RIP: IT Genious Arfa Karim Lost the Battle for Life

The youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Arfa Karim Randhawa passed away in Lahore today (Saturday, January 14). 

RIP: IT Genious Arfa Karim Lost the Battle for Life

The 16-year-old Arfa karim Randhawa was in coma since three weeks after suffering from epileptic attack. She was being treated at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore since December 22. 

According to hospital sources she was suffering from idiopathic epilepsy seizure which led to brain damage.

Arfa Karim became the youngest Microsoft professional after completing her MCP in 2004 at the age of only 9.

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A Recent Visit to Lahore: The Land of Hazrat Ali Hajveri, Also Known As Data Ganj Bakhsh (Data Sahib)

Recently, I got a chance to visit the historical city of Lahore; which is also a capital of Punjab province.

The city is famous for its historical buildings of Mughals Era. The city as we know it today, reached its peak of glory during the Mughal rulers, especially in the reign of Akbar the Great, who made it the capital of his kingdom. His son, Jehangir, is buried in its outskirts and his mausoleum is one of the places frequently visited by tourists and Lahorites alike. Close by is the mausoleum of the famous Mughal Empress, Noor Jehan, who is known for introducing the rose plant and for initiating several cultural movements in the Sub-Continent.

The British during their reign (1849 -1947) compensated Lahore, by harmoniously combining Mughal, Gothic and Victorian styles of architecture. Victorian heritage is only next to Mughal monuments. The GPO and YMCA buildings built to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria - an event marked by the construction of clock towers and monuments all over India. They built some important buildings, like the High Court. the Government College, the Museums, the National College of Arts, Montgomery Hall, Tollinton Market, the Punjab University (Old Campus) and the Provincial Assembly. At one end of The Mall stands the University - perhaps the largest center of education in Asia. The city has built a new Campus in the quieter environments on the Canal Bank, but the old University buildings are still functioning.

Lahori's (People of Lahore) used to say "Lahore Lahore Hai" (Lahore is Lahore) because of its rich cultural heritage. Apart from everything in Lahore, from Mughal architecture to British monuments, whenever I got a chance to visit Lahore; I tried my best to visit the shrine of Data Ali Hajveri (Data Sahib) for spiritual peace and serenity.

And Almighty Allah gave me this chance again in this recent visit of Lahore. The peace and serenity; one finds sitting in front of Data Sahib, can't be found anywhere in Lahore. I captured few moments of my visit in my mobile camera to share with my readers to pass on a bit of peace and serenity I got from that visit.

The Entrance of Data Darbar (Shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajveri)

Meal (Langar) is Being Distributed outside the Shrine (Data Darbar)

People and visitors walking along the Bazaar.

Close views of main Sabz Gumbad (Green Dome) of Shrine.

Grassy sitting area for visitors in the premises of Shrine.

Few more images of Data Darbar.

I hope my readers and lovers of Data Ali Hajveri would love to see the recent pictures of the Holy Shrine of Data Sahib. I will try to share more of such visits with my readers very soon.

Hazrat Ali Hajveri Also Known As Data Ganj Bakhsh and Data Sahib - Spiritual Follower of Hazrat Abul Fazal Mohammad Khatli, in Junaidiya Sufi Order

The great poet Allama Iqbal RA mentioned:
“Fitrat key maqasad ki karta hey nigahbani
Ya benda e sehrai ya mard e kohistani.”

Meanings:
The personnel govern the objectives of nature,
One who is grown up in deserts (loneliness) or in mountains (strict on commitment)!

Abul Hassan Ali Ibn Usman Al-Jullabi Al-Hajvery Al-Ghaznawi or Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (Arabic: علی بن عثمان الجلابی الهجویری الغزنوی‎) (sometimes spelled Hujwiri), also known as Data Ganj Bakhsh (Persian/Urdu: داتا گنج بخش ) or Data Sahib, was a Persian Sufi and scholar during the 11th century. He extensively contributed to the spreading of Islam in South Asia.

He was born in 400 A.H. in Ghazni (Afghanistan). He belonged to a Syed family (descendant of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him)). He completed his initial learning in Ghazni by memorizing the Holy Quran. Then he studied Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Hadith, Fiqh, Philosophy etc. At that time Ghazni was the centre of learning in Central Asia, and it was the empire of the famous Afghan ruler Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi.

After finishing the worldly education, he started to search for the spiritual learning. In search for the spiritual education, he wandered many places, and ultimately became spiritual follower of Hazrat Abul Fazal Mohammad bin Khatli, in Junaidiya Sufi Order, who lived in Syria.

In Syria, Hazrat Ali Hajveri (Data Sahib) started his spiritual education under the supervision of Hazrat Abul Fazal, he slept less, ate less, and performed tough contemplations and meditation. After completing his spiritual training, he travelled to many countries and places like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Arabia, Azerbaijan etc. There he came across many Sufi saints and dervishes.




Once he intertwined in a spiritual ambiguity and couldn’t solve it. Then he went to the Mazaar (tomb) of Hazrat Bayazid Bistami where he meditated for many days, until he finally solved that spiritual ambiguity. On another same type of occasion he couldn’t get any help from his long meditation at the tomb of Hazrat Bayazid Bistami; therefore, he left for Khurasan (A Province in Iran) and he stayed in a village, where he met a group of Sufi dervishes. Since Hazrat Ali Hajveri (Data Sahib) always wore simple and normal dress; so these Sufi dervishes thought that he was not one of them because they all were wearing specific dress of dervishes. Hazrat Ali Hajveri stayed with them; they ate delicious foods, and gave him a dry bread to eat. They also teased Hazrat Ali Hajveri by throwing crusts of fruits on him. Hazrat Ali Hazjveri addressed God: "O
God! If these people wouldn't be wearing the clothes of your friends
(dervishes), then I wouldn't tolerate their insulting behavior."


During the journey to Syria, he visited the tomb of the great Companion of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him), Hazrat Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him). There he slept for a while and found himself in Makkah, where he saw the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) with an old man. He didn't recognize him and thought who he could be? Then Hazrat Ali Hajveri fell on the feet of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and kissed them. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) knew what Hazrat Ali Hajveri had in his mind, so He (P.B.U.H) told Ali Hajveri "This old man is Abu Hanifa, your Imam."

Later his spiritual teacher Hazrat Abul Fazal ordered him to go to Lahore to convey the spiritual teachings of Islam. He said, "Hazrat Shah Hussain Zanjani is already there for this purpose, so then why should I go to there? Hazrat Abul Fazal said, "It's none of your business, just go to Lahore." So he left Syria and came to Ghazni. From Ghazni he went to Peshawar and then to Lahore, in 1041 A.D (431 A.H). When he reached Lahore, he saw that people are taking a coffin towards the graveyard for burial. He asked who he is. People replied that it is the dead body of Hazrat Shah Hussain Zanjani. After hearing that, he understood why his teacher Hazrat Abul Fazal sent him to Lahore. After reaching to Lahore, he started to preach Islam and built a mosque there.


At that time Lahore was included in the Ghazni Kingdom, whose ruler was Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi. And the governer of Lahore was Ra'e Raju, who was a Hindu and had many great magical skills. People of Lahore were used to supply milk to Ra'e Raju in big quantity, as a capitation. Once an old woman was on her way to pass before Hazrat Ali Hajveri, holding a pitcher poured with milk. Hazrat Ali Hajveri asked her to give him some milk from that. The woman refused and said that she has to give it to Ra'e Raju. Hazrat Ali Hajveri said: "Give some milk to me; by the grace of God, your cow will produce much more milk than usual". The woman gave him the pot; Hazrat Ali Hajveri drank some milk, and then threw the remaining into the river. The old woman when went to her home, she was surprised to see the breasts of her cow were full of milk again. She poured all of her pots from milk, but still the cow's breasts were full. Soon this news spread all around the Lahore, and people started to visit Hazrat Ali Hajveri, and all people brought milk for him, and he also drank some milk from their pots and then threw the remaining into the river, and all of their cows started to produce more milk. So they stopped to supply milk to Ra'e Raju.

Later Ra'e Raju sent one of his disciples to Hazrat Ali Hajveri, as his disciples also had mystical abilities. That disciple didn't come back, so Ra'e Raju sent another disciple, who also didn't come back. In that way, he sent all of his disciples, but no one came back at all. Finally he himself went to Hazrat Ali Hajveri, in anger. Ra'e Raju challenged Hazrat Ali Hajveri to show him any miracle. Hazrat Ali Hajveri replied: "I'm not a juggler." But Ra'e Raju tried to impress him with his miracles, and started flying in the air; Hazrat Ali Hajveri ordered his shoes to bring him down. So the shoes of Hazrat Ali Hajveri went to the flying Ra'e Raju and started to strike on his head to bring him down. Ra'e Raju was inspired and embraced Islam on his hands. After accepting Islam he changed his name as Shaikh Ahmed Hindi.

When Hazrat Ali Hajveri built a mosque in Lahore, that mosque's front was towards south, and differed from all other mosques of Lahore. So there became a doubt that this mosque's front isn't towards Kaa'ba. The Scholars of Lahore objected over that mosque, but Hazrat Ali Hajveri didn't reply them. When the mosque was built completely, he invited all scholars of Lahore & said to them: "You objected over this mosque's Ka'ba direction, now look by yourself in which direction Ka'ba actually is!" When they looked at the front, they saw Kaa'ba, as they are sitting before Kaa'ba in Makka. All scholars felt ashamed after watching that reality and apologized.

Hazrat Ali Hajveri also built a room adjoining to that mosque, and used that room as Khanqa (Spiritual School). Many unbelievers accepted Islam on his hands; many people touched the higher stages of spirituality under his guidance. He married twice, but both of his wives died soon after marriage. He had a son, named "Hasan".

He stayed in Lahore for 21 years, and then went to Syria to see his
spiritual teacher Hazrat Abul Fazal. He again came back to Lahore after the death of Hazrat Abul Fazal in 453 A.H.

Hazrat Ali Hajveri wrote many books, some of his books are: Diwan-e-She'r; Minhajuddin; Al-Bayan Lahal- Al-Ayan; Israrul Kharq Wal-Mauniyat; Behrul Quloob; Kitab Fana Wa Baqa; Birri'ayat Be-Huqooq-Ullah; Kashful Israr;Sharah-e-Kalam; and Kashful Mahjub.

He died at the age of 65 in 465 A.H., in Lahore.

When Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti came to Lahore in 561 A.H (1165 AD), he stayed at the tomb of Hazrat Ali Hajveri for two weeks, where he meditated. And when he finished his meditation, he said a couplet in Farsi:

Ganj Bukhsh Faiz-e-Alam; Mazhar-e-Noor- e-Khuda
Naqisa-ra Pir-e-Kamil; Kamila-ra Rahnuma

Meaning:

Ganj Buskh (Bestower of Spiritual Treasures) is a grace to the world; amanifester of God's light.
A perfect spiritual teacher for the beginners; a guide for perfected.

LAHORE - - AREA & POPULATION

Lahore statistical division contains the districts of Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Okara, Qasur, and Shekhupura. Its area is 16 104 km² and its population is 14 248 641.

Lahore District (لاہور Laahaur) 1 772 km², population 6 318 745. two tehsils (Lahore Cantonment 917 km², population 3 778 172, Lahore city 855 km², population 2 540 573). In 2000 the tehsils were replaced with nine subdivisions called towns, which are Allama Iqbal, Aziz Bhatti, Data Ganj Baksh, Gulberg, Nishtar, Lahore Cantonment, Ravi, Samanabad, Shalimar, and Wagah. Lahore (4 577 744 plus 565 751 in Lahore Cantonment) has an area of 270 km² and estimated population pf 6 500 000. Lahore--Ravi has an area of 18 km² and an estimated population of 300 000. Lahore--Shahpur has an area of 3.8 km² and an estimated population of 20 000. Lahore--Kahna Nau (38 279) has an area of 3.3 km² and an estimated population of 40 000. Lahore--Raiwind (27 314) has an area of 2.6 km² and an estimated population of 30 000. Lahore--Attoke Awan has an area of 2.6 km² and an estimated population of 30 000. Lahore--Shershah has an area of 1.8 km² and an estimated population of 16 000. Lahore--Chung has an area of 1.7 km² and an estimated population of 17 000.

Nankana Sahib District (ننکانہ صاحب Nankaana Saahib) 2 719 km², population 1 272 580. two tehsils (Nankana Sahib 1 662 km², population 683 693, Safdarabad 1 057 km², population 588 617). Separated from Sheikhupura District in 2005. Nankana Sahib (48 899) has an area of 3.4 km² and an estimated population of 45 000. Sangla Hill (30 368) in Safdarabad tehsil has an area of 2.0 km² and an estimated population of 25 000. Shahkot (39 263) in Safdarabad tehsil has an area of 2.0 km² and an estimated population of 20 000. Khanqah Dogran (26 518) in Safdarabad tehsil has an area of 1.2 km² and an estimated population of 12 000. Bucheki in Nankana Sahib tehsil has an area of 1.1 km² and an estimated population of 11 000. Warburton (وار برٹن Waarburṭan, 19 621) in Nankana Sahib tehsil has an area of 1.0 km² and an estimated population of 10 000.

Okara District (اوکاڑہ Okaaṛa) 4 377 km², population 2 232 992. three tehsils (Depalpur 2 502 km², population 1 030 836, Okara 1 241 km², population 862 364, Renala Khurd 634 km², population 339 792). Okara (201 815) has an area of 13.5 km² and an estimated population of 200 000. Okara Cantonment (56 537) has an area of 5.8 km² and an estimated population of 40 000. Depalpur (57 224) has an area of 2.9 km² and an estimated population of 35 000. Renala Khurd (رینالاخورد Renaala Xurd, 32 337) has an area of 2.3 km² and an estimated population of 25 000. Haveli Lakha (حویلی لکھا Haveli Lakha, 52 207) in Depalpur tehsil has an area of 2.1 km² and an estimated population of 25 000. Basirpur (بصيرپور Baseerpur, 36 628) in Depalpur tehsil has an area of 1.7 km² and an estimated population of 17 000. Hujra Shah Muqeem (47 415) in Dipalpur tehsil has an area of 1.6 km² and an estimated population of 16 000. An unidentified urban area 5 km NW of Renala Khurd in Renala Khurd tehsil has an area of 1.3 km² and an estimated population of 13 000.

Qasur District (قصور Qasoor) 3 995 km², population 2 375 875. three tehsils (Chunian 1 212 km², population 584 567, Qasur 1 891 km², population 1 157 072, Pattoki 892 km², population 634 296). Qasur (245 321) has an area of 13.0 km² and an estimated population of 250 000. Chunian (42 230) has an area of 3.3 km² and an estimated population of 35 000. Pattoki (58 961) has an area of 3.2 km² and an estimated population of 40 000. Bhai Pheru in Chunian tehsil has an area of 1.7 km² and an estimated population of 20 000. Allahabad in Chunian tehsil has an area of 1.3 km² and an estimated population of 13 000. Khudian Khas (23 127) in Qasur tehsil has an area of 1.3 km² and an estimated population of 13 000. Mustafaabad (37 498) in Qasur tehsil has an area of 1.3 km² and an estimated population of 13 000. Kot Radha Kishan in Pattoki tehsil has an area of 1.3 km² and an estimated population of 13 000.

Shekhupura District (شيخوپورہ Shexoopoora) 3 241 km², population 2 048 449. two tehsils (Ferozewala 1 902 km², population 999 185, Sheikhupura 1 339 km², population 1 049 264).
Sheikhupura (280 263) has an area of 16.5 km² and an estimated population of 300 000. Muridke (مريدكے Mureedke, 111 951) in Ferozewala tehsil has an area of 4.9 km² and an estimated population of 60 000. Farooqabad (59 015) in Shekhupura tehsil has an area of 4.3 km² and an estimated population of 45 000. Mananwala Jodh Singh (25 564) in Ferozewala tehsil has an area of 1.6 km² and an estimated population of 16 000. Sharqpur (28 186) in Ferozewala tehsil has an area of 1.3 km² and an estimated population of 13 000. Ferozwatwan (فیروزوٹواں Ferozwaṭwaã) in Shekhupura tehsil has an area of 1.2 km² and an estimated population of 12 000. Kot Abdul Malik (63 525) in Ferozewala tehsil has an area of 1.0 km² and an estimated population of 12 000. An unidentified urban area, Shekhupura--7.5 km SE of Shekhupura, in Shekhupura tehsil has an area of 1.0 km² and an estimated population of 12 000.

LAHORE - - HISTORY IN BRIEF

The city of Lahore had existed during the ancient times. References to this city can be found in Ptolemy’s Geographia, which is written about AD I50. It refers to it as ‘Labokla’ and locates it with reference to the Indus, Ravi, Jhelum and Chenab rivers.

The Muslims conquered Lahore in 713 CE under the leadership of Muhammad bin Qasim, who was dispatched by the Umayyad Khaleefah Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik to make inroads to India. Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Punjab, and most of the present Pakistan from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea.

Later, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni placed it under the rule of his governor, Malik Ayaz. When Sultan Qutub-uddin Aybak was crowned in 1206, he became the first Muslim Sultan of the subcontinent. From 1524 to 1752 Lahore was part of the Mughal Empire.

During Akbar’s rule, Lahore was the capital of the empire from 1584 to 1598. During this time a massive fort, the Lahore Fort, was built on the remains of an older fort in the 1560s. This fort was later extended by Jahangir, a Mughal emperor who is now buried in the city. Shah Jahan, his son, was born in Lahore and is famous for building the world-renowned Taj Mahal in India. He, like his father, extended Lahore Fort and built many other structures in the city, showering more affection on his hometown than any other city. The last of the Mughals, Aurangzeb, ruling from 1658 to 1707, built the city's most famous monuments, the Badshahi Masjid and the Alamgiri Gate next to the Lahore Fort.

With the decline of the Mughal Empire, Lahore was captured by Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh, who declared himself Maharajah of the Punjab. Ranjit troops to desecrate many of the city’s beautiful Islamic shrines, including the Badshahi Mosque. Sikhs ruled Lahore from 1799 to 1849, making it the capital of their empire. However the last Anglo-Sikh war resulted in a British victory, bringing Lahore under the rule of the British crown.

The famous Lahore Resolution was passed in the city in 1940 that called for the creation of a separate Muslim state. Pakistan came into existence in 1947 with the end of the British Empire.