Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh Ali Hujwiri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ is one of the most revered Muslim saints in South Asia. Millions of Muslims from across the globe visit his shrine, particularly on Data Sahib urs year after year.
Data Ganj Bakhsh real name is ‘Ali and his father’s name is ‘Usman. His lineage is linked to Sayyiduna Imam Hasan Mujtaba through six relations. (Buzurgan-e-Lahore, pp. 222). His filial appellation (Kunyah) is ‘Abul Hasan’. Born in the 11th century, Data Gunj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ is known for his piety, wisdom, and spiritual guidance.
Kashf ul Mahjoob by Data Ganj Bakhsh is regarded as the earliest Persian treatise on Islamic mysticism. His shrine in Lahore, Pakistan, is a beacon of spiritual solace for his millions of devotees. Let’s get into more details of the Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh biography.
Sayyiduna Hazrat Ganj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ was born in 400 AH in Ghazni. After some time, his family shifted to Mahallah Hajwayr, due to this place he is called Hajwayri. He belonged to an illustrious family of Sayyids, so Data Ali Hajveri family tree can be directly traced back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. His father, Sayyid Usman, was known for his piety and knowledge, qualities that were deeply ingrained in Hazrat Ali Hujwiri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ from a young age.
Data Gunj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ gained knowledge and Ma’rifat from many high ranking Aimmah-e-Tareeqat and Shari’at and spent the major part of his life in travels in order to meet the righteous bondsmen of Allah Almighty, to receive blessings from their good influence and to overpower his Nafs through hardships for the pleasure of Allah.
He completed his Islamic education at a young age. The status of his knowledge can be estimated from this incident that once in the presence of Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi, Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ had a discussion with a non-Muslim philosopher, he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ, by virtue of his scholarly competence, silenced him by giving outstanding answers, though he was very young.
If this discussion is supposed to be made in the last year of Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi, then he was approximately 20 years old. (Kashf-ul-Mahjoob: Preface, pp. 12)
Like many Sufi saints, Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ embarked on extensive travels in search of spiritual enlightenment. His journeys took him to various parts of the Islamic world, including Kirmaan, Seestan, Turkistan, Maawara-an-Nahr, Khuzestan, Tabristan, Azerbaijan, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Hijaz Muqaddas (Makkah and Madinah).
These travels allowed him to interact with a wide range of scholars, mystics, and Sufi masters, enriching his understanding of the spiritual path. His encounters with these luminaries further deepened his knowledge and led to his profound spiritual insights.
For acquiring Islamic knowledge, he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ travelled to more than 10 countries including Iraq, Syria and Hijaz Muqaddas (Makkah and Madinah) and had many difficult incidents in this tough path but he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ always remained as an example of patience and contentment and was grateful to Allah.
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ became occupied with preaching Islam day and night. His perfect character, outstanding conversation, luminous personality and sayings that touch the hearts took people out of polytheism and immorality and put them on the path of guidance. He رحمۃ اللہ علیہ laid the foundation stone for a Masjid near his residence in Markaz-e-Awliya (Lahore).
Sayyiduna Data Ganj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ served the religion with great love throughout his life, he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ gave the message of peace to those who were depressed and fulfilled religious and worldly needs of his disciples and true lovers. Even today, he still fulfils the needs of his devotees from his luminous shrine, removes their worries and blesses whoever he wants with his spiritual (Fayzan) blessings.
It was the routine of Sayyiduna Data Ganj Bakhsh ‘Ali Hajveri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ that he would visit the shrines of pious saints. He recorded many incidents related to visiting shrines in his famous book ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjoob’.
Sayyiduna Daata Ganj Bakhsh ‘Ali Hajwayri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ has said, “During the journey to Syria, I visited the sacred tomb of Sayyiduna Bilal the blessed Muazzin of the Noblest Prophet ﷺ. I fell asleep there, and found myself in Makkah Mukarramah, here I saw the Greatest and Holiest Prophet ﷺ at the door of the tribe of ‘Bani Shaybah’ kindly holding an elderly man as a child is held in the hands, out of my overwhelming love I fell upon the feet of the Prophet ﷺ of Rahmah, I was curious to know who this elderly man was. The Noblest Prophet ﷺ knew the state of my curiosity due to his blessed knowledge of the Unseen and his inner power, and said to me, ‘This is Abu Hanifah, and he is your Imam.’” (Kashf al Mahjub, pp. 216)
After the blessed companions, the pious saints brightened the hearts of the people with the luminosity of Islamic teachings in every age. Sayyiduna Daata Ali Hajwayri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ also made this aim his habit and arrived in Lahore City, Markaz-e-Awliya, to accomplish this important duty of calling towards righteousness. He رحمۃ اللہ علیہ showed such qualities of knowledge and philosophy that the city which was drowned in the darkness of unbelief and polytheism, became a fort of Islam by the efforts of Sayyiduna Daata Ali Hajwayri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ.
By virtue of his good manners, good character and politeness many people had profound love for him in their hearts. He stayed in Markaz-e-Awliya for approximately 30 years.
Allah Almighty enlightened Data Ali Hajveri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ with the deep knowledge of the known and the unknown. Aside from that, he gained a vast amount of insight into life and death as a result of his itineraries in search of religious enlightenment across the world. He رحمۃ اللہ علیہ wrote several important books to guide humanity to the right path. Below are some books of Data Ganj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ:
- Minhaj-ud-Deen
- Diwan
- Asrar-ul-Kharq-wal-Ma`oonaat
- Kitab-ul-Bayan li-Ahl-il-‘Iyan
- Bahr-ul-Quloob
- Ar-Ri’aayah Bi-Huqooqillah
- Kitab-e-Fana-o-Baqa
- Sharh Kalam-e-Mansoor Hallaaj
- Iman
- Kash ful Mahjoob
It’s quite unfortunate that of all his literary works, only Kashf al Mahjoob is easily available today.
Throughout his life, Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ served the case of deen with wholeheartedness and dedication. He رحمۃ اللہ علیہ gave a message of peace and harmony to the entire humanity and fulfilled the worldly and spiritual needs of his followers.
The passing of Data Ganj Bakhsh رحمۃ اللہ علیہ took place on the 20th of Safar ul Muzaffar 465 Hijri according to most Islamic scholars (Sayyid Hijwayr, 143). His great tomb is Data Darbar that illuminates with the light of spiritualty. It is situated at Bhati Gate, Markazul Awliya, Lahore. Due to this reason, the location is also called Data Nagar.
Every year people from around the world gather at the Data Darbar on Data Ganj Bakhsh urs. Although it’s been 900 years since Data Ganj Bakhsh passed, even today he رحمۃ اللہ علیہ helps the people that come to his abode with their grievances and troubles and blesses anyone that he pleases with his spiritual grace.
