SHAYKH DATA GANJ BAKSH HAJVERI
Sultan ul-Hind Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti QSA famously visited the maqam of Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri QSA before proceeding to Ajmer, India. Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti QSA stayed in a small secluded room for worship for 40 days, while some historians say six months to complete his chillah (spiritual seclusion). He received unimaginable spiritual secrets and blessings from Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri QSA.
After completing his meditation, Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti QSA recited the famous couplet while in a trance:
“Ganj Baksh-e faiz-e aalam mazhar-e nur-e Khuda Naqisaan ra pir-e kamil, kaamilaan ra rahnuma”
The giver of bounties, the benefactor of the world [and] manifestation of the light of Allah,
To the beginners, a perfect spiritual guide, and to the accomplished, a guide.
This is why the shaykh is famously known as “Data Ganj Baksh” which means “Bestower of Spiritual Treasures.”
The great shaykh was born in Ghazni, Afghanistan. He was a direct descendant of the Prophet ﷺ (Ahlul Bayt). He had such a great thirst for knowledge that he travelled to many countries to learn from the greatest shuyukh of his time. He said that he met no less than 300 scholars in just Iran and learned knowledge from them.
After perfecting himself with external knowledge (Shari’ah), the shaykh made it his mission to find a perfect spiritual guide (Murshid) who could guide him to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. He undertook many tough travels to find his guide, Hazrat Abu Fazl bin Hasan Khattali QSA who was a pir-e-kamil (perfect spiritual guide) in the Junaidiya Silsila. He devoted his entire life to the service of his shaykh so much so that his Murshid (spiritual guide) passed ahead while his blessed head was in the lap of Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri QSA.
After his Murshid (spiritual guide) passed ahead, the shaykh travelled to Lahore, Pakistan. His only mission there was to spread Islam and he converted a large amount of people to Islam and accepted their bayah (allegiance). He was a great Islamic scholar and wrote many books. The most famous is “Kashf al-Mahjub,” (Unveiling the Veiled) which is the oldest manual on Sufism in Persian. Some shuyukh have said that for those who don’t have a Murshid (spiritual guide), the book, Kashf al-Mahjub could be their guide if they are sincere.
The maqam of Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri QSA lovingly known as “Data Darbar” continues to attract a large amount of visitors due to its magnetic spiritual force. Hazrat Khwaja Mawlana Mohammad Khushhal Shah QSA also visited Data Darbar and is a favorite of Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri QSA.
O my Lord, for the sake of all your beloved prophets and saints, please fulfill all my needs and remove my pains
Ya Mere Allah Jumla Ambiya ke wasthey,
Hajathe Barla Meri Kul Awliya ke wasthey
Silsila Aaliya e Khushhaliya !
(Ref: Biographical Sketch of Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhish by Pir Muhammad Karam Shah Al-Azhari QSA)