The latter addressed it with admonishing words, as one would address a naughty child: “Now go, fly away, and leave us in peace. We are studying the book of God.” The bird bowed its head humbly, then flew away.

The naughty birds.  One day, as ‘Abd al-Qadir was performing his ablutions, a bird came flying over and dropped its dirt on the saint’s robe. The latter looked at the bird and it fell down. As ‘Abd al-Qadir was cleaning his robe, another bird let its droppings fall on the saint’s hand. A look from the old teacher brought it down too. Abdul called one of his students and told him to sell the two birds, which were alive but unable to fly, and to use the revenues for alms.

A Christian converted. A certain Christian had a dream in which Jesus Christ appeared to him and urged him to embrace Islam as preached by ‘Abd al-Qadir. So, the Christian went up to ‘Abd al-Qadir and asked to become his pupil, as Christ had ordered.

The stolen girl. One day, a man came to ‘Abd al-Qadir in a state of agitation and despair: “O friend of God!” cried he, “my only daughter disappeared in the middle of the night! What can I do to get her back? Where is she? God forbid that she has eloped!” ‘Abd al-Qadir reassured the poor father that he could help him recover the apple of his eye. He spoke thus: “Your daughter has been imprudent enough to go up to the flat roof of your house in the night for a breath of fresh air. No mortal man could see her, but a jinn saw her as he was flying over the city of Baghdad. He fell in love with her, lifted her off the roof, and flew away with her. Now, in order to get her back you will have to go and see the king of the jinns. He will be holding an audience tonight, but of course mortals cannot normally see jinns. Therefore, listen carefully: Here is what you must do.”

‘Abd al-Qadir told the bereaved father of the place where the king of the jinns would hold court and taught him the prayers he had to recite in order to see the jinns. The man thanked ‘Abd al-Qadir and wended his way out of the city and into the wilderness. After nightfall he reached the magic valley and recited the prescribed prayers. Suddenly he saw strange beings in all shapes and sizes: humans, animals, and hideous monsters. These were the jinns.

In their midst he saw a huge figure in resplendent garments with a shining crown on his head and surrounded by jinn servants.