The Name We Carry

الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرحَمُهُمُ الرَّحمَنُ ✦ "Those who show mercy, Allah shows mercy to them" — Prophet Muhammad ﷽

Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah

Our Foundation draws its name and spirit from a saint whose message was simple: love for all, service to all.

Who Was Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah?

Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah (c. 1819–1905) was a revered Sufi saint of Dewa Sharif, a town near Barabanki in what is now Uttar Pradesh, India. He was the founder of the Warsi Sufi order and is counted among the most beloved saints of the 19th-century subcontinent.

Born into a family of deep piety and learning, he dedicated his entire life to spiritual service. His khanqah (spiritual lodge) at Dewa Sharif became a gathering place for Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike — a living testament to his conviction that the love of the Divine transcends all boundaries of religion, caste and language.

His followers — the Warsi silsila — spread across the subcontinent, carrying his message of selfless service, humility and unity. Even today, the annual Urs at Dewa Sharif draws hundreds of thousands of devotees from across South Asia, making it one of the largest Sufi gatherings on the subcontinent.

“The greatest worship is service to humanity.”

At a Glance

Bornc. 1819, Dewa Sharif, Barabanki, India
Passed Away1905, Dewa Sharif
OrderWarsi Silsila (rooted in the Qadiriyya tradition)
ShrineDewa Sharif, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India
Core TeachingUniversal love; service to all without discrimination
Annual UrsDraws hundreds of thousands of devotees from across South Asia

His Message

Core Teachings

Six principles that guided his life and that continue to shape this Foundation's work.

Universal Love

He welcomed people of every faith — Muslim, Hindu, Christian — into his presence equally. Love of the Divine, he taught, could not be separate from love of all humankind.

Service Without Discrimination

His famous declaration — "Services to humanity, without discrimination" — became the motto that the Foundation carries today. No deserving soul was turned away on account of religion, caste or background.

Humility

Despite attracting hundreds of thousands of followers, he lived simply and shunned personal glory. His spiritual stature was reflected in his effortless accessibility to the poorest among the poor.

Practical Spirituality

He did not separate the inner spiritual journey from the outward duty to society. True tasawwuf (Sufism), he showed, is not retreat from the world but active, compassionate engagement with it.

Unity Across Faiths

In a period of growing communal tension across the subcontinent, his gatherings stood as a peaceful counter-example — proof that sincere faith draws communities together rather than apart.

Trust & Integrity

He was known for absolute honesty in all dealings. Resources entrusted to him were used transparently for the welfare of others — a principle his Foundation enshrines in its 0% administrative-deduction policy.

Dewa Sharif & the Warsi Legacy in Pakistan

After the Partition of 1947, millions of Muslims from across the subcontinent settled in what became Pakistan, bringing with them their devotion to Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah. Communities with roots in the Warsi tradition established themselves in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad and across Sindh.

The founders of this Foundation — themselves descendants of and devotees in the Warsi tradition — carry that legacy directly. Choosing his name for the Foundation was not symbolic alone; it was a commitment to live by his principles in every programme and every act of service.

The Foundation is registered and based in Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi — a neighbourhood home to a large population of families with origins in what is now Uttar Pradesh, many of whom have a deep connection to the Warsi tradition. Serving them and their neighbours is a natural expression of this heritage.

The Warsi Silsila

A Sufi order founded by Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah, rooted in the Qadiriyya tradition. It emphasises service, universal brotherhood, and the inner purification of the self through love of God and love of humanity.

Dewa Sharif Today

Dewa Sharif in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh remains an active spiritual centre. The annual Urs (death anniversary) is one of the largest Sufi gatherings in South Asia, drawing people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UK and beyond.

Our Founding Commitment

Naming the Foundation after Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah is a pledge: every ration bag packed, every free clinic held, every child supported in school is an act of living by his legacy.

“Services to humanity, without discrimination.”

This is the spirit that guides every decision we make. See how we carry it into practice today.

Our Initiatives Donate Now

This page honours the historical Sufi figure after whom the Foundation is named, presented in a general and respectful spirit.