Hazrat Data Ali al-Hajvery R.A

Hazrat Data Ali al-Hajvery R.A

Hazrat Data Ali al-Hajvery r-a was a Persian Sufi saint and scholar during the 11th century. He significantly contributed to the spreading of Islam in South Asia. Born around 990 CE in Ghazni, Afghanistan during reign of the Ghaznavid Empire and died in Lahore (in present day Punjab, Pakistan) in 1077 CE. His most famous work is The Kashf Al Mahjub ("Unveiling the Veiled") written in Persian language. The work, which is one of the earliest and most respected treatises of Sufism, debates Sufi doctrines of the past.

Hujwiri belonged to the Junaidia school of Sufism, founded by Junaid Baghdadi, a major Sufi saint of Baghdad. Hajwiri is also viewed as an important intercessor for many Sufis. Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri, a chief saint of the Chishti silisilah, stated that an aspiring murid (disciple) one who does not (yet) have a murshid (spiritual master), should read Ali Hujwairi's book Kashf al-Mahjub, as that would be (temporarily) enough for his spiritual guidance.

Life

Hujwiri probably entered the Sufi path very early in his life and spent many years travelling to Iran, Iraq, Syria etc., during which he met several Sufi saints. He studied Sufism under Abu'l-Fadl Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Khuttali through whom he is spiritually connected) with Junaid Baghdadi.. He settled for some time in Iraq where he had a short experience with married life. Finally he was taken as a captive to Lahore, where he spent the rest of his life and compiled the major portion of his book, The Kashf Al Mahjub.
Although a Sunni Hanafi, Hujvery's theology was reconciled with the concept of Sufi annihilation. However he strenuously campaigned against the doctrine that human personalities can be merged with God, instead likening annihilation to burning by fire which allows the substance to acquire fire like properites while retaining its own individuality. He also was a great upholder of the Sharia and rebuffed the idea that outward observances of Islam are not important for Sufis. Hujwiri believed that individuals should not claim to have attained "marifat" or gnosis because it meant that one was prideful, and that true understanding of God should be a silent understanding.

Practice of Sufi Saints Migrating to the Sub-Continent:

It has a been a practice of Sufi saints coming to the South Asia to first visit the shrine of Usman Ali Hujwiri. Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti first came to Lahore to pay his respects at Data Ganj-Bakhsh upon his arriving in the subcontinent where he spent quite some time in meditation and prayer before reaching enlightenment. There he was directed to settle in Ajmer Sharif and commence his spiritual mission to go further east and preach into India. Moinuddin Chishti paid homage to Usman 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 the people
A perfect guide unto the imperfect ones and a guide unto the perfect ones

Cultural Significance

Thousands of Muslims visit the Data Darbar everyday. They recite the Qur'an and pay tributes (salawaat) to Prophet Muhammad. A notable distinguishing feature is that around the shrine the Quran is read incessantly, around the clock, as visitors come in at all hours of the day and the night. The fact that there is never a single minute when the Quran is not recited by someone makes this one of those special religious places where the Quran is always "alive", which is a sign and proof that the Data Darbar is a special place of divine blessing and mercy.

Works

His book, Kashf-ul-Mahjoob, is one of the earliest writings on Sufism. It has been translated in various languages, including English. He wrote a few more books, but he himself mentions that all of those were stolen by other people.

His other writings
Deewan
Minhaj ud Deen
Kitab ul Fana wal Baqa
Israr ul Kharq wal Mo'dabat
Kitab ul Biyan
Behr ul Quloob
Riayat ul Huqooq Allah
Sharah Kalam Masoor Hilaj
Kitab Ander Biyan e Iman

Hazrat Data Ali al-Hajvery r-a was a Persian Sufi saint and scholar during the 11th century. He significantly contributed to the spreading of Islam in South Asia. Born around 990 CE in Ghazni, Afghanistan during reign of the Ghaznavid Empire and died in Lahore (in present day Punjab, Pakistan) in 1077 CE. His most famous work is The Kashf Al Mahjub ("Unveiling the Veiled") written in Persian language. The work, which is one of the earliest and most respected treatises of Sufism, debates Sufi doctrines of the past.

Hujwiri belonged to the Junaidia school of Sufism, founded by Junaid Baghdadi, a major Sufi saint of Baghdad. Hajwiri is also viewed as an important intercessor for many Sufis. Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri, a chief saint of the Chishti silisilah, stated that an aspiring murid (disciple) one who does not (yet) have a murshid (spiritual master), should read Ali Hujwairi's book Kashf al-Mahjub, as that would be (temporarily) enough for his spiritual guidance.

Hujwiri probably entered the Sufi path very early in his life and spent many years travelling to Iran, Iraq, Syria etc., during which he met several Sufi saints. He studied Sufism under Abu'l-Fadl Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Khuttali through whom he is spiritually connected) with Junaid Baghdadi.. He settled for some time in Iraq where he had a short experience with married life. Finally he was taken as a captive to Lahore, where he spent the rest of his life and compiled the major portion of his book, The Kashf Al Mahjub.

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 the people
A perfect guide unto the imperfect ones and a guide unto the perfect ones

وہاں سے خیرات ہر ولی کو پاتے دیکھا
کیا منظر ہو بیاں پیارے داتا پیا کا
اُن کے منکر کو محمود وہیں کھاتے دیکھا

مستوار قلندر

wah wah wah wah.......
اُن کے منکر کو محمود وہیں کھاتے دیکھا
haqeekat ha manay apni akhoo say daykha...:)))