Syed Abul Hassan Bin Usman Bin Ali Al-Hajweri (Arabic: سید علی بن عثمان الہجوہری ) (sometimes spelled Hujwiri), also known as Shaikh Ali Hajweri, Data Ganj Bakhsh (Urdu: داتا گنج بخش ), or Data Sahib, was a scholar of Islam and a Sufi saint, and writer of the 11th century. He singificantly contributed to the spreading of Islam in South Asia.

He was born in Ghazna (in present day Afghanistan) and died in Lahore (in present day Punjab, Pakistan) in 1077 CE. His most famous work is Kashf al Mahjub (”Unveiling the Veiled”), which was the first Persian language treatise on Sufism. The work debates Sufi doctrines of the past. Hujwiri said that individuals should not claim to have attained “marifat” or gnosis because it meant that one was prideful. True understanding of God should be a silent understanding. and such was the gratitude of the people of Lahore for his spiritual gifts that they called him by the simple Hindi name “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 the Muslim spiritual life through his writings, above all the famous Khasf al-Mahjub (Revelation of the Mystery). His tomb, which was built by the grandson of Sultan Mahmud, remains an important center for the followers of Sufism from all classes.

A sign of his importance for Sufism is the small shrine adjacent to Shaykh Hujwiri’s tomb, which is known today as the station of Shaykh Mu’in al-Din Chishti. When the latter came from Afghanistan to India in the closing years of the twelfth century, he is said to have stopped to pray and meditate at the tomb of Shaykh Hujwiri to seek permission to go further, since Data Ganj Bakhsh had spiritual authority over the entire Indian subcontinent. Shaykh Mu’in al-Din evidently received permission to proceed, together with the broadest authority, and as a result the Chishti school is probably the most extensive lineage in South Asia.

Hazrath Sayyid Ali Hujweri (Rahmatullahi alaihi) is a wali of such a high status that it is stated that Shaykh Abd al-Qadir Jilani (Rahmatullahi alaihi) said, when he was once mentioned in his gathering, “I, Abd al-Qadir, would have taken him as my Spiritual Guide if I was born in his time.” Khwaja Sahib who had reached such a high spiritual status, had such respect for Data Sahib, that he spent forty days at the feet of data Sahib. Before leaving Lahore he offered the following couplet in appreciation of Ali Hujwiri (Rahmatullahi alaihi)’s status:

Ganj Buksh Faize Alam Mazhare Nure Khuda

Naqesara Ra Pir e Kamil Kamila Ra Rahnuma.

He is a bestower of treasure (Ganj Baksh) reflecting Divine Light for the salvation of mankind.

To the unworthy he is a perfect guide, but to perfect souls, he is still a guide

Data Ali al Hujwiri is also viewed as an important intercessor for many Sufis.

His mausoleum, popularly known as Data Durbar, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Visit The Web Site Of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh in Urdu and English