"Data Darbar Shrine Lahore: Nine Centuries of Devotion, Expansion, and Architectural Brilliance"

Makhdoom-e-Ummat Hazrat Sheikh Ali bin Usman Faiz Alam belongs to that group of Sufis who seek the pleasure of Allah through monotheism and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They also dedicate their resources, status, and knowledge to the service and training of God's creation so that the creation can also walk on the paths of Allah's love. History is witness that what the swords of great and powerful rulers and their terror and arrogance could not do, the saints of Allah accomplished with their high character and knowledge and wisdom and the miracle of love for their strangers. Indeed, Hazrat Ali Hajveri is also among them; rather, he is their pioneer. 

He raised the banner of the glory of Islam at a time when the whole of India was immersed in disbelief and atheism, polytheism, and innovations. Powerful kings, emperors, and the oppressive elite had heated up the market of looting, and there was no one to care for the oppressed people.In these circumstances, the perfect saint lit the eternal candle of growth, guidance, and love through his asceticism and piety, good morals, revelations and miracles, and his devotion and service to the backward classes. Despite the passage of hundreds of years, the reflection of the effects of his personality and character is still evident today in that his shrine remains the holy place of worship in the morning and evening. Where his teachings and services are also praised during the gatherings of worship and asceticism.

His real name was Ali, his kunya was Abul Hasan, his title was Data Ganj Bakhsh, and his father's name was Usman bin Ali (may Allah have mercy on him). His birth is said to have been in 400 AH / 1010 AD. He was born in the city of Ghazni in Afghanistan. His father belonged to the Hasani, and his mother, Majida, belonged to the Hussaini sect. He authored several books, of which Kashf al-Mahjoob is the most famous.Regarding Kashf al-Mahjoob, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (RA) says, "This is such a book that even those who have no mentor will benefit from the blessings of reading it." For the benefit of the common people, the following are the sayings of Ali Hajveri (RA): “It is necessary for a poor person to consider the association with kings or rulers as the company of a snake. 

If a poor person wears the clothes of a poor person with the intention of obtaining the company of a rich person, then be sure that he is not a poor person but a fire worshipper. Whenever you see him, keep in mind the craftsmanship of Allah Almighty, for the work in which there is a selfish motive is devoid of blessings.A poor person is one who does not consider things as his real property; then he will not be harmed by anyone's departure, nor will he consider himself rich by the presence of worldly means." Spreading the light of divine monotheism, prophetic teachings, and knowledge and mysticism throughout the subcontinent, this sun of knowledge passed away in the veils of the souls in 1072. 

After his demise, Hazrat Sheikh Hindi (RA) had his blessed mausoleum built, while during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar, the platform of his mausoleum was given the form of an octagonal tomb, and an adjoining hall was also built. Where teachings and accommodation were arranged for the pilgrims. In 1278, Noor Muhammad Sadhu had a solid dome built, on which later the late Maulvi Feroz Din installed marble lattices around the mausoleum, on which Abdul Majeed Parveen Rakim wrote calligraphy of poems. Similarly, Begum Syed Marabat Ali also had a door built on the north side, which was reserved for women.In 1944, Amir-ul-Nisa Begum built a slave circle around the holy shrine, which still exists today, and the late Tajuddin Zarin Rakim wrote poems and poems on it. The foundation of the modern expansion plan of the mosque and court was laid by the late President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on January 28, 1978. 

The new mosque is spread over an area of one hundred and sixty thousand square feet, in which at present about one hundred thousand worshippers can offer prayers simultaneously. After this reconstruction of the old mosque, an expansion plan was prepared under which an underground capacity of two hundred cars and a car parking area of one hundred thousand square feet, a prayer hall, a langarkhana for men and women, ablution facilities, a bank, a police station, a post office, and auqaf offices were built. Above these structures and facilities, more space was given to the courtyard for worshippers in front of the fountains on the ground floor, and thus the mosque has been expanded to this extent. The grand expansion plan is truly a modern masterpiece and a milestone of architecture.Which was completed with the interest of the Federal Minister Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and the late Sahibzada Haji Muhammad Fazal Karim. 

The project was inaugurated in June 1999 by the then Prime Minister Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in a grand ceremony held at Darbar Sharif. It was a good coincidence that we were also present at this ceremony as members of the Religious Affairs Committee and members of the Construction Committee. During this ceremony, the attendees raised slogans with appreciation. When the Prime Minister announced the opening of a university in Lahore to promote the teachings of Ganj Bakhsh on this occasion, it was heartwarming. Almost 27 years have passed since this announcement, but this promised university can still be fulfilled. What a shame that the political tides of our country sometimes erase public promises from the minds of its victims and players. Perhaps due to the remembrance and echo of this long-standing promise, some way can be found to fulfill this announcement