Syed Ghulam Naseeruddin Naseer Gilani (14 November 1949 – 13 February 2009) () was a Pakistani Islamic scholar, poet, and spiritual leader who served as the custodian (Sajjāda Nāshīn) of the

Golra Sharif Golra Sharif () is a town situated near the Margalla Hills in Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, at about above sea level, from the ancient city of Taxila. Before the arrival of the Peer family, including Peer Meher Ali Shah, the area ...

shrine in

Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...

. A descendant of

Meher Ali Shah Pir Meher Ali Shah (, ; 14 April 1859 – May 1937) was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi scholar and mystic poet from Punjab, British India (present-day Pakistan). Belonging to the Chishti order, he is known as a Hanafi scholar who led the anti-Ahmadiyy ...

, he was the son of

Syed Ghulam Moinuddin Gilani Syed Ghulam Moinuddin Gilani, commonly known as Baray Lala jee (22 May 1920 at Golra Sharif, of district Rawalpindi – 12 March 1997), was a Pakistani Islamic scholar and the Sajjada Nashin (successor) of Shrine Golra Sharif in Islamabad. ...

and the nephew of Syed Shah Abdul Haq Gilani. Renowned as a polyglot and prolific writer, he composed poetry in Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, and Persian. He authored more than 30 books on

Islamic theology Schools of Islamic theology are various Islamic schools and branches in different schools of thought regarding creed. The main schools of Islamic theology include the extant Mu'tazili, Ash'ari, Maturidi, and Athari schools; the extinct ones ...

, Qur’anic exegesis,

hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...

Islamic jurisprudence ''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.Fiqh
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...

, and the life of the Prophet Muhammad. His Persian Rubā‘iyyāt (quatrains) have been included in university curricula in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. He played a prominent role in promoting the values of Islam, love, peace, unity, and humanity across South Asia and internationally. His poetry was famously adapted into

Qawwali Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing originating in the Indian subcontinent. Originally performed at Sufi shrines throughout the Indian subcontinent, it is famous throughout Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and has ...

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (, ; born Pervez Fateh Ali Khan; 13 October 1948 – 16 August 1997), also known by his initials NFAK, was a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and music director. Khan was primarily a singer of qawwali, a form of Sufi devot ...

, further amplifying his spiritual influence.

Early life and education

Syed Ghulam Naseeruddin Naseer Gilani was born on 14 November 1949 (22 Muharram 1369  AH) in Golra Sharif, near

Rawalpindi Rawalpindi is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, third-largest city in the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is a commercial and industrial hub, being the list of cities in P ...

, into a distinguished spiritual family descended from

. He received his initial religious education at the ancestral madrasa in Golra Sharif under the guidance of his father, Syed Ghulam Moinuddin Gillani, and other resident scholars. This early spiritual and academic training took place in a deeply rooted environment of Qadiriyya–Chishti Sufi traditions. From an early age, Naseer actively studied Qur’an

tajwīd In the context of the recitation of the Quran, or (, ) is a set of rules for the correct pronunciation of the letters with all their qualities and applying the various traditional methods of recitation, known as . In Arabic, the term is deriv ...

(recitation) and classical Islamic sciences. According to a biographical article: “Pir Naseeruddin began Tajwīd with Mahbub Ali Lakhanvi and mastered multiple recitation styles… his melodious recitation captivated audiences.” Beyond scripture and jurisprudence, he was educated in

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

and

Urdu literature Urdu literature (, ) comprises the literary works, written in the Urdu language. While it tends to be dominated by poetry, especially the verse forms of the ''ghazal'' () and '' nazm'' (), it has expanded into other styles of writing, includin ...

, memorized classical poetry, and became adept in grammar,

logic Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It includes both formal and informal logic. Formal logic is the study of deductively valid inferences or logical truths. It examines how conclusions follow from premises based on the structure o ...

, and

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

, all within the family’s spiritual institution, rather than formal secular universities.

Career

Pir Naseeruddin became the Sajjāda Nāshīn (custodian) of the Golra Sharif shrine after the passing of his father, Syed Ghulam Moinuddin Gilani. In this capacity, he led religious gatherings, led spiritual rituals, and delivered Khutbahs at the shrine throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He was widely recognized for his public oratory and poetic recitations, which drew thousands to the shrine. His addresses often combined Islamic teachings with contemporary moral and social commentary, earning him acclaim as “a man of letters, an intellectual, poet of repute and a linguist”. Between the late 1990s and 2000s, Pir Naseeruddin expanded his teaching mission abroad, especially in Europe and North America. He delivered Islamic lectures in Urdu, English, and Persian to the Pakistani diaspora, emphasizing interfaith understanding, peace, and spiritual unity. His international influence grew thanks to media exposure; recordings of his

-style poetry were performed by

, bringing spiritual audiences to his work across South Asia and beyond.

Death

On 13 February 2009, he felt cardiac pain while preparing for

Friday prayer Friday prayer, or congregational prayer (), is the meeting together of Muslims for communal prayer and service at midday every Friday. In Islam, the day itself is called ''Yawm al-Jum'ah'' (shortened to ''Jum'ah''), which translated from Arabic me ...

. He suffered a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

and was shifted to a hospital, but could not recover and died. His

funeral A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect th ...

took place in Islamabad and was led by Allama Sajidur Rehman, the custodian of Baghar Sharif shrine. Thousands of devotees from across the country attended the funeral prayers. A large number of people from all walks of life sent condolence messages, including

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Asif Ali Zardari Asif Ali Zardari (born 26 July 1955) is a Pakistani politician serving as the 14th president of Pakistan since 2024, having held the same office from 2008 to 2013. He is the president of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians and was the ...

and

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Yusuf Raza Gilani Yusuf Raza Gilani (born 9 June 1952) is a Pakistani politician who served as the 16th prime minister of Pakistan from 2008 to 2012. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 2024. Chairman Gilani served as the acti ...

Books

As scholar and author, Pir Naseeruddin published approximately 36–40 books on theology, Qur’anic exegesis, jurisprudence, and Sufi teachings, in addition to multiple collections of poetry in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and Punjabi. His books include:

Theology & Islamic Studies (علم و فقہ)

*لفظِ اللہ کی تحقیق (''Lafz-i-Allah Ki Tahqeeq'', late 1990s) – A theological and philological treatise on the Divine Name "Allah", addressing its linguistic purity, scriptural authority, and historical usage in Islamic texts. *کیا ابلیس عالم تھا؟ (''Kya Iblees Aalim Tha?'', c. 1999) – A study questioning whether

Iblis Iblis (), alternatively known as Eblīs, also known as Shaitan, is the leader of the Shayatin, devils () in Islam. According to the Quran, Iblis was thrown out of Jannah#Jinn, angels, and devils, heaven after refusing to prostrate himself bef ...

(Satan) held scholarly knowledge, using Qur'anic exegesis and classical scholarship to analyze his defiance. *اسلام میں شاعری کی حیثیت (''Islam Mein Shayari Ki Hesiyat'', early 2000s) – Discusses the role of poetry in Islamic heritage, defending it against critiques using hadith and examples from Sufi history. *قرآنِ مجید کے آدابِ تلاوت (''Qur’an Majeed ke Adaab-e-Tilawat'', early 2000s) – Covers etiquette, pronunciation, and spiritual discipline required for Qur’anic recitation, aimed at both students and practicing Muslims. *موازنہ علم و کرامت (''Mawazna-e-Ilm o Karamat'', 2004) – Explores the contrast and interdependence between intellectual knowledge (‘ilm) and spiritual charisma (

karamat In Sufism, ''karamat'' (, singular ) refers to supernatural wonders performed by Muslim saints. In the technical vocabulary of Islamic religious sciences, the singular form ''karamat'' has a sense similar to ''charism'', a favor or spiritual g ...

) in the Sufi tradition.

Social Commentary & History (سماجی و تاریخی)

*پاکستان میں زلزلے کے تباہ کاریاں (''Pakistan mein Zalzalay ke Tabahkariyan'', 2005) – Reflects on the theological and societal consequences of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, and links them to communal morality. *مسلمانوں کے عروج و زوال کے اسباب (''Musalmanon ke Urooj-o-Zawal ke Asbab'', 2006) – Evaluates historical, ethical, and religious reasons for the rise and decline of Muslim civilizations.

Sufi Doctrine & Practice (تصوف و روحانیت)

*فتوی نویسی کے آداب (''Fatwa Naveesi ke Adaab'', c. 2007) – Lays out ethical and jurisprudential principles for issuing religious edicts, with emphasis on spiritual responsibility. *پیرانِ پیر کی شخصیت، سیرت، تعلیمات (''Peeran-e-Peer ki Shakhsiyat, Seerat, Taleemat'', 2007) – A tribute to

Abdul Qadir Jilani Abdul Qadir Gilani (; ; c. 1077/78 – 1166) was a Hanbali scholar, preacher, and Sufi leader who was the eponym of the Qadiriyya, one of the oldest Sufi orders. He was born c. 1077/78 in the town of Na'if, Rezvanshahr in Gilan, Persia, an ...

, presenting his teachings, ethics, and personality in a devotional yet scholarly manner. *آئینہ شریعت میں پیری مریدی کی حیثیت (''Aaina-e-Shari’at Mein Peeri-Mureedi Ki Hesiyat'', 2008) – Investigates the role of Sufi mentorship within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence. *فیضِ نسبت (''Faiz-e-Nisbat'', 2008) – A collection of guidance for spiritual seekers, combining prose and poetry to outline the importance of divine connection (nisbat). *دستِ نظر (''Dast-e-Nazar'', 2009) – A reflective work on spiritual vision and insight, dealing with esoteric themes and unveiling.

Poetry & Literary Works (شاعری و ادبیات)

*پیمانِ شب (''Paiman-e-Shab'', 1983) – His first Urdu poetry collection, containing

ghazals ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...

and devotional verse focused on divine love and the Prophet’s praise. *آغوشِ حیرت (''Aaghosh-e-Hairat'', 1987) – A set of Persian rubāʿiyyāt exploring divine wonder, the mystery of creation, and the human soul’s yearning for God. *راہ و رسمِ منزل‌ها (''Rah-o-Rasm-e-Manzilha'', 1990s) – Urdu ghazals that metaphorically document the Sufi path, capturing moments of spiritual longing, struggle, and ecstasy. *لطمت الغیب علی ازالت الریب (''Latmat-ul-Ghaib ‘Ala Azalat-ur-Rayb'', 1990s) – A unique collection that blends mystical verse with polemic against spiritual doubt, written in classical Urdu. *ارشِ ناز (''Arsh-e-Naaz'', 2007) – A poetic tribute to the Prophet Muhammad, blending Persian and Urdu poetic forms with deep metaphysical imagery. *النظم رباعیات قادریہ (''Al-Nazm: Rubāʿiyāt-e-Qadiriyya'', 2007) – A set of Persian quatrains dedicated to the

Qadiriyya The Qadiriyya () or the Qadiri order () is a Sunni Sufi order (''Tariqa'') founded by Abdul Qadir Gilani (1077–1166, also transliterated ''Jilani''), who was a Hanbali scholar from Gilan, Iran. The order, with its many sub-orders, is widesp ...

order, often studied in Iranian academic circles. *کلیات نصیر گیلانی (''Kulliyat-e-Naseer Gilani'', 2019, posthumous) – A complete anthology of his poetry across Urdu, Persian, and Punjabi, preserving his literary and spiritual legacy.Internet Archive. “Kulliyat-e-Naseer Gilani.” Published 2019. Accessed June 2025.

References

{{authority control Pakistani Sufi religious leaders Sufi poets 1949 births 2009 deaths Chishtis 20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam 21st-century Muslim scholars of Islam 20th-century Pakistani poets 21st-century Pakistani poets Sunni Sufis