Altaf Mahmood Hashmi
Profile by Altaf Mahmood Hashmi
After doing Mechanical Engineering from University of Engineering & Technology Taxila he joined Climax Engineers Company Gujranwala, a large size producer of fans, electric watt meters, transformers, air conditioners, wheat threshers etc. He served this outfit as Assistant Manager for three months till he was summoned by Pakistan Army to join Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers for two and half years under compulsory service ordinance. After fulfilling necessary formalities he joined Pakistan Army on 12 Feb 1983 as Captain. He was promoted to rank of Major in November 1990 and was lifted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in September 1997. He suffered from cardiac problem, resultantly he underwent open heart surgery on 30th March 1998 at Armed Force Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) Rawalpindi. He retired from Pakistan Army on 6th September 2008.
During the service in Army he worked in multi-dimensions with courage and talent, e.g.
1. As a Mechanical Engineer he achieved following milestones:-
a. Introduced and installed “Oxidation Plant” for surface treatment of weapons and ferrous item to replace “Rebrowning” which would take seven day for a lot of 50 weapons whereas the former takes only two hours for same number of weapons.
b. Received commendation certificate from Chief of the Army Staff for achieving recurring annual saving of US$ 125,300 per year for Pakistan Ordnance Factories by manufacturing a Proof Shot for ammunition.
c. Planned and executed crash repair programmes and repaired / overhauled almost 300 vehicles in one month.
d. Saved US$ 710,000 by testing and modifying ammunition, earlier declared as unserviceable.
e. Prepared prototype anti mine shoes but it could not be tested.
f. Instrumental in modifying Armored Personnel Carrier (APCs) into a wepon system without major change in APCs.
2. He belongs to a religious scholars and sufis family.
a. His sixth forefather Darwesh Muhammad wrote a Quran-e-Pak about 300 hundred years ago manuscript hand written on 957 pages which is wonderful masterpiece of calligraphy saved with him.
b. His grandfather Khwaja Mahboob Alam (1850 – 1917 AD) after doing Dars-e-Nazami he specialized in Hadis & Islamic Judicial Verdict and got appointed Deputy Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Rampur State for 10 years (1875 to 1885). He remained Islamic Judicial Officer of Ambala District for 10 years (1888- 1898 AD). He is writer of five books which are well known but one (Ziker-e-Khair) is too famous that as yet 21000 copies have been published.
c. His father Abu Alwafa Siddiq Ahmad after graduating Dars-e-Nazami in 10 years to become Islamic Scholar, qualified Tasawaf courses in eight years and earned good name as Sufi of the area. He wrote many books, two have been published and remaining two are in the pipeline. He translated a famous Arabic book “Khasais-e-Kubra” by Allama Jalal ud din Sayuti R.A. in Urdu.
In following his ancestors, Altaf Mahmood Hashmi wrote many books and articles a few of which are:
a. Jaanib-e-Husn-e-Lazawal (Towards the eternal/ everlasting beauty). It is a story of his visit of various shines of Auliya Allah (Saints) in Pakistan & Iran. Specialty is the literary language and intrinsic / esoteric contemplation.
b. Altaf Namay (Letter of Altaf): His letters containing observation, research and guidance oriented, written to friends and other personalities.
c. Mazameen-e-Altaf (Articles of Altaf) it consists of six or seven daily life article of a Muslims the most important two are:
(1) Zakat: It directly addresses the types of zakat with a zakat calculator in MS Excel. A need of every Muslim.
(2) Hathon Ki Kamai (Earnings of own hands): It covers that why afflictions fall on a human being and how they must be negotiated. Widely published article in paper & digest. A year ago it was published in an Urdu Newspaper in Canada also.
d. Mushahidat (esoteric / intrinsic): the writer met thousands of claimant / plaintiff and known sufis in Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia. He felt some insight which he has tried to put in black and white in comparison with the other sufis he visited.
e. Parwar-e-Mahboob (Dynasty / lineage of Mehboob) the ancestral details including family lineage of his grand father Khawaja Mehboob Alam R.A. till Hazrat Abbas Alamdar R.A. & Hazrat Abdul Muttalib R.A. Moreover detail of his descendants / progeny till todate.
f. Chrag-e-Mahboob (Lamps of Mahboob) Khawja Mahboob Alam R.A. left over 80 spiritual successors (Khulafa). These days he is gathering authentic information about them to compile as Chrag-e-Mehboob.
6. Zikr Movement (Tahreek-e-Zikr) In 2008 Tahreek-e-Zikr (repeatedly invoking name of Almighty Allah with voice) was started with a view to inculcate Allah’s love in the heart of humanity. With the grace of Allah at present about 100 circles of ladies and gents are functioning. A circle was formed in Dubai in 2009 AD which has the hounor for 11 non Muslims (5 Chinese and 6 Nigerian Christians) to embrace Islam in 2010 & 2011 AD. The movement is non political, non aligned having members from all the Muslim sects.
7. Lectures: Altaf Mahmood Hashmi delivers lectures on various topics related to Tasawaf and Islam. His favorite topic is that at present the Muslims are not that weak as they are posed. On this topic he has delivered many speeches to lawyers, professors, engineers and doctors at various places in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.
8. During service he got following major qualifications:-
a. Automobile and Military Equipment Engineering: From College of E&ME.
b. Weapon System Engineering: From College of E&ME.
c. Management Computer Training: From NUST (College of E&ME) Got 1st Position with distinction (96% marks).
d. Logistic Engineering & Management: From College of E&ME, Scored 1st Position.
e. MBA-IT (Executive): From Comsats-Institute of Information Technology, Wah Cantt. Topped in the class of 16 Student with 3.49 CGPA.
f. Many other short courses.
