Religious Shrines as a Source of Spiritual Satisfaction: A Case Study of Syed Ali Hijwari Shrine

Abstract

Hazrat Data Gunj Baksh (R.A) is a significant and historic Sufi who came in India to propagate Islam among the masses during eleventh century AD. His message and impact is still relevant in the present society of our country. He solved a lot of problems of his time. Did he really bear impact on the society and secondly whether his teaching has any relevance to the present society? That is the research question of this assignment and hypothesis is that he really had a huge impact on the society of his time and that his teachings can still be observable in the society of present day. His teachings have the torch bearing effect for complicated problems of present time especially terrorism and hate. Sufism may be defined as devotion to God and love for human beings, in order to achieve the closeness with God (irfan), the state of extreme elevation and happiness, and finally union (wisal), then annihilation (fina) in God. It is believed that there are three ways to experience nearness with God, the Quran (Shariat), Hadis and Maarfat (Spirituality).