The Bestowal of the Title “Naqshband”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

There is a story from the Qadiri thariqa’ of Shah Baha’ ad-Din Muhammad an-Naqshband (q.s.).  It is said that 150 years after the death of Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Abu Swalih ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.), people asked Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.), “Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir said, ‘My foot is on the shoulders of all the saints’, what do you think about this?” 

Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.) replied, “May Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir’s foot be upon my eyes and my vision.” 

One day, Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.) was traveling in the desert when he met Khidhr (a.s.), who transported him to the spiritual presence of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.).  This was before he had earned the title, “an-Naqshband”.  Shah an-Naqshband (q.s.) said, “O one who holds hands in the universe, hold my hand so they will be your holder of hands.” 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.) put his hand on Shaykh an-Naqshband’s (q.s.) heart and said, “O the holder of the adornment of the worlds, hold my adornment so that they can call you ‘Naqshband’.”  “Naqshband” means “the one who adorns”. 

And then Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband (q.s.) recited the following poem, which is inscribed on both the tombs of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (q.s.) and Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband (q.s.): 

“The King of this world and the hereafter is Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir

The head of the children of Adam is Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir.

Sun, Moon, heavens, the Throne and the Pen,

They all get their light from the heart of ‘Abd al-Qadir.”