pleasantly loud and face was extremely beautiful. Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was extremely intelligent. (Nuzhat-ul-Khaatir, pp. 19)

Ghaus-e-A’zam gained knowledge in mother’s womb

On page 4 of his booklet ‘Munnay ki Laash’ [Corpse of a Child], Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, ‘Allamah Maulana Abu Bilal Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qaadiri Razavi Ziyaee دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه has stated: When Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was sent to a pious predecessor to recite ‘بِسۡـمِ اللّٰه’ at the age of 5 [five], he recited ‘اَعُوۡذُ’ and ‘بِسۡـمِ اللّٰه’ and then recited from the first part to the 18^th part of the Holy Quran. The saint said, ‘Son! Continue reciting.’ He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied, ‘This is all that I have memorized because my mother also memorized this much. When I was in my mother’s womb, my mother would recite up to the 18^th chapter of the Glorious Quran so I memorized this much by listening [to her].’ (Al-Haqaaiq fil-Hadaiq, pp. 140)

Early education

Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was still a small child when his father, Sayyid Abu Saalih Musa Jangi Dost رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه passed away. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was brought up by Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Sawma’ee رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, his maternal grandfather. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Sawma’ee رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was one of the pious predecessors of Jeelan who was extremely pious and abstinent. Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه received his early education and Tarbiyyat (upbringing) from him.

Someone asked Shaykh ‘Abdul Qaadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه: ‘When did you realize yourself as a Wali?’ He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied: ‘When I was ten years old I would leave home for Madrasah for studying, I would see the angels who would be saying to boys: Make room for seating the Wali of Allah Almighty.’ (Bahjat-ul-Asraar, pp. 48)

After acquiring the basic education, Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه went to Baghdad for gaining more Islamic knowledge in 488 Hijri at the age of 18 because Baghdad was the only educational and political centre of Muslims in those days.