The Qadiri Order is considered to be one of the most prominent and influential one among the four Orders of Sufism. The Order or the Path was organised by the followers of Abdul-Qadir of Gilan. Abdul-Qadir Gilan was born in 1077 CE at Nif, in Gilan district, to the south of the Caspian Sea and he died in 1166. The Order is considered as one of the most widespread among the Sufi Orders in the Islamic world.

The great Sufi saint, Hadrat (`the Presence`) Abdul-Qadir was a specialist in the induction of spiritual states that is known as the Science of States. He extensively studied the scholarly disciplines of Islam before he dedicated himself to austerities and spiritual studies at a young age. He travelled through various places and eventually settled in Baghdad (then the capital of the Muslim world). He used to draw thousands of listeners, while giving lectures in Baghdad and the listeners also got quite influenced by his philosophy. Soon, Abdul-Qadir Gilan became a prominent public figure in Baghdad and he started to look after charitable trusts and issue judicial decisions. He also started addressing some eminent audiences including the high government officials. Gilan mainly emphasised on the themes like virtue, ethical conduct and self-discipline, while giving his lectures. The immense popularity that his teachings got remained intact even after his death and the teachings also inspired a large number of his followers. The subsequent generations of the disciples of Gilan laid the foundation to establish the Qadiri order.

The Spiritual Chain of the Qadiri Order traces back to the Prophet Muhammad and the chain is as follows: 1) Islamic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), 2) Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A), 3) Imam Husayn (R.A), 4) Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin, 5) Imam Muhammad Baqir, 6) Imam Ja`far as-Sadiq, 7) Imam Musa al-Kazim, 8) Imam Ali Musa Rida, 9) Ma`ruf Karkhi, 10) Sari Saqati, 11) Junayd al-Baghdadi, 12) Shaikh Abu Bakr Shibli, 13) Shaikh Abdul Aziz al-Tamimi, 14) Abu al-Fadl Abu al-Wahid al-Tamimi, 15) Abu al-Farah Tartusi, 16) Abu al-Hasan Farshi, 17) Abu Sa`id al-Mubarak Mukharrami and 18) Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. The chain of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gilan`s Path also traces back to the Muhammad through the following chain: 1) Islamic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), 2) Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A), 3) Shaikh Hasan Basri, 4) Shaikh Habib Ajami, 5) Shaikh Dawood Taiee, 6) Shaikh Ma`ruf Karkhi, 7) Shaikh Sari Saqati, 8) Shaikh Junayd al-Baghdadi, 9) Shaikh Sheikh Abu Bakr Shibli, 10) Shaikh Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Tamimi, 11) Shaikh Abu al-Fadl Abu al-Wahid al-Tamimi, 12) Shaikh Abu al-Farah Tartusi, 13) Shaikh Abu al-Hasan Farshi, 14) Shaikh Abu Sa`id al-Mubarak Mukharrami, 15) Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, 16) Shaikh Nouri Bin Mohamed Ali Al Beyrouti and 16) Caliph: Nourhan Bin Nouri Al Beyrouti.