About Ali Hijveri (R.A)

Ali Hijveri (R.A) Abul Hassan Ali Ibn Usman al-Jullabi al-Hajvery al-Ghaznawi (May Allah be pleased with him) (ابوالحسن علی بن عثمان الجلابی الھجویری الغزنوی) or Abul Hassan Ali Haijveri, also known as Daata Ganj Bakhsh, which means the master who bestows treasures) or Daata Sahib, was a Persian Sufi and scholar in the 11th century. He significantly contributed to the spreading of Islam in South Asia.

His most famous work is Revelation of the Veiled (Kashf Al Mahjub) (کشفُ المحجوب), written in the Persian language. The work, which is one of the earliest and most respected treatises of Sufism, debates Sufi doctrines of the past.

Hazrat Ali Hijveri is also famous for his mausoleum in Lahore, which is surrounded by a large marble courtyard, a mosque and other buildings. It is the most frequented of all the shrines in that city, and one of the most famous in Pakistan and nearby countries. His name is a household word, and his mausoleum the object of pilgrimage from distant places.

Hazrat Ali Hujwiri is both al-Hasani and al-Husayni Sayyid. His father is al-Hasani Sayyid and his mother is al-Husayni. Abul Hasan Ali bin Usman Al-Hujwiri Al-Jullabi Al-Ghazanwi was born in Ghazni (Hujwir) where his family had settled and the members of which were passionate for devoutness and learning. He was known as Ali Al-Hujwiri Al-Jullabi, Al-Ghazanwi because he lived for a long time in Hujwir and Jullab, the two suburbs (Mazafat) of the city of Ghazni located in Afghanistan. Much of his life history and thought came from his own authentic reference Revelation of the Veiled.

He was blessed with direct lineage to the Holy Prophet ﷺ through his father who was a direct descendant of Hazrat Imam Hasan , son of Hazrat Ali .

Respect of Sufis towards Ali Hajvery

Ali Hujwiri was buried near the mosque which he had built during his lifetime. It has been a practice of Sufi saints coming to South Asia to first visit the shrine of Ali Hujwiri. Upon arriving in the subcontinent, Moinuddin Chishti first came to Lahore to pay his respects at Daata Ganj-Bakhsh’s shrine, where he spent quite some time in meditation and prayer before attaining enlightenment. He was then directed to settle in Ajmer Sharif, and commence his spiritual mission to go further east and preach. Moinuddin Chishti paid homage to Ali Hujwiri in the following words.

Ganj Bakhsh-e faiz-e aalam, mazhar-e nur-i Khuda
Naqisaan ra pir-e kaamil, kaamilaan ra rahnuma

گنج بخش فیضِ عالم مظہرِ نورِ خدا
ناقصاں را پیرِ کامل، کاملاں را رہنما

Translation:

Ganj Bakhsh is a manifestation of the Light of God for all people A perfect guide unto the imperfect ones and a guide unto the perfect ones