Abdul-Qadir Gilani had spent his early life in Na'if, the town of his birth.

In 1095, at the age of eightees, he had gone to Baghdad, where, he had pursued the study of Hanbali law.

Abu Ali al-Mukharrimi gave Al Gilani lessons in Fiqh.

He was given lessons about Hadith by Abu Bakr ibn Muzaffar, and was given lessons about Tafsir by Abu Muhammad Ja'far, a commentator.

In Tasawwuf, his spiritual instructor was Abu'l-Khair Hammad ibn Muslim al-Dabbas.

After completing his education, Gilani left Baghdad to spend twenty-five years as a reclusive wanderer in the desert regions of Iraq.

Al Gilani returns to Baghdad in 1127 and begins to preach to the public.

He joins the teaching staff of the school belonging to his own teacher, al-Mukharrimii, and delivers a discourse on the science of the heart and the virtues of the Qur'an.

He is said to have been a convincing preacher and to have converted numerous Jews and Christians.

His preaching strength lies in the reconciling of the mystical nature of the Sufi and strict nature of the Qur'an.

He feels it is important to control egotism and worldliness in submission to God.