Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani: the Cold-Water Trial, Forgiveness of Hammad al-Dabbas, and the Prayer at His Grave

A detailed manaqib account in Sirr al-Asrar wa Mazhar al-Anwar fima Yahtaju ilayhi al-Abrar relates that on 27 Dhu al-Hijjah 529 AH Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani visited the al-Shuniziyya cemetery with a large group of spiritual seekers and jurists. He stood for a long time at the grave of Shaykh Hammad al-Dabbas until the heat became intense. When he finally left, joy was visible on his face. Asked why he had remained there so long, he recalled an incident from mid-Sha'ban 499 AH.

On that Friday, Abd al-Qadir had left Baghdad with Hammad and his companions for Jami al-Rusafa. Near the river bridge, Hammad suddenly pushed him into the freezing water. Abd al-Qadir invoked Allah and immediately intended the ritual bath for Friday. He was wearing a woolen robe, and scholarly fascicles were tucked into his sleeve, so he raised his hands to keep them dry. He climbed out, wrung his robe, and followed the group despite the severe cold. Hammad stopped his companions from troubling him further and said that the hardship had only been a test: he had found Abd al-Qadir like a mountain that did not move.

Abd al-Qadir then said that at the grave he saw Hammad dressed in splendid garments, but his right hand would not obey him. Hammad said that this was the hand with which he had thrown him into the river and asked for forgiveness. Abd al-Qadir forgave him immediately. Hammad then asked him to pray for the hand to be restored. Abd al-Qadir stood in supplication, and the report says that five thousand awliya in their graves said amen and joined their prayer to his. He continued until Hammad's hand was restored, after which Hammad joyfully shook his hand with it.

When the report spread in Baghdad, shaykhs and Sufis connected with Hammad came to Abd al-Qadir's school seeking confirmation. Abd al-Qadir asked them to choose two respected shaykhs through whom the matter could be clarified. They selected Shaykh Yusuf al-Hamadhani and Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Kurdi. Soon Yusuf entered barefoot and hurriedly testified that he had just been shown Hammad, who instructed him to tell the gathering that Abd al-Qadir had spoken truthfully. Before Yusuf had finished, Abd al-Rahman entered and gave the same confirmation. The gathering sought forgiveness from Allah and pardon from Abd al-Qadir. The transmitted account therefore centers on patience under trial, forgiveness, prayer, reverence, and trust in divine grace.