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The famus Iranian gnostic and poet, “Pir-e Herat”
Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 22nd of the Islamic month of Zil-Hijjah in 481 AH, the famus Iranian Gnostic and poet, Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, who was known as “Pir-e Herat”, or Senior Citizen of the Khorasani city of Herat, passed away at the age of 85 in his hometown – which is currently in Afghanistan. He traced his lineage to Abu Ayyub Ansari, a companion and host in Medina of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
He mastered the sciences of the day, including theology, hadith, and exegesis of the Holy Qur\'an. He was a frequent visitor to the city of Naishapour – a centre of science – to meet and confer with prominent figures, and add to his erudite knowledge. He lived a spiritual life and avoided the company of the rich and politically powerful.
He wrote valuable books including an exegesis of the Holy Qur\'an in Arabic titled “Kashf al-Asraar”. He composed excellent poetry in his native Persian, and authored several works in both Arabic and Persian, such as \"Munajaat-Namah\", and “Kitab al-Arba’een\". He is the ancestor of the Heravi-Khwajavi line in Iran that once dominated Khorasan and eastern Iran.
Some of his descendants moved to the Subcontinent. Among them was Hakim Shaikh Ilm ud-din Ansari, better known as Wazir Khan, who was a governor of the Mughal Emperors in Multan, in what is now Pakistan – best known for building the famous Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. His other prominent descendent was Qutb ud-din Ansari who founded the famous Firangi Mahal school of religious education near Lucknow in India.
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