[4][5][6] He is the author of a number of Urdu books on topics relating to spirituality, the most successful among these being Deen-e-Ilahi "The Religion of God" (2000), which was republished by Balboa Press, a division of Hay House and translated into English and other languages by Messiah Foundation International in 2012.

Shahi was born on 25 November 1941 in the village of Dhok Gohar Shah in the district of Rawalpindi of British India.

[citation needed] Some singers such as Aziz Mian and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan have performed at Shahi related events.

[25] After he fled to England, Shahi was convicted in absentia,[23][25] receiving sentences that totaled approximately 59 years.

[26] In February 2002, prior to any decision on appeals filed with the High Court of Sindh, Ardeshir Cowasjee claimed in an article he wrote for the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, that unnamed people who identified themselves to him as office-bearers of the All-Faith Spiritual Movement told him that Gohar Shahi died abroad, but this report was unconfirmed.

On the other hand, the Indian news agency PTI reported in 2008 that Shahi was based in the United Kingdom after being convicted of blasphemy by the High Court of Sindh.

[9] This view is supported by the Indian Express which reported in 2008 that Shahi had fled to the United Kingdom and was presently based there.

[29] The Sunday Leader in Sri Lanka stated that Shahi disappeared in 2001 and sightings of him were thereafter reported around the world.

[30] Claims made by Shahi and his followers have been strongly opposed by orthodox Islamic theologians in Pakistan and abroad.

[36] Messiah Foundation International asserts the alleged images to be signs from God, pointing to Shahi being the awaited Mahdi; they quote religious texts[37] as well as sayings from the likes of Nostradamus,[38] and Ja'far al-Sadiq to support it.

[39] Gohar Shahi authored a number of books, including one based on Sufi poetry known as Taryāq-e-Qalb which translates to the "'Cure of Hearts'".

[30][40] Works by Gohar Shahi include: On 17 May 2012, Messiah Foundation International republished The Religion of God with Balboa Press.

[43] Messiah Foundation International considers Shahi to be the author of the "Goharian Philosophy of Divine Love", a set of principles upon which the organisation is founded.

[6] Shahi has also authored a monthly magazine, Hatif-e-Mahdi, which is banned in Pakistan for allegedly containing material offensive to the religious feelings of Muslims there.