Uways al-Qarani

Uways al-Qarani

Abu Amar Owais Bin Harb Bin al Muradi bin al Qarn  [d.37H/ 657CE] 'alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan 
His name was Owais, he was known as Owais al-Qarni because he lived in a town called "Qarn" in Yemen.  

Hadrat Owais Qarni (Allah be pleased with him) was a very pious and noble person. Although his life was insignificant from a worldly point of view, he is renowned and honoured amongst all Muslims, Sufis in particular, for his piety, practice of zuhd (asceticism), as well as a deep love and affection for the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Peace & Blessings upon him).

It is said that he spent all his hours in solitude, fasting, night vigil and salat (prayers). He had embraced Islam while the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) was still alive. He naturally had a very strong desire to see the Prophet but since his mother was very old and she needed his constant care and attention, he could not visit the Beloved of Allah.

As a reward of his service to his mother, he was treated as a Sahabi (Companion of Prophet) by the Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) even though he could not see him personally. His name entered the list of Sahaba only because of his strong intention to see the Allah's Beloved Messenger (Peace & Blessings upon him). 

Once the Companions asked the Beloved Prophet: "Has Hadrat Owais Qarni ever visited you? The Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) replied: "No, He never watched me physically, but spiritually he met me."

Sufism is based on the spiritual connection or link that was between the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) & Hadrat Owais Qarni, in Sufism that spiritual connection is known as "Nisbat-e-Owaisiya". When Hadrat Owais Qarni (Allah be pleased with him) received a message about the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him), that he had lost a tooth in the battle of "Uhud", Hadrat Owais Qarni pulled one of his own teeth out (because of his love towards the Beloved Prophet).

Thinking that he might not have pulled out the right tooth, and because he loved the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) more than he loved himself, he pulled out all of his teeth to make sure that he had lost the same tooth as the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings upon him).    

During his last days, the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) asked Hadrat Umar and Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with them) to take his shirt (Jubba Mubarak) to Hadrat Owais and ask him to pray for the forgiveness of my followers (Ummah). The reason for this was to show his companions the very high status of Hadrat Owais.

Hadrat Umar and Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with them) asked the people if there was anyone from Qarn. One man came forward and told them how to find the place. They set out for Qarn. When they arrived, they asked the people where Owais was. The villagers answered their questions, but were very surprised to see the two prominent Companions asking for an unknown camel shepherd.

When Hadrat Umar and Hadrat Ali (Allah be pleased with them) reached to him, they saw Hadrat Owais saying his prayers. As he finished his prayers, he said, "It is the first time anyone has ever seen me praying. The two men passed on to him Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him)'s message asking Owais to pray for the forgiveness of the followers of Muhammad. This he did.

After a while he said, "Allah has forgiven and rewarded as many of Muhammad's followers as the hair of the sheeps of the Rabia and Mazhar tribes. They asked Hadrat Owais, "If you loved Muhammad so much, why didn't you visit him more often during his life time?" He did not answer, but asked if they took part in the battle of Uhud?

And if so, which tooth had Muhammad lost there? Hadrat Umar (Allah be pleased with him) was greatly impressed by this simple person and asked Hadrat Owais to pray for him. Hadrat Owais replied, "I pray for the forgiveness of everyone at the end of every prayer. If you keep your faith in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, you will receive my prayers in your graves."

 Shaykh FARID AL-DIN ATTAR tells us about Oways al Qarni ra:

"During his life in this world, he (Oways) was hiding from all in order to devote himself to acts of worship and obedience" ('Attar 1976, p. 2). 'Attar also relates that the Prophet Peace & Blessings upon him had declared at the time of his death that his robe should be given to Oways, a man he had never met in this life.

When 'Umar Radi Allahu anhu looked for Uways during his stay in Kufa, he asked a native of Qarn and was answered "there was one such man, but he was a madman, a senseless person who because of his madness does not live among his fellow countrymen. He does not mingle with anybody and does not eat nor drink anything that others drink and eat. He does not know sadness nor joy; when others laugh, he weeps, and when they weep, he laughs" (ibid., p. 29).

Many times in the company of his followers, the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) stated: "I can smell the beauty of my fried from the land of Yemen'". This statement is in direct reference to the spiritual greatness of Hadrat Owais. The prophet also said: "I feel a sweet, peaceful breeze (naseem-e-rehmat) from Yemen". Concerning the hadith of the Prophet, upon whom be peace and blessings, "More people shall enter Paradise through the intercession of a certain man from my Community than there are people in the tribes of Rabi'a and Mudar," AL-HASAN AL-BASRI said: "That is Owais al-Qarni."

Hadrat Umar ra (Allah be pleased with him) quotes the Prophet as saying "Oh! Umar. From Yemen a man will arrive whose name is Owais and he has signs of Leprosy on his body, he cares for his old and frail mother. If for anything, he takes an oath in the name of Allah, Allah will fulfill his oath. If you can ask from him prayers for your own forgiveness, then you must do so."

Hadrat Ibn-e-Sa'd (Allah be pleased with him) quotes the Beloved Prophet (Peace & Blessings upon him) as saying "In my ummah (followers) I have a friend whose name is Owais al Qarni"Uwais al-Qarni says, "Keep watch over thy heart",  "Alayka bi-Ghalbik". Uwais al-Qarni said, "Hidden invocation (al-du'a fi dhahr al-ghayb) is better than visiting and meeting," because hypocrisy (riya) might enter in the latter two.

Translation of the Invocation of Owais al-Qarni:

"O Allah, You created me when I was not worthy of mention. And You provided for me when I had nothing. And I wronged my soul and sinned, and I confess my guilt. If You forgive me, that will in no way diminish Your sovereignty. And if You punish me, that will in no way augment Your authority. You can find others to punish besides me. But I can find no one to forgive me but You. Truly, You are the most merciful of those who show mercy."