Birth and Early Life
Sayyid Sheikh al‑Sultan Ḥussein al‑Kasnazani (may God sanctify his secret) was born in 1306 AH (1885 CE) in the village of Karbejnah. He was raised in a devout and scholarly household, where he memorized the Holy Qur’an and pursued Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). From a young age, he was renowned for his spiritual fortitude, moral courage, and unwavering dedication to justice. He committed himself to restoring the rights of the oppressed and defending the weak.
He had a profound affinity for solitude in nature and would often retreat into the mountains for worship and reflection—an inclination that earned him the title Sultan of the Mountains. In the final years of his life, he practiced continuous fasting and embraced a life of extreme asceticism.
Sheikh al‑Sultan Ḥussein was known for extraordinary generosity. He gave away all his personal resources to support the poor, widows, and orphans. On one occasion, when a destitute widow appealed to him for help, he removed his gold dental implants and handed them to her so she could sell them to provide for her children.
He frequently withdrew to the mountains after midnight, lying amidst thorns until dawn as a form of spiritual discipline. Despite consuming only barley bread and bitter colocynth, he established monthly stipends from his own wealth for numerous impoverished families and orphaned children.
Teachings and Sayings
Among his spiritual counsels, he once declared:
“Our path is built upon the Qur’an, the Sunnah, love of the Truth, purification of the self, truthfulness, patience in affliction, fidelity to one’s word, refraining from rejoicing at the misfortunes of Muslims, repaying evil with good, showing mercy to orphans, clothing the destitute, feeding the hungry, aiding the needy, strengthening the weak, and abstaining from all forms of oppression.”
To his disciples, he advised:
“O seeker, beware of attachment to the world, for its love consumes the worshipper as heat melts honey. Stand with the oppressed, never with the oppressors. The world may endure alongside disbelief, but it can never endure alongside injustice.”
Religious Education and Service to Scholars
Sayyid Sheikh al‑Sultan Ḥussein (may God sanctify his secret) founded a religious school in his hometown of Karbejnah at his own expense. He appointed qualified instructors and admitted students to study Prophetic traditions (ḥadīth), grammar, jurisprudence, and various Islamic sciences. The school regularly enrolled more than twenty students, producing graduates who became scholars in different branches of religious knowledge.
Passing and Succession
Sheikh al‑Sultan Ḥussein al‑Kasnazani passed into the eternal realm in 1360 AH (1939 CE). He was succeeded in spiritual leadership by his brother, Sayyid Sheikh ʿAbd al‑Karīm al‑Kasnazani (may God sanctify his secret). His death left a deep void among his disciples and the broader Muslim community, who mourned the passing of a spiritual guide at a time when Islam was in great need of moral renewal.
Among his final counsels to his sincere followers was:
“O seeker, remain at the door of God. Turn your heart toward the Messenger of God ﷺ. Seek support from his noble presence through your Sheikh, in sincerity. Walk the path of refined manners with him, and guard his absence. Devote yourself to service in his home and speak little in his company. Counsel your brothers, unify their hearts, fill your soul with remembrance, and adorn your form with contemplation. Rely on God and be patient with trials. Send abundant blessings upon the Noble Prophet ﷺ. Stay in your home and avoid the marketplaces and places of distraction. Hold fast to the rope of God. Whoever abandons the world will find true joy. Honor your guests. Be merciful to your family—your children, your spouse, your servant. Mention God in all your affairs, be sincere with Him in public and in private, and work for the Hereafter with righteous deeds. This is my advice to you, O seeker—and how direly we need to uphold it today.”
Spiritual Wonders (Karāmāt)
Known also as the Sultan of the Saints (Sulṭān al-Awliyā’), Sheikh al‑Sultan Ḥussein al‑Kasnazani (may God sanctify his secret) was famed for his many spiritual wonders and miracles, witnessed and recorded by numerous followers.
▪ The Journey to Mosul
He once instructed a poor disciple named ʿAzīz to travel to Mosul for a spiritual mission. Burdened by poverty, physical weakness, and unfamiliarity with Arabic or the route, the disciple inwardly questioned how he could fulfill the task—especially as he was also instructed to bring along another disciple who was lame and even frailer.
At that time, travel was difficult, and roads were unpaved and treacherous. Yet, by divine facilitation, they reached Mosul with ease. They took shelter with a poor man in a dilapidated home. That man had a Christian neighbor whose elderly mother had been bedridden for over ten years. Upon hearing of the arrival of these dervishes, the family approached them, asking for prayers of healing, offering fifty gold coins in return.
The disciples refused the payment, saying, “Our work is purely for the sake of God—we seek no reward.” When the woman was brought before them, one of the disciples lightly touched her with a stick while invoking the spiritual authority of Sheikh al‑Sultan Ḥussein—and, by God’s will, she rose fully healed.
The miracle quickly became the talk of Mosul. Crowds gathered seeking healing and blessings. This, however, stirred jealousy among certain rivals, who eventually demanded that the disciples leave the city.
▪ The Dhikr of the Hidden Beings
On another occasion, the sound of dhikr (invocations of God) was audibly heard surrounding the Sheikh. When asked about it, he replied:
“They are among the Muslim jinn who have entered the Sufi path.”
Source:
Sheikh Muḥammad al‑Kasnazani, The Exalted Qādirī Kasnazānī Path, p. 351.
