The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (13 page)

1077–1166 (AH 470–561)).
Preacher,
anbalite
theologian, and supposed founder of the
Q
dir
ya
S
f
order. His fame as an orator attracted students from all over the Muslim world. It is said that his sermons converted many Jews and Christians to Islam, and many Muslims to the spiritual life. Financial support from his many followers enabled him to establish a
rib
t
(S
f
centre), where the poor and needy were cared for. He served as
muft
, teacher of Quranic exegesis,
ad
th
, and
fiqh
.
‘Abd al-Q
dir's sober Sufism gained wide acceptance amongst the orthodox circles, and therein lies the reason for the great spread of the Q
dir