2. Second – From the ages of 18 to 51 (a total of 33 years). In this period, he went to Baghdad and studied the sacred knowledge of Islam. Alongside his pursuit of knowledge, he also engaged in great spiritual struggle (mujāhadāh) against the nafs. He would go into the wilderness, live in solitude, worship Allah Almighty, and absorb himself in dhikr.

3. Third – From the age of 51 to 91 (a total of 40 years). During this phase of his life, Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  formally began delivering lessons and public discourses. He spread the call to righteousness, illuminated hearts with the light of Islamic knowledge, lit lamps of guidance, showed people the path of the true religion, revived the Sunnah, and transformed thousands of wayward individuals into travelers on the straight path.

His teaching and speeches

Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه   would deliver speeches three days a week.

Ibrāhīm b. SaꜤd  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  relates, “Shaykh ꜤAbd al-Qādir would wear scholarly clothing and sit upon an elevated place (for example, a minbar) to deliver speeches.”

The Shaykh himself says:

In the beginning, only two or three people would sit with me. Gradually, large crowds began to gather. People would come riding on horses, mules, and camels, from far and wide. At that time, around seventy thousand would be in attendance (and later, this number increased even more).^[1]