El-Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gillani is a Sheikh from the Ahlul-Bayt who descends directly from the lineage of Shaykh Abdul-Qadir Al-Jilani and founder of The Muslims of America. He is also the founder of the . With full titles his name appears as His Eminence, El-Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gillani Hashimi.
The International Qur'anic Open University is a premier institute for the intensive, in-depth study of the Quran, Islamic traditions and Sufic Sciences with a strong emphasis on the upholding & practice of the Quran and Sunnah.
In 1978, Gilani published An Introduction to Quranic Psychology, 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 published in 1981. In 1983 he published an edited and revised edition of Rauzatus-Safa, an influential 15th Century history volume set beginning with the creation of the Jinn and Adam all the way up to the Temurid dynasty of Islamic history. Rauzatus-Safa has recently been edited, revised, and re-published in 2014, hardcover.
Allegations and refutation of terrorist association
It has been alleged by the U.S. Government that he is associated with the terrorist organizationJamaat ul-Fuqra. In response to the allegations, Sheikh Gillani has written
"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"
Daniel Pearl was on his way to interview Gilani when he was abducted. Pearl wanted to interview him regarding a fabricated connection between Gilani and the "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid. Gilani was questioned in Pakistan concerning the abduction but subsequently released. The Federal Bureau of Investigators also cleared his name of any such involvement. FBI Special Agent Kathy Diskin: "I had the opportunity to sit down and interview with Sheikh Gilani. And when 15 minutes went into the interview, our feelings were that Sheikh Gilani was not involved in this".
View on terrorism
In a 2002 interview Gilani said that he believed the genies to be a greater danger to America than terrorism:
Human beings can be made to do things against their will. They can be made to commit crimes. They can made to go and kill people. You know? And all your missiles, all your rockets, space ships go up. And electronics, they can be damaged, influenced, and misdirected through the agencies of jinn beings.
