Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh
Data Ganj Bakhsh, Sultan-ul-Awliya, Hujjat al-Hind Hazrat Ali ibn Usman al-Hujwiri (رحمة الله عليه)
| Full Name | Hazrat Ali ibn Usman al-Hujwiri (رحمة الله عليه) |
| Title | Data Ganj Bakhsh |
| Born | c. 1009 CE (around 400 AH), Ghazni, Afghanistan |
| Died | 1072 CE (465 AH), Lahore, Pakistan |
| Resting Place | Data Darbar, Lahore, Pakistan |
Early Life
Hazrat Data Sahib (رحمة الله عليه) was born in the early 11th century in Ghazni, which was a major center of Islamic learning at the time.
He belonged to a noble and religious family. From a young age, he showed a strong inclination towards knowledge, عبادت (worship), and spiritual purification.
Education and Knowledge
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (رحمة الله عليه) received his early education in Ghazni and later traveled extensively to gain knowledge.
He studied:
- Qur’an and Tafsir
- Hadith
- Fiqh
- Tasawwuf (Islamic spirituality)
He traveled across many regions including:
- Khurasan
- Baghdad
- Transoxiana
Spiritual Training
He became a disciple of the great Sufi master:
Abu al-Fadl al-Khuttali (رحمة الله عليه)
Through his Shaykh’s guidance, he attained high spiritual مقام (rank) and became a recognized wali (friend of Allah).
Arrival in the Subcontinent
Hazrat Data Sahib (رحمة الله عليه) eventually traveled to the Indian subcontinent and settled in the Lahore
At that time, Lahore was an important cultural and political center.
Mission and Teachings
In Lahore, he dedicated his life to:
- Spreading true Islamic teachings
- Guiding people towards Allah
- Serving humanity
His teachings emphasized:
- اتباعِ شریعت (following Shari‘ah)
- اخلاص (sincerity)
- محبتِ رسول ﷺ (love of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)
- خدمتِ خلق (service to creation)
Famous Book – Kashf al-Mahjub
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (رحمة الله عليه) is best known for his famous book:
👉 Kashf al-Mahjub
This is one of the earliest and most important books on Tasawwuf in Persian.
The book explains:
- Principles of Sufism
- Lives of Sufi saints
- Importance of Shari‘ah and Tariqah
It is still widely studied today.
You can download the book by clicking the button below:
Miracles (Karamat)
In Sunni belief, the karamat of Awliya Allah are حق (true) and occur by Allah’s will.
Some well-known narrations include:
1. Spiritual Blessings of Lahore
It is widely believed that Lahore gained immense spiritual blessings due to his presence.
2. Acceptance of Du‘a
People experienced that his prayers were accepted, and their hardships were removed.
3. Knowledge and Insight
He possessed deep spiritual insight and could guide people according to their inner conditions.
4. Title “Data Ganj Bakhsh”
He was given the title “Ganj Bakhsh” (Bestower of Treasures) because he enriched hearts with spiritual knowledge and blessings.
Teachings and Sayings
Some of his important teachings:
- “The path to Allah is through sincerity and humility.”
- “Without following Shari‘ah, no spiritual path is valid.”
- “Serve humanity for the sake of Allah.”
Final Years and Wisaal
Hazrat Data Sahib (رحمة الله عليه) spent his final years in Lahore guiding people and teaching.
He passed away around 465 AH / 1072 CE in Lahore.
His passing is remembered as Wisaal, meaning union with the mercy of Allah.