolitan area in the entire Bursa province had a population of 2.6 million as of 2010, making the city fourth most populous in Turkey. The city is equally one of the most industrialized metropolitan centers in the...
, and then after a year moved to a place called Reşadiye (now known as Güneyköy). A new village was established that was populated by Daghestani refugees. Shortly thereafter, Abdullah’s father died and at the age of fifteen he was married to a Daghestani girl named Halima.
In 1910, after merely six months of marriage, Shaykh Sharafuddin ordered Abdullah into sacred seclusion (khalwa
Khalwa
Khalwa .-Retreat:In Sufism, a solitary retreat, traditionally for 40 days , during which a disciple does extensive spiritual exercises under the direction of a sufi master...
t) for five years. This practice included severe austerities that were intended to raise his spiritual rank.
He successfully completed this seclusion and when he returned to secular life he found the Ottoman Empire embroiled in the First World War. Along with many young men of his village, Abdullah entered into military service and took part in the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
. During a firefight he was severely wounded by Allied fire and he endured a near death experience that only led to a deeper understanding of Reality.
In 1921 Abdullah was instructed by Shaykh Sharafuddin to enter another long seclusion for that would last for five years. He completed this and, as it has been described, “the power of his spiritual attraction increased. He became so renowned that even during his Shaykh's lifetime, people used to come from everywhere to learn from him.” He was then granted a license (ijazah
Ijazah
An ijazah is a certificate used primarily by Sunni Muslims to indicate that one has been authorized by a higher authority to transmit a certain subject or text of Islamic knowledge...
) to be a master, a shaykh, in the Naqshbandi Path.
With the anti-Sufi regulations in the new Turkish Republic impeding religious practice, Shaykh Abdullah began to contemplate leaving the country. After the death of Shaykh Sharafuddin in 1936, a delegation came to Reşadiye from King Farouk to pay their condolences, as he had many murids in Egypt. One of the delegation married a daughter of Shaykh Abdullah and the family moved to Egypt.
Shaykh Abdullah resided in Egypt until his daughter’s divorce. The family then left Egypt for Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Shaykh Abdullah resided for a time in Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and from there moved to Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
and then finally to Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
near the tomb of great saint Sa’d ad-Din Jibawi. There he established the first tekke
Khanqah
A Khanqah, Khaniqah , ribat, zawiya, or tekke is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood, or tariqa, and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation...
for his branch of the Naqshbandi Order.
In 1943 he moved to a house on Jabal Qasioun mountain, a house that was bought by his first Syrian murid
Murid
Murid is a Sufi term meaning 'committed one' from the root meaning "willpower" or "self-esteem". It refers to a person who is committed to a Murshid in a Tariqa of Sufism. Also known as a Salik , a murid is an initiate into the mystic philosophy of Sufism. When the Talib makes a pledge to a...
and later khalifah
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, Shaykh Husayn Ifrini. This house and the mosque next to it still stand, and it is now the site of his türbe (tomb).
Over the years Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani became well known throughout Damascus for his spiritual teachings and he attracted many thousands of individuals who sought out relief from the weight of worldly life. He died on September 30, 1973.
It is significant that Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani is the Khatm ul Awliya and as such his Spiritual Rank is unmatched. More information on Shaykh Abdullah Daghestani being the Khatm ul Awliya is found at the following link :- http://www.sheiknazim2.com/khatmulawliya.html.
For a short, but comprehensive Biography of the Sheikh, please visit the following link:- http://naqshbandi.org/chain/39.htm
His Successor, Shaykh Nazim al-Qubrusi, made remarkable progress in spreading the Sufi teachings of Shaykh Abdullah to the West.
External links
- Media Library and Live Broadcast of the Haqqani Golden Chain
- Sheikh Nazim's Official Naqshbandi Journal - Exclusive Talks & Webcast as instructed by Sheikh Nazim Al-Haqqani himself
- Film - The Maqam (Burial Residence) and Biography of Grand Sheikh Abdullah al-Faiz ad-Daghastani by Sheikh Adnan Kabbani, produced by Sufi Films