ONCE in Lahore, it is difficult to miss the centuries old shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh. On the Ravi road, near the Bhatti Gate of the old walled city, people throng the shrine on a regular basis. The rich, the poor, the ruler and the ruled, all appear to be equally gripped by the charisma of the saint enshrined there for the last 960 years.
What drives people to this shrine? It’s neither a historical sight nor something else. It is the spiritual power and work of the saint that attracts humanity. It is the lives of hundreds of thousands, Muslims and non-Muslims, which he changed for the better. And it is his teachings which, even after his death, continue serving those who seek the path of truth, through his book Kashful Mahjoob (The revelation of the veiled) — a masterpiece, originally written in Persian and later translated into many languages. The book provides a profound analysis of Tassawuf in Islam and reveals the intricacies and relationship between the physical, metaphysical and spiritual realities. The importance of this book can be realized by the saying of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, Mahboob-i-IIahi: “This book serves as a complete murshid (teacher) to those who don’t have one.”
Data Ganj Bakhsh believed in acquiring knowledge of truth and helping others trapped in darkness and ignorance. He practised what he preached. As a result, rulers to subjects, during his time and afterwards, never missed paying tribute to him and seeking his blessings. Even saints and Sufis such as Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti, Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar, Khawaja Baqi Billah, Hazrat Mujaddad Alif Sani, Hazrat Mian Mir Qadri, Hazrat Madhu Lal Hussain and several others sought his blessings.
Khawja Moinuddin chishti, a great saint and founder of the Chishtia Order in the subcontinent before taking his seat in Ajmer, spent 40 days at his shrine to seek his guidance. After completing 40 days he said: Ganj Bakhsh faize alam mazhare noore khuda; Naqsan ra peera kamal kaamlan ra rahnuma (Blessings of Ganj Bakhsh are for everyone, he is the light of God; a complete guide for the ignorant and a leader of the enlightened).
His real name was Syed Ali Abul Hasan bin Usman Hajveri. He was born in Hajveri, but his father lived in Jalab — two small hamlets, close to each other, in Ghanzi (Afghanistan). This brought him two titles: Jalabi and Hajveri. It is said that he was born somewhere between 371-401AH, when the Ghaznavis ruled Ghazni. Being the descendants of Hazrat Imam Hasan, his entire family was very pious and virtuous. His mother always wanted her sone to become a very pious and learned man. Not only did her wish came true, but her son became the saint of saints as well.
Data Ganj Bakhsh started acquiring education at the age of four. After growing up, he travelled to several countries such as Khurasan, Turkistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and benefited from about 300 scholars and saints. Finally, he met a great Sufi scholar in Syria, Abual Fazal bin Hasan Khatli, who impressed him very much. He became his disciple. After acquiring education in subjects such as religion, the Holy Quran, Hadith, and mysticism, his murshid asked him to go to Lahore (in 431AH), where Hazrat Shah Hussain Zanjani was already busy promoting Islam.
Complying with the order, he set out with his two companions. When he reached Lahore, it was already dark and he thought of spending the night where he was. The next morning when he entered the city he saw a funeral. Upon asking he was told that Shah Hussain Zanjani had died. Now he came to know why he was sent to Lahore — obviously to replace Shah Hussain Zanjani.
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh came to Lahore with a great purpose: to spread the light of Islam and the concept of one God. His extraordinary personality, charisma and knowledge did not take much time to conquer the hearts of people. Not only did the poor seek his blessings, but even the elite were impressed with him. The governor of Punjab, a non-Muslim, Rai Raju, also got so much impressed by his charisma that he converted to Islam. Data sahib gave him the name Shaikh Hindi, who also rests with him at his shrine.
As he had left his country to gain wisdom and then to help humanity, he stayed in Lahore for 34 years and not even once thought of going back. When people saw that the saint never thought of going back but served them at the cost of his time, energy, comfort and every temporal belongings he had, they gave him the title of Data Ganj Bakhsh. Data: dervish; Ganj Bakhsh: the one who gives a lot. The first time he came to know about this title he resented and said: “Only Allah gives, no one else.”
Data Ganj Bakhsh had no children. He got married at an early age, but his wife died after a short while, without bearing any child. For the next 11 years, he did not marry. Only when his parents insisted did he agree to remarry. Unfortunately, the second wife also died after one year. Thereafter, he never tied the nuptial knot.
