إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
The Aslam HayatLegacy Archive
Chartered Accountant · Civil Aviation Executive
Writer · Student of Islamic Spirituality
Aslam Hayat (1933–2026) was a Pakistani-Canadian chartered accountant, civil aviation executive, writer, and lifelong student of Islamic spirituality. Over more than twenty-five years he authored over 650 published articles exploring history, faith, literature, science, and public affairs.
1933
Born in Lahore
650+
Published Articles
25 Years
The Miracle Newspaper
93
Years of Life
About Aslam Hayat
A life that spanned pre-Partition India, modern Pakistan, and the Pakistani-Canadian community.
Born in Lahore in 1933, with family roots in Subhan Pur, Kapurthala, Punjab, Aslam Hayat witnessed the Partition of India in 1947 — an experience that shaped his writing and historical outlook throughout his life. He later travelled to London to qualify as a Chartered Accountant and returned to serve in Pakistan's civil aviation sector, rising to director-level responsibilities at the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
After his retirement he settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became a respected voice in the Pakistani-Canadian community. For more than twenty-five years he maintained a regular column in The Miracle newspaper, authoring over 650 articles on history, current affairs, community life, and the experiences of the South Asian diaspora.
Read Full BiographyAt a Glance
- Born
- 23 March 1933, Lahore, Pakistan
- Family Origins
- Subhan Pur, Kapurthala, Punjab
- Education
- Chartered Accountant, London, UK
- Career
- Director-level, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
- Writing
- 650+ articles, The Miracle (Vancouver)
- Faith
- Islam; student of Sufism and Ibn Arabi
- Settled
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Passed Away
- 2026, aged 93, Vancouver
Life Timeline
From pre-Partition Punjab to Vancouver — the key moments of a life that spanned a century.
🌙Born in Lahore, Punjab
Aslam Hayat was born on 23 March 1933 in Lahore, Punjab, with family roots in Subhan Pur, Kapurthala, Punjab — a life that would span nine decades and cross four continents.
📜Witnessed the Partition of India
Aslam Hayat was fourteen years old when the Partition of India reshaped the subcontinent. The historic events he witnessed in Lahore remained an important part of his personal memories throughout his life and informed much of his later writing on history and identity.
📚Muslim Model High School, Lahore
Aslam Hayat completed his school education at Muslim Model High School in Lahore — one of the oldest and most distinguished schools in the city.
Five Defining Images
Professional · Spiritual · Writer · Scholar · Elder
علم حاصل کرو، گہوارے سے قبر تک“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.”
— Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · A principle Aslam Hayat lived and wrote by, and passed on to his familyIn Their Own Words
A tribute from his family
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
My beloved grandfather will be remembered as a pillar of our family, life's biggest blessing and influence, from childhood into adulthood.
He instilled values of love, kindness, and strong faith among his family members and wider community.
A lover of literature and poetry — English, Urdu and Persian. He leaves us with the hoards of books that he surrounded himself with 24/7, tasbīhs (prayer beads) that constantly intertwined in his fingers… He leaves us with an inexplicable void, yet immense gratitude to have known him.
May God rest your soul, our beautiful grandfather 🌹
Granddaughter
Share a Memory
Do you have a story, photograph, or memory of Aslam Hayat? The family warmly invites you to contribute.
Whether you knew him through his writing in The Miracle, through the Pakistani-Canadian community, through his years in public service in Pakistan, or simply as a beloved member of the family — every memory matters and every contribution enriches this archive.
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