Bari Imam

Bari Imam
Dome Design of a door of Bari-Imam Complex
Born	1617 CE or 1026 Hijri Choli Karsal, District Chakwal, Pakistan
Died	1705 CE
Burial place	Noorpur Shahan, Islamabad, Pakistan
Parent(s)	Syed Mehmood Shah (Father)

Bari Imam (1617–1705), or Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, is the patron saint of Islamabad and the greater Pothohar region.

Bari Imam (1617–1705), whose real name was Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi, was born in 1026 Hijra (1617 AD) in Chakwal. His father, Syed Mehmood Shah, shifted his family from Chakwal District(Village Karsal) to Baghan village, presently called Aabpara. At that time, it was a barren land. Soon after the arrival of Bari Imam’s family, his father started farming and also kept some animals. Shah Latif helped his father in grazing the animals, but left his father at 12 and came to Nurpur Shahan. He is the first cousin from his father's side of Shah Chan Charagh.

Nurpur Shahan, the village was initially called churpur Shahan since it was infested by thieves, robbers and people of dubious character in those days. Bari Imam while spreading the message of peace converted them to Islam and convinced them to become law-abiding citizens.

From Nurpur Shahan, Bari Imam went to Ghorghushti in Campbellpur (now known as ) where he stayed for two years to learning fiqh, hadith, logic, and other disciplines related to Islam, because at that time Ghorghushti was a great seat of learning.

To get spiritual knowledge and satiate his love for Islam, Bari Imam visited many places, including Kashmir, Badakhshan, Bukhara, Mashhad, Baghdad and Damascus. He not only received spiritual knowledge in these places but also held discussions with scholars belonging to different schools of thought on various subjects. Later, he went to Hejaz to perform Hajj.

Bari Imam murshid was Hazrat Shah Ameer Ali Gillani,who was known as Bala peer.who was from Hujra Shah Muqeem and gadi nasheen of darbar gah aaliya Bahawal Sher Qalander Hujra Shah Muqeem. Bari Imam converted thousands of Hindus into Muslims through the teachings of Islam at Nurpur Shahan. It is stated that once Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir himself came there to pay respects to Bari Imam.

Bari Imam's meditation at Neelaan Bhotou:

The lush green surroundings; The mountains with violet hue; Where the winds blow majestically; The chirping of the birds; The stone frozen in time; Is the place where the illuminated spirit; Lied submerged in the depth of clear running stream; No wonder why the fish ate the flesh; The place still resonates the calm of perfect unification; When the wisdom of Abu Tahir graced the purity of Abu Turab!