Mubarik Ali Shah Gillani (August 15, 1936– May 15, 2021 in
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
)
was a Pakistani Sufi religious leader of the
Qadiriyya
The Qadiriyya (), also transliterated Qādirīyah, ''Qadri'', ''Qadriya'', ''Kadri'', ''Elkadri'', ''Elkadry'', ''Aladray'', ''Alkadrie'', ''Adray'', ''Kadray'', ''Kadiri'', ''Qadiri'', ''Quadri'' or ''Qadri'' are members of the Sunni Qadiri ta ...
tariqa
A tariqa (or ''tariqah''; ar, طريقة ') is a school or order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking ''haqiqa'', which translates as "ultimate truth".
...
(order). He was the founder of
The Muslims of America and also founded the International Qur'anic Open University.
With full titles his name appears as El-Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gillani Hashimi.
Early life
Gilani is the eldest son
of Pir Maqsood Shah Gilani and his family were the caretakers and custodians of
Mian Mir
Baba Sain Mir Mohammed Sahib (c. 1550 – 22 August 1635), popularly known as Mian Mir or Miyan Mir, was a famous Sindhi Sufi Muslim saint who resided in Lahore, specifically in the town of ''Dharampura'' (in present-day Pakistan). He was a di ...
shrine in Lahore.
International Quranic Open University
The International Qur'anic Open University is a premier institute for the intensive, in-depth study of the Quran, Islamic traditions and Sufic Sciences with a strong emphasis on the upholding and practice of the Quran and Sunnah.
The Muslims of America
The Muslims of America, Inc. was founded in 1980 by Gilani during his seven years in the United States during which he sought to establish Islam in America.
Among other projects it has communities in the Town of
Hancock, New York
Hancock is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The town contains a village, also named Hancock. The town is in the southwest part of the county. The population was 3,224 at the 2010 census. The town is the largest by area in Del ...
, called
Islamberg and in
York County, South Carolina
York County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 282,090, making it the seventh most populous county in the state. Its county seat is the cit ...
, called
Holy Islamville. A community in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, called
Baladullah
Baladullah was an African-American Muslim enclave in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. It was founded in the mid-1990s, inspired by Shaykh Gilani, and closed in 2002.
History
The parcel which became Baladulla was once part of a pro ...
, existed from 1989 to 2002. Hancock is where
Jamaat ul-Fuqra
Jamaat ul-Fuqraa (alternatively Jamaat al-Fuqraa; ar, جماعة الفقراء, "Community of the Impoverished") is an Islamic terrorist organization of mostly African-American Muslims based in Pakistan and the United States. Some of the approxim ...
is said to be headquartered.
Publications
In 1978, Gilani published ''An Introduction to Quranic Psychology'', which detailed, according to him, proofs upon scientific evidence and witnessing about using the
Qur'an
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , sing. ...
(Koran) and religious observance to cure certain mental disorders. This was followed up by his ''An introduction to psychiatry: based on teaching of the Quran and also contains results of scientific demonstration of curing incurable mental diseases in the Psychiatric Institute, Taif, Saudi Arabia, 1976–1977'' published in 1981.
In 1983 he published an edited and revised edition of
Rauzatus-Safa, an influential 15th Century history volume set beginning with the creation of the Jinn and Adam all the way up to the Temurid dynasty of Islamic history. Rauzatus-Safa has recently been edited, revised, and re-published in 2014, hardcover.
Allegations and refutation of terrorist association
It has been alleged by the U.S. Government that he is associated with the terrorist organization
Jamaat ul-Fuqra
Jamaat ul-Fuqraa (alternatively Jamaat al-Fuqraa; ar, جماعة الفقراء, "Community of the Impoverished") is an Islamic terrorist organization of mostly African-American Muslims based in Pakistan and the United States. Some of the approxim ...
. In response to the allegations, Sheikh Gillani has written
"In regard to the name, they say MOA is a front for ''Jamaat al Fuqra''. They try to keep bringing this name ''Jamaat al Fuqra'', but we don’t acknowledge it. Can our enemies show me, in my own writing, where I said I established Jamaat al Fuqra or its offices here in Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
or in America?" ... "None ever called themselves ''Jamaat ul Fuqra''"
In a 2002 interview, Gilani said that he believed the
genies to be a greater danger to America than terrorism:
Human beings can be made to do things against their will. They can be made to commit crimes. They can made to go and kill people. You know? And all your missiles, all your rockets, space ships go up. And electronics, they can be damaged, influenced, and misdirected through the agencies of jinn
Jinn ( ar, , ') – also Romanization of Arabic, romanized as djinn or Anglicization, anglicized as genies (with the broader meaning of spirit or demon, depending on sources)
– are Invisibility, invisible creatures in early Arabian mytho ...
beings.
Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl (October 10, 1963 – February 1, 2002) was an American journalist who worked for ''The Wall Street Journal.'' He was kidnapped and later decapitated by terrorists in Pakistan.'
Pearl was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and rais ...
was on his way to interview Gilani when he was abducted, although the meeting is believed to have been a set up.
Pearl wanted to interview him regarding a fabricated connection between Gilani and the "Shoe Bomber"
Richard Reid
Richard Colvin Reid (born 12 August 1973), also known as the "Shoe Bomber", is the perpetrator of the failed shoe bombing attempt on a transatlantic flight in 2001. Born to a father who was a career criminal, Reid converted to Islam as a young ...
. Gilani was questioned in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
concerning the abduction and approved for extradition to the United States,
but subsequently released. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...
(FBI) also cleared his name of any such involvement. FBI Special Agent Kathy Diskin: "I had the opportunity to sit down and interview with Sheikh Gilani. And when 15 minutes went into the interview, our feelings were that Sheikh Gilani was not involved in this".
Later life
Gilani returned to Pakistan and was seen as a healer by some. Upon his death in 2021 from a stroke and underlying health conditions, he was survived by eight sons, three daughters and two wives.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilani, Mubarak Ali
1937 births
2021 deaths
Pakistani Sufis
Pakistani Sufi religious leaders
Qadiri order
People from Lahore
American Muslims
American Sunni Muslims