(Hancock, NY) It is with inexpressible grief that we announce the passing of His Eminence El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gillani, lifelong humanitarian, beloved Pir (Spiritual leader and guide) of thousands of devotees worldwide, cherished husband and father. His peaceful passing on May 15th Saturday morning, at his home in Lahore, Pakistan, surrounded by family members and followers, brought to a close the prodigious earthly life of one totally dedicated to the service of Almighty Allah and the uplifting of humanity. A true descendant of the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, (peace and blessings be upon him), El Sheikh Gillani was the current leader of the Qadri Order, Ghaddi Nasheen (spiritual custodian) of the Shrine of Hazrat Mian Mir Sharif in Lahore, and the 6th Sultan of Awliya.
The humanitarian work of El Sheikh Gillani spans many decades, beginning in the early 1960's with the creation of the Climbers Club of Pakistan that combined aspects of character-building through adventure among youth. This was later established under his auspices in the U.S. and Canada and continues up until present.
An adept researcher in the miraculous healing power of the Holy Qur'an, El Sheikh Gillani, from 1976-77, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an initiative to combat mental disease by employing various treatment strategies from a myriad of cultures from all over the world. The Saudi Arabian King Fayyad contingency presented the above declaration of the Holy Qur’an, and the World Health Organization challenged them to prove it. After a futile search of the entire Middle East for a competent practitioner, one such skilled practitioner was finally discovered in Pakistan. His Eminence, El Sheikh Syed Mubarak Ali Shah Gilani was invited to the Taif Institute of Psychiatry in Saudi Arabia to demonstrate the Divine healing power of Holy Qur’an. He accepted the challenge and proposed to demonstrate the treatment based on Sufi Scientific principles that he had formulated and established.
The El Gilani Methodology (EGM) is a scientifically proven system that employs the use of the Holy Qur’an and other spiritual means to heal diseases of the body and afflictions of the soul. EGM was scientifically demonstrated at the Taif Institute before a panel of influential psychiatric officials from all over the world, including Dr. Dennis Lee from England. Not only were the results astounding, but the patients also involved were among the most difficult cases.
In 1980, guided and inspired by Almighty Allah, El Sheikh Gillani journeyed to the United States, where he found a community of African American Muslims possessing abundant love of the religion of Islam, but incomplete knowledge of its fundamentals and precepts, and whose adherents' living conditions were deplorable and oppressive. They had been searching for a mentor who was truly concerned for their welfare and enlightenment, and El Sheikh Gillani, who displayed these qualities, was immediately accepted and compassionately extended his guidance. At a time when families living in the inner cities were surrounded by drugs, sin, and crime, his Eminence El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gillani provided the American Muslims of African descent with a thorough education in the practice of Al-Islam in both letter and spirit. He cultivated a civil, moral and societal code for living that elevates the quality of life and ensures universal justice and equality for all. He taught that by following the illuminated example of the Holy Last Messenger, peace be upon him, Muslims become purified of the decadence of sin and are guided by a code of enlightenment. This pure lifestyle rescued fathers from ghettos of degradation, systematic racism and dehumanization to the bucolic beauty and peace of rural properties where families migrated to freely practice the Islamic way of life. Under his tutelage, The Muslims of America, Inc., was founded and developed self-sufficient villages throughout North America and the Caribbean, and for four generations have produced educated citizens of strong faith, fulfilling roles in society as teachers, doctors, attorneys, engineers, social workers, and scholars of world-renowned international institutions such as Al Azhar University.
The legacy of El Sheikh Gillani as a humanitarian is rooted in the words of the Almighty Creator found in Holy Qur’an (Chapter 5: line 32), which states, “...whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole mankind...”. Under the banner of “Mankind is the Family of God”, El Sheikh Gillani created coalitions to aid communities in times of calamity, natural disasters, and attacks on social justice and equality felt by Americans of African Descent and Muslims worldwide. When the sharp rise of Islamophobia in America began to reveal a deliberate attempt to bring about a clash of civilizations between Muslims and Christians, El Sheikh Gillani intervened and brought them together to focus on commonalities and shared community interests through interfaith programs and events sponsored by the United Muslim Christian Forum (UMCF). Even with a lifetime of noble humanitarian works, an Islamophobic network created and spread baseless conspiracy theories about El Sheikh Gillani through an unprecedented media attack fueled by right-wing extremists. While government agencies and investigative reporting proved the claims to be defamatory, the lies penetrated major media outlets spawning violent threats against the Muslim community. El Sheikh Gillani encouraged the building of long-lasting relationships with law enforcement and social justice advocates to raise awareness of the dangers of what he labeled unchecked “media terrorism” against innocent American Muslims.
Revered as a spiritual leader, El Sheikh Gillani’s mission to “bring people from darkness into the light” was divinely supported by well-documented and attested miraculous manifestations. Over two decades ago, worshippers found the name of the Almighty Creator, Allah, and the name of the Holy Last Messenger, Muhammad, peace be upon him, illuminated in Arabic script layered in radiating rainbow colors on the wall of what is now the beautiful shrine Holy Khanqah Qadria Gillania in Holy Islamville, SC. August 2 marks the eleventh anniversary of the appearance of the shining name of Allah found emblazoned on the walls of the masjid in Holy Islamberg, New York, now known as Baitullah Tajalli Azam Jamiatul Masjid Gillani Qadria, one of the world’s holiest shrines where many continue to flock and bear witness.
The janaza or funeral prayer for His Eminence Sheikh Gillani, attended by hundreds of people, was held at Darbar Mian Mir Sharif, and was also offered in absentia all over the world: Hancock, NY (Holy Islamberg); York, SC (Holy Islamville); Commerce, GA (Madinah Wadi); Dover,TN (Islamville); Odum, GA (Aliville); Cairo, Egypt; Coldwater, MI (Mian Mir); Red House, VA (Ahmadabad); Barry's Bay, Canada (Hasanville); Sally, SC (Salaamville); Hassanberg, MS; Trinidad; Mali, West Africa; and Anchorage, Alaska.
His Eminence El Sheikh Gillani was buried in Gillaniville, Lahore, which he founded as a model, self-sufficient village.
The Muslims of America, Inc. (TMOA) is an indigenous American Muslim organization founded in 1980 and based in the United States of America. TMOA is dedicated to maintaining Islamic principles to be practiced in both letter and spirit by forming communities focused on love for the Almighty Creator, His Commandments, and establishment of long-lasting relationships through interfaith programs.