Sayyad 'Ali bin Uthman al-Hujweri, [d.469H/1077CE] 'alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan

Hadrat Sayyad Ali bin Uthman al-Hujweri, Data Ganj Bakhsh (Bestower of Spiritual Treasures) belonged to a place called Hujwer in the town of Ghazna, Afghanistan. He lived during the 5th century A.H. (11th century C.E.) and was well versed in all the Islamic sciences such as Tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur'an, Hadith (Traditions of the Prophet), Fiqh (Muslim Law) and dogmatic theology (Ilmu Kalam). Al-Hujweri's spiritual lineage traces back to JUNAID AL-BAGHDADI through the three intermediaries al-Husri, an-Nasrabi, and Shibli.

 
In the course of his spiritual journey to God, he journeyed physically to many countries, often alone and with hardship. These places included Turkestan, Transoxania, Iran, Iraq, and Syria where he met innumerable Sufi shaykhs, many of whom he has mentioned in his book 'Kashful Mahjub.' He went to Lahore in the later part of this life to spread Islam, converting large numbers of Hindus into Muslims. He passed away in Lahore in 469 A.H. (1077 C.E.) where his maqam currently stands, visited by people of all walks of life, from near and far. Also popularly known as 'Data Sahib'.

Page Last Updated: 10th July 2009

The Kashf al-Mahjub : by Sayyad Ali bin Uthman al-Hujweri Allah be pleased with him 
 Paperback -  446 pages       [ Translated by Prof Reynold Nicholson - Printed in India ]

Shaykh Abu al-Hasan 'Ali ibn 'Uthman al-Hujwiri al-Ghaznawi Allah be pleased with him was born in a small town in Afghanistan near Ghazni. He came to Lahore in 1039 during the reign of Sultan Mas'ud, son of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. In Lahore he would stay until his death in 1073, and such was the gratitude of the people of Lahore for his spiritual gifts that they called him by the simple name of "Data" (meaning "the giver") or else "Data Ganj Bakhsh" ("the giver who bestows treasure"). Few details are known of the life of this man, though he came to exert a significant influence on Muslim spiritual life through his writings, above all the famous Kashf al-Mahjub (The Unveiling of the Concealed).

Kashf al-Mahjub was the first comprehensive book written in Persian about Sufism, at a time when Arabic was still the dominant language for expressing Islamic religious thought. 

Kashf al-Mahjub is not simply a literary production, however, for it is an exposition of practical Sufism summarizing a wide tradition of centuries of reflection; the author wrote it at the request of a fellow-Sufi from his hometown of Hujwir. Kashf al-Mahjub is still one of the best descriptions of the Sufi path. It has been said that those who seek a guide in Sufism should do three things: pray for guidance, visit the tombs of the great shaykhs, and read Kashf al-Mahjub. Shaykh al-Hujwiri Allah be pleased with him traveled widely and met most of the leading Sufis of his day. Accounts of his personal experiences in Iran, Central Asia, and the Middle East enliven his learned discussion of mysticism. He drew upon writings of well-known Sufis such as Sarraj, Qushayri, and Ansari, and he also had access to many early Sufi writings that no longer exist.

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Revelation of the Mystery    by al-Hujweri

Paperback - 472 pages                                                   Translated by Dr. Reynold A. Nicholson

 
Like Rumi, Hafiz and Attar, al-Hujwiri [Allah be pleased with them all] was one of the great saints of Sufism.  

Revelation of the Mystery, or Kashf al-mahjub, has been revered by students of Sufism for nine centuries. This classic text contains biographies of the saints, including Fudayl Allah be pleased with him, the brigand who became a great spiritual teacher; Ibrahim Adham Allah be pleased with him, the prince who renounced everything when he received the divine call; and al-Hallaj, the great Sufi martyr.  

Sayyid 'Ali ibn 'Uthman al-Hujwiri Allah be pleased with him, also offers the spiritual seeker universal and timeless advice on many subjects, such as contemplation, generosity, spiritual courtesy, prayer, love and distinguishing false spirituality and false teachers from the real, a discernment just as important today as then.

"It has been said that those who seek a guide in Sufism should do three things: pray for guidance, visit the tombs of the great shaykhs, and read [Revelation of the Mystery]." ---Carl W. Ernst

 
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Kashf al-Mahjub :   The oldest Persian treatise on Sufism 

Hardback - xvi + 441 = Total 457 pages                             Translated by Reynold A. Nicholson

Since man is made of clay, he can never be completely pure. Since clay is basically foul, how can humans escape their basic nature? Purity does not lie in rituals, nor can human nature be changed by effort. Those who love God and remain conscious only of their Beloved attain purity.---Kashf al-Mahjub

This is one of the best and oldest books written on sufism (tasawwuf) nearly 950 years ago. It has the saying, methods and rules of the sufis and the stories of Ahl al-Sufa, Sahaba al-Kiram, Ahl al-Bayt, the noble Imams and leading Sufi saints of the early ages whose lives were lived according to the Qur'an and Sunnah. Data Ali Jujweri Radi Allahu anhu discusses the various schools of sufism, the correct beliefs of Muslims, conduct, Hadiths and Qur'anic Tafsir etc. In this way it is a complete book where Islamic teachings are given in such an easy way that from student to teacher, everyone can benefit.

Ali al-Hujweri Radi Allahu anhu proves that sufis are only those who follow Qur'an and Sunnah and that tariqat is no different from shari'ah but the tariqat is the fruit and the end result of shari'ah, and these two cannot be separated at all. He also refutes the false and fabricated sufi tales which ignorant people have corrupted and reminds us that we follow the true sufi examples at all times.

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