The shrine of Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ghous, located along Circular Road beyond the Delhi Darwaza in Lahore, stands as a testament to the city's enduring history. Constructed with burnt bricks, the site is a remarkable example of architectural and spiritual excellence.
Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ghous, a venerated religious luminary, was born in Peshawar and spent his life traveling across India, spreading the teachings of Islam. During the reign of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah, he settled in Lahore, where he garnered an extensive following. His teachings and practices continue to inspire countless individuals to this day.
An intriguing historical episode surrounds the shrine's fate during the reign of Maharaja Kharak Singh, the second Sikh King of Punjab. During a sweeping order to demolish structures beyond Lahore's fortified walls, plans were afoot to raze Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ghous's shrine, inciting uproar among the city's Muslim populace. Appeals to the Sikh Darbar implored a reconsideration of this plan. In a twist of fate, the night before the scheduled demolition, Maharaja Kharak Singh passed away. Subsequently, on the following day, tragedy struck again when Kharak Singh's son Kanwar Nou Nihal Singh met his demise in a freak accident—struck by a falling stone from the shrine's arched gateway. This uncanny sequence of events abruptly halted the planned demolition, a phenomenon widely interpreted as a divine intervention in defense of the revered shrine, ingraining its sanctity in the collective memory of that era.
The writings of Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ghous find their place in "Rasala Ghousia," a chronicle that pays homage to luminaries such as Saint Hazrat Mian Mir and other Islamic scholars of his era. To this day, an elaborate festival is convened annually in his honor, underscoring the enduring significance of his shrine as a spiritual beacon not only for the people of Lahore but also for devotees far and wide.
Hazrat Shah Muhammad Ghous departed this world in 1739 in Lahore, yet his legacy endures. Hazrat Ghous ul Azam, belonging to the lineage of Piran Dastgir, commands profound reverence throughout Hindustan for his lineage and spiritual wisdom. The grand festival held annually in his honor is a testament to the perpetuity of his spiritual influence and the enduring sanctity of his revered shrine.
