The Shirk of Calling Humans ‘Dātā’ or ‘Ganj Bakhsh’ Explained Through Qur’an

Barelvi people believe that some attributes of Allah, may Allah protect us, can also be found in servants. We have already presented a detailed review of Barelvi doubts and arguments on this in this article. Now here in this article, we will clarify why attributing a servant with qualities like Daatta (Giver) or Ganj Bakhsh (Bestower of wealth) is a polytheistic and kufr act.

Data is an adjective in the Hindi language meaning “the giver.”
Through causes, every human can distinguish between good and bad, polytheism, Christian, Jew, Muslim, non-Muslim—everyone can give. If there is something to give without causes, only Allah can give. In the Holy Quran, اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ “Indeed, You are the Giver.”
The Giver is the one who provides sustenance to all creatures.
Providing sustenance to all creatures is only the work of Allah, as stated in the Holy Quran: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ All praise is for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
Hazrat Ali Hajveri is called Data. It is worth thinking: when he was not born, was the earth devoid of a Giver? Who was the Giver of his parents? Who gave to them? The Giver is the one who listens to everyone at all times. Hazrat Ali Hajveri has passed away; now if someone wants to ask for something, from whom should they ask? Why does Allah say about those in the graves:

وَمَا أَنْتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَنْ فِي الْقُبُورِ

(O Prophet) You cannot make those in the graves hear your speech.
If the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cannot make those in the graves hear his speech, then how can our brother Hazrat Ali Hajveri make those in the grave hear his needs?
The Provider of sustenance for the entire universe is only Allah, as stated in the Holy Quran:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۖ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

Those whom you invoke besides Allah do not possess the provision for you; so seek provision from Allah and worship Him and be grateful to Him, and to Him you will be returned.
Elsewhere it is stated:

أَمَّن يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَمَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Who is it that creates you initially and then repeats creation? Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Is there any deity with Allah? Say, “Produce your proof if you should be truthful.”
In reality, the Giver of everything is Allah, but these people make others partners.
Thus Allah says:

وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ ۗ تَاللَّهِ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ

They assign a share of the provision We have given to those they do not know. By Allah, you will surely be questioned about what you used to invent.
The responsibility for the provision of everything lies with Allah alone, not with anyone else. It is stated:

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

And there is no creature walking on the earth but that its provision is upon Allah. He knows its dwelling place and its repository. All is in a clear Book.
In another place it is said:

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن دَابَّةٍ لَّا تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

And there are many creatures that do not carry their provision. Allah provides for them and for you. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Restricting or expanding provision is only within Allah’s authority and not anyone else’s. Allah says:

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Allah enlarges provision for whom He wills among His servants and restricts it for whom He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things.
Elsewhere it is said:

وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

And whoever relies upon Allah—then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.

قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّي يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَيْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

Say, “My Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend—He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers.”

وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ

And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say, “Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?” Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
In another place it is said:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ

O mankind, remember the favor of Allah upon you. Is there any creator besides Allah who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? There is no deity except Him, so how are you deluded?
Whoever Allah grants, none can withhold; and whoever He withholds, none can grant.
Thus it is said:

مَّا يَفْتَحِ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

Allah opens the gate of mercy for whom He wills, and none can close it; and if He closes it, none can open it thereafter. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Elsewhere it is said:

أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ

If He withholds His provision, then who can grant it to you? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.
Regarding the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet used to recite after every prayer:

لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت ولا معطي لما منعت ولا ينفع ذا الجد منك الجد

There is no deity except Allah alone; He has no partner. His is the dominion, and His is the praise, and He is over all things competent. O Allah, none can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold, and no wealth benefits anyone before You.
From this blessed hadith, it is proven that no one is a Giver except Allah. The only Giver is Allah; all others are needy and askers. There is only one who gives to all. As stated in the Holy Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
We think that if we offer some gifts or favors at their court, we will be saved from calamity; that these elders will save us. However, Allah Almighty has decreed a firm decision in the Holy Quran:

قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا

Say, “If Allah should intend for you harm, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
From this blessed verse, it is clear that no one has the power to benefit or harm except Allah. Therefore, we should rely on Him in every situation.
Regarding the exaggeration of Christians about Jesus (peace be upon him), it is said:

قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا

Say, “Then who could prevent Allah at all if He intended to destroy Jesus, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?” And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.
As for the issue that Allah is the Master (Mawla) and people also call servants “Mawla,” this is not shirk (polytheism). It is explained that the word “Mawla” has many meanings; the most well-known meaning is “friend.” Allah Almighty has also used it in the Quran for servants. It is stated:

ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ تَعْلَمُوا آبَاءَهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَمَوَالِيكُمْ

Call the believing men and believing women by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers, then [they are] your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you.
In this blessed verse, the word مواليكم appears, which is the plural of Mawla, meaning friends. When this word is used for someone other than Allah, its meaning is limited and specific. If a person calls a scholar “Mawla” and believes that all attributes of Allah are in that person, then this is shirk. If he thinks that Allah is secretly the Reliever of difficulties and that person is also, if Allah is everywhere by His knowledge and that person is also, if Allah is the Giver to everyone and that person is also capable of giving, if Allah knows the state of hearts and that person also knows, if Allah knows the hidden unseen matters of the heart and that person also knows, if Allah is the Reliever of difficulties and that person is also, if Allah is aware of everyone’s conditions and that person is also, and if death does not affect Allah and does not affect that person, if Allah hears everyone’s call and that person also hears everyone’s call—then with these beliefs, calling a person “Mawlana” (our master) makes him a polytheist in attributes. If someone uses the word “Mawlana” for a person in the sense of friend, this is proven from the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as in the blessed hadith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه

In Musnad Al-Bazzar and others, it is mentioned: Whoever I (the Prophet) am a friend of, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is also a friend of him. What is proven from the Quran and Sunnah is that the use of these words is permissible.
If this were shirk, Allah Almighty and His Messenger (peace be upon him) would not have used it for servants. But those who use the word “Data” for creatures believe that the work they do is as Allah sees it, so Hazrat Ali Hajveri also knows it. Just as Allah hears and accepts our calls everywhere, so this elder also hears and accepts. Just as Allah knows the hidden secrets of our hearts, so the elder also knows. Whatever language one uses to call Allah, He knows every language; similarly, the elder also knows. Similarly, he removes our difficulties. This is to ascribe Allah’s exclusive attributes to others.

Similarly, calling Hazrat Ali Hujwiri “Ganj Bakhsh” is a Persian term which means “the giver of treasures.” But the Giver of treasures is only Allah, as stated in the Holy Quran:

وَلِلَّهِ خَزَائِنُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ

The treasures of the heavens and the earth are in the possession of Allah alone, but the hypocrites do not understand.
They do not understand, but may Allah grant Muslims the ability to understand. Ameen, Ya Rabb al-Alameen.
Even though the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not a Ganj Bakhsh, as the Quran states:

قُلْ لَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ

(Say, O Prophet) I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah.
If the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not have the treasures of Allah, then who could be greater than him to be a giver of treasures?
Hazrat Ali Hujwiri himself said that I am not a Ganj Bakhsh but people do not understand. In his book Kashf al-Asrar, he addresses himself saying:
O Ali, creation calls you Ganj Bakhsh, and what a strange favor it is that you do not even keep a single grain with yourself. The fact that creation calls me Ganj Bakhsh, never even think about it, nor should it be mere claim or arrogance. The one who is capable of being Ganj Bakhsh, i.e., the giver of treasures, is only One Being who is without any doubt the Owner of the Kingdom, and do not associate partners with Him, otherwise life will be ruined. Indeed, He alone is God, who has no partner.

Our job is to inform; your job is to accept or not. If you do not accept us, then at least accept your Pir. Many people say that we call these elders only as a means; we do not believe that they possess divine attributes. But the reality is that this is mere talk.
Calling them in a way beyond causes without accepting divine attributes has no meaning. However, in a poem, all divine attributes have been affirmed in Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (may Allah have mercy on him), which clearly shows what the Barelvi sect’s belief about these elders is. The poem is presented here; please reflect a little…!
By the grace of God, we have the shadow of Ghaus-e-Azam
We have support in both worlds, Ghaus-e-Azam
In whose hands is our honor? In the hands of the one from Baghdad
Who wards off calamities? Ghaus-e-Azam
The merchant ship immediately escaped the whirlpool
When they recited the prayer, O Ghaus-e-Azam
At one time, they went to seventy disciples, O Master
The mystery of Ghaus-e-Azam cannot be understood
They are healed from deadly diseases
What a wondrous place of healing is the threshold of Ghaus-e-Azam
By the command of God, it is evident
That everything in the world is under the control of Ghaus-e-Azam
By the command that is enforced in every condition, it is evident
The Master Ghaus-e-Azam has control over humans and jinn
It immediately rained upon the gathering
What the rain cloud received was the indication of Ghaus-e-Azam
Whoever wants the truth, whether they want it or the truth wants them
How can the desire of Ghaus-e-Azam be erased?
They washed away the questions from the hearts of jurists
The hearts of mankind are under the control of Ghaus-e-Azam
They used to call Qom, and by the permission of Allah, they would revive the dead
The revival of the dead by Ghaus-e-Azam is very famous
Angels used to accompany to the school
This is the rank of Ghaus-e-Azam in the Divine Court
Ahmad Mukhtar wiped his saliva on them
Then how could the voice of Ghaus-e-Azam not be raised?
The Messenger of Allah bestowed a cloak upon him in the assembly
Why then would the trumpet of Ghaus-e-Azam not sound in the world?
Our apparent and inner selves are mirrors before him
Nothing in the world is veiled from Ghaus-e-Azam

The purpose of writing this poem is to consider the arguments we have previously written in the light of the Quran and Sunnah and the Quranic verses that will be written later, to examine this belief in the light of the Quran and Hadith, what is the command of the Lord, what is the teaching of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and what is the belief of our brothers, then decide for yourself what is truth and what is falsehood.
Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) also did not have the treasures of Allah, as the Quran states:

وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ

I do not say to you that I have the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say that I am an angel.
This proves that even the prophets did not have the authority over Allah’s treasures. If the messengers of Allah did not have treasures, then how can anyone else give treasures? If the prophets cannot be Ganj Bakhsh, then how can anyone else be?
Only Allah is the Ganj Bakhsh. The believers should trust only in that Being.