STORY OF UWAIS AL-QARNI

Family Background

•Father’s name was Aamir and his mother’s was Barai

•His family background has its roots in Quraish clan

•He was born in Qam which was situated in Yemen

Physical appearance

•Color of the skin was golden brown•Dark eyes•Had a beautiful mark on his forehead

which was a symbol of constant and repeated prostrations to Allah

•Had a small white mark on his right hand

Characteristic

•Devoted to his mother that he will not leave Yemen on her account

•Prays to Allah and as the result of prayers, the big white mark on his body disappeared but only small circular mark remain

•When asked, what is considered as modesty during prayers?

•Uwais al Qarni answered 'For you to be so attuned that even if an arrow pierces you, you remain unaware of it.'

• It has been narrated that our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam) willed before he passed away from this worldly life that Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali (Radi Allahu Anhuma) should preserve his cloak and pass it on to Khawaja Uwais. So Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali (Radi Allahu Anhuma) took the cloak to the oasis where Khawaja Uwais used to graze his camels and to spend his own time in praising Allah Ta'ala. They found him there in a state of prostration to Allah Ta'ala. When he heard the sound of the footsteps of Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali, he completed his prayer as quickly as possible and finished his formal prayer by offering Salam.He greeted these men. Hazrat Ali asked him his name and he replied "Abdullah" (Devotee of Allah). At this stage Hazrat Ali said, "Every Muslim is Abdullah. But please tell us what name has been given to you by your mother." He replied, "My name is Uwais." Both men conveyed to him the greetings of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam). They requested him to pray for the salvation of the Muslim Community and presented to him the cloak of the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam). They further asked him his wish so that they may try to fulfil it. Khawaja Uwais replied: "If a person wishes to gain a week it becomes a month. He who wishes to gain a month it

• becomes a year. In this way his wish always tends to increase." He further added: "Well! The time is short but the work is too much. God willing we shall meet again on the Day of Judgement." He spoke these words and disappeared into the desert. It has been reported that Hazrat Umar often used to ask the residents of Yemen about the life and deeds of Khawaja Uwais. One day Khawaja Uwais came personally into the court of Hazrat Umar. Hazrat Umar asked, "Are you Uwais?" He replied, "Yes, I am." Then Hazrat Umar asked, "Do you belong to the tribe of Murad and are you a resident of Qam?" He replied, "No doubt I am." Hazrat Umar asked, "Did you have white marks on your body which have now disappeared and left behind only one white mark the size of a coin?" When he replied in the affirmative Hazrat Umar (Radi Allahu Anh) asked, "Have you only a mother and nobody else?" The reply came, "Yes, none else." After this Hazrat Umar (Radi Allahu Anh) read out the Hadith mentioned above and requested the venerable Khawaja to pray for his salvation. Khawaja Uwais said, "What sort of prayer can a humble man like me offer for an outstanding man like you?" Hazrat Umar insisted and then Khawaja Uwais actually offered a prayer. When, after the prayer, Hazrat Umar learned that it was the intention of Khawaja Uwais to visit Kufah. Hazrat Umar made arrangements for him to be received with dignity and honour by the governor of Kufah. Khawaja Uwais (Radi Allahu Anh) promptly said, "Oh commando' of the faithful, it is better for me to remain an unknown person among the Muslim Ummah." Long after he had gone, Hazrat Umar, out of great love and respect for this man asked regularly about his welfare from the people who knew him personally.

His loves of the Prophet S.A.W.

•Fond and loyal lover of the Prophet S.A.W•Broke two of his teeth when he came to

knw that the teeth of the Prophet s.a.w were broken in the battle of Uhud

•Desired much to meet the Prophet but the Prophet s.a.w forbade him saying that he should first serve his old mother who was blind, carefully and affectionately

Some of his golden sayings

•A person who loves three things will find that hell fire near him:

•A. Good foodB. Good clothesc. Company of rich people

•Complete and wholehearted involvement in prayer would be that if an arrow hits the praying person he would not know what had happened.