Mubarak Ali Shah Gillani (15 August 1936 – 15 May 2021)[1] was a Pakistani Sufi religious leader in the United States. A member of the Qadiriyya tariqa, he was the founder of The Muslims of America (TMOA) and also founded the International Qur'anic Open University (IQOU).[2]
With full titles his name appears as El-Sheikh Syed Mubarak Ali Shah Gillani Hashimi.
Early life and education
editMubarak Ali Shah Gillani was the eldest son of Pir Maqsood Shah Gilani, having two brothers and four sisters. His family were the historical caretakers and custodians of the Mian Mir shrine in Lahore.[1][3]
He graduated from the University of the Punjab, where he founded the Adventure Club for climbers and mountaineers.[1]
Political career
editIn the 1970s, Gilani was active in Pakistan's national politics, having joined Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s Tehreek-i-Istaqlal, becoming the party's Punjab chapter vice president. Due to his political involvement, he was arrested thrice by the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Government, pushing him to move to Saudi Arabia before shifting to the United States.[1]
The Muslims of America
editThe Muslims of America, Inc. (TMOA) was founded in 1980 by Gilani during his seven years in the United States during which he sought to establish Islam in America.[3] Among other projects, TMOA has communities in the town of Hancock, New York, called Islamberg and in York County, South Carolina, called Holy Islamville.[4] A community in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California, called Baladullah, existed from 1989 to 2002.
Publications
editIn 1978, Gilani published An Introduction to Quranic Psychology,[5] which detailed, according to him, proofs upon scientific evidence and witnessing about using the Qur'an and religious observance to cure certain mental disorders. This was followed up by his An Introduction to Psychiatry: Based on Teaching of the Quran and also Contains Results of Scientific Demonstration of Curing Incurable Mental Diseases in the Psychiatric Institute, Taif, Saudi Arabia, 1976–1977[6] published in 1981.
In 1983, he published an edited and revised edition of Rauzatus-Safa, an influential 15th century Islamic history volume set beginning with the creation of the Jinn and Adam and going all the way up to the Temurid dynasty.[7] Rauzatus-Safa was additionally edited, revised, and re-published in hardcover in 2014.
Allegations and refutation of terrorist association
editIt has been alleged by the Government of the United States[8] that Gilani is associated with the terrorist organization Jamaat ul-Fuqra.[9] In a 2002 interview, Gilani downplayed the impact of terrorism in the United States, claiming genies to be a greater threat to American society.[10] In response to the allegations of connections to terrorism, Sheikh Gillani wrote:
"In regard to the name, they say MOA is a front for Jamaat al Fuqra. They try to keep bringing this name Jamaat al Fuqra, but we don’t acknowledge it. Can our enemies show me, in my own writing, where I said I established Jamaat al Fuqra or its offices here in Pakistan or in America?" ... "None ever called themselves Jamaat ul Fuqra"[11]
Later life and death
editAfter living in the United States, Gilani returned to Pakistan, where he began to be seen as a healer. On 15 May 2021, Gilani died in Lahore from a stroke and underlying health conditions. Upon his death, he was survived by eight sons, three daughters and two wives.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Bukhari, Mubasher (30 May 2021). "An unusual sufi". Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ "International Qur'anic Open University - The Muslims of America, Inc". tmoamerica.org. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ a b Ahmed, Khaled (4 February 2021). "Daniel Pearl and Mubarak Shah Gilani". Retrieved 20 February 2022.
- ^ Williams, Paul L. (30 September 2010). The Day of Islam: The Annihilation of America and the Western World. Prometheus Books. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-61592-095-2.
- ^ Jilani, Mubarik Ali (1976) An introduction to Quranic psychologyQuranic Research Institute, Lahore, Pakistan, OCLC 18490762
- ^ Jilani, Mubarik Ali (1981) An introduction to psychiatry: based on teaching of the Quran Al-Majeed and also contains results of scientific demonstration of curing incurable mental diseases in the Psychiatric Institute, Taif, Saudi Arabia, 1976–1977 Zavia Books for the Quranic Research Institute of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan, OCLC 18490762
- ^ Rauzatus-Safā fi Sīrat-ul-Ambiyā wal-Mulūk wal-Khulafā (The Gardens of Purity concerning the biography of the Prophets and Kings and Caliphs) by Syed Muhammad ibn Khawandshah ibn Mahmud Al-Hussaini, an historian also known as Mirkhwand, originally published in Persian in seven volumes in the year 1417 C.E. (836 A.H.), OCLC 11220401
- ^ "Daily Press Briefing March 27, 2002", U.S. Department of State.
- ^ Netzley, Patricia D. (17 March 2009). Terrorism. Greenhaven Publishing LLC. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7377-4622-8.
- ^ "Sheik Gilani: CBS' Man In Pakistan Tracks Him Down", CBS News, 13 March 2002
- ^ Gilani, El-Sheikh Mubarik Ali. "IQOU Vice Chancellor Presents Historic Evidence of Situations Created to Cast Islam as the Enemy". The Islamic Post. Islamic Post. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
