Located in Lahore, Pakistan, the Data Darbar is one of the largest Sufi shrines in South Asia. The shrine is home to the relics of Ali Hujwiri, otherwise known as Data Ganj Baksh, a Sufi saint from Ghazni, present-day Afghanistan. He lived on the site during the 11th century CE, and the shrine was built to preserve his remains.
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhshe was born in 400 A.H in what is now Afghanistan. He spent his early years studying the Quran and visited the Prophet’s vault. There he had a vision of the Prophet and an old man. Later he migrated to Lahore, where he became a Sufi saint and established the Qadiri order.
Thousands of people visit the shrine during the holy month of Hazrat Ali Hujwiri. His Urs is held every 18-20 Safar (March/April), and the ceremony attracts thousands of pilgrims. The ceremony also includes a special prayer, which is performed by the Khatib Data Darbar Mufti.
Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhshe of Data Darbar Lahore was a Sufi Saint who lived during the 11th century. His life was dedicated to spreading the message of Islam. Every year, his Urs is observed from the 18th to 20th of Safar at the Data Darbar in Lahore. The shrine is open for twenty-four hours a day. On the final day of Urs, his Ikhtitami dua is performed after the Zohar prayer.
The mosque is surrounded by three-storied buildings. The northern part of the complex contains a basement and is occupied by a school. The south portion of the complex is home to the mosque. The original mosque was built by Hazrat Data Sahib and later reconstructed by Sultan Ibrahim. The original building was destroyed during the nineteenth century.
Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al-Hajwiri
On Thursday, the 979th Urs of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al Hajwiri was inaugurated at the Data Darbar in Lahore. The ceremony, during which the Chadar was laid at the shrine of the Sufi saint, was attended by prominent personalities. These included Daily 92 News Editor in Chief Muhammad Haider Amin and Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister Syed Rafaqat Ali Gillani. The ceremony also witnessed the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Qari Sadaqat Ali, while Hafiz Waseem Abbas and Al-Haj Marghoob Ahmed Hamdani presented na’ats.
Hazrat Ali Hujwiri’s (ra) birthdate is not recorded, but his parents are both Hujwiri and al-Hasani. He spent his early years in Ghazni, but eventually settled in Lahore. His life was largely marked by his work for the community and for the religion. He travelled extensively to learn from the scholars and to pay homage to the saints. In Lahore, he preached Islam and helped the city become a center for Islam.
The shrine complex is alive with the sound of Quran recitations by devout Muslims. During the day, the Quran is recited incessantly around the shrine, and devotees come to the shrine at all hours. The sound of recitation proves that the Data Darbar is indeed a special place.
Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al-Hajwiri’s tomb
Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al-Hujwiri (ra) is a popular saint in Islam. He has been venerated for nearly 900 years. However, there is no authentic biography of him, no written record of his table-talks, and no detailed account of his life. He is also not included in any biographical dictionary. The only authentic biography is from Abdur Rahman Jami, and later hagiological works have scrappy details and repetitions of Nafahat.
The tomb is located near the Bhatti Gate in Lahore, Pakistan. It was built during the Ghaznavi dynasty in the 5th century. The tomb has a khutbah, graveyard, and bathroom. It is visited by rich and poor alike.
The 979th Urs of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al Hajveri began on Thursday. The ceremony to lay the Chadar (prayer) at the tomb was attended by the Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister Syed Rafaqat Ali Gillani, and Daily 92 News Editor Muhammad Haider Amin. The ceremony was followed by the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. During the ceremony, Qari Sadaqat Ali, Hafiz Waseem Abbas, and Al-Haj Marghoob Ahmed Hamdani presented na’ats.
The tomb of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al-Hujwiri in Lahore is considered one of the biggest Sufi shrines in South Asia. During his lifetime, thousands of unlettered people in the region became alims, misguided people became virtuous, and insane people recovered their sanities. The tomb is also visited by a large number of devotees of the saint.
Sufis come to the shrine to pay homage to him
Sufis who visit the Data Darbar Lahore shrine will experience a truly special experience. This Sufi shrine is located in Lahore, Pakistan. It was built to commemorate the memory of Data Ganj Baksh, a prominent Islamic scholar who lived in the area around the 11th century. While it began as a small cemetery next to a mosque, it eventually grew to become one of the largest Sufi shrines in South Asia.
While a number of Sufis come to the shrine to worship Data Ganj Bakhsh, there are also a number of non-Sufis who visit the shrine to pay homage to the shrine. In fact, the shrine has been said to help people in their dreams.
In the center of the courtyard, there is the tomb of Hazrat Ali Hujwiri. This Sufi scholar from Afghanistan spent his life preaching Islam throughout the Muslim world, eventually settling in Lahore. He was instrumental in spreading Islam in the Subcontinent and converted many rulers. His tomb is said to hold his spiritual powers.
The shrine offers a wide range of social services that assist the disadvantaged community in the area. For example, more than 50,000 visitors contribute food to the temple every day. This is a tradition that dates back over 1000 years. The temple is frequently visited by those facing personal hardships. The importance of feeding the destitute is stressed in Islam.
The significance of the shrine for people of all faiths
The Data Darbar in Lahore, Pakistan, has great significance for people of all faiths. The shrine is one of the largest and most impressive examples of Mughal architecture, with beautifully crafted tombs and marble courtyards. Its peaceful and spiritual atmosphere attracts both followers and tourists. Indeed, the shrine is often credited with bringing the spirit of Sufism to the city, making it a place of peace and devotion.
Thousands of people are drawn to this sacred site each day to pray and pay their respects. This complex is home to the Data Ganj Bakhsh shrine, which contains the remains of a famous Islamic scholar, regarded as a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Thousands of people line up to kiss the marble mausoleum and gaze upward, where the remains of the saint are buried.
The Data Darbar shrine is one of the most important places of worship in Lahore, and its Urs celebrations draw thousands of visitors each year. The celebrations of the Urs, which is the most revered holy day of the year, last seventy-two hours and involve the distribution of langar.
Apart from being a popular pilgrimage site, the shrine also offers many social services to help the poor residents. Approximately 50,000 visitors each day donate money or food to help the poor and homeless. This tradition dates back to over 1000 years. Often, patrons who are experiencing personal difficulties donate money to the shrine.
Threats to the shrine from extremist groups
Data Darbar in Lahore, Pakistan, is a highly revered Sufi shrine. It is the burial place of the late Sufi saint Ali Hajveri. This highly sacred shrine attracts visitors in large numbers. However, the shrine has been targeted by extremist groups in the past, including the Pakistani Taliban.
A suicide bomber recently targeted the Data Darbar shrine, killing at least eight people and injuring at least 25. In the explosion, the bomber blew himself up with an explosive-laden vest near a police vehicle and a group of commandos. Approximately 25 people were injured, including five police officers.
The attack also targeted a police van, which is a main target of the attackers. Pakistani officials blamed the attack on Islamist militants. However, Pakistan’s Labaik splinter group, which primarily recruits Barelvi youth, poses a different kind of threat than the ISKP’s network of underground cells. Labaik is more openly engaged in society, drawing its support primarily from the Barelvi. Its members have been responsible for some of the country’s worst sectarian violence in recent years.
The attack on Dhata’s shrine is deeply disturbing. Millions of Pakistanis visit the shrine to pay their respects to the great mystical Muslim saint. The attack on Dhata’s shrine comes just over a month after the massacre of 90 Ahmadi Muslims in two mosques. However, compared to the May attack, this attack has attracted even greater condemnation. The attack on the shrine serves as a reminder to all of us that we share a common Islamic heritage.
