Though he never had the honour of personally meeting the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) attained a high rank in the Ummah of Islam as the Holy Prophet (sa) spoke of him with great love and affection.
Living a simple and humble life in Yemen, far from the centre of the Muslim world, his remarkable story demonstrates that true nearness to the Holy Prophet (sa) is achieved not merely through physical proximity, but through practical faith and purity of heart.
The status of Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) can be gauged from the following statement of the Holy Prophet (sa) which he said when facing the direction of Yemen:
إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ نَفَسَ الرَّحْمَنِ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْيَمَنِ
“I smell the sweet fragrance of the Beneficent coming from Yemen.” (Mujam al-Kabir, 1983,Vol. 7, p. 60, Maktaba Ibn Taymiyyah)
His Background
Hazrat Uwais ibn Amir al-Qarani (ra) was born in Yemen around 593 CE. He is widelyknown by the attribution of “al-Qarani” (القرني), which is generally traced to Qaran, a localityassociated with the tribe of Murad of Yemen. Muslim scholars have often referred to him as“Uwais ibn Amir al-Qarani al-Muradi”.
Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) grew up in humble circumstances. His father, Amir, passed away while he was still young, leaving him with the responsibility of caring for his mother. It was this exceptional devotion to his mother that later became one of the defining features of his life.
In a famous hadith narrated by Hazrat Umar (ra) ibn al-Khattab in Sahih Muslim, the Holy Prophet (sa) described Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) as a righteous man from Yemen who was prevented from visiting him because of his commitment to serving his mother. His filial devotion became so renowned that the Holy Prophet (sa) said to the companions that if they were to meet Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra), they should request him to pray for their forgiveness. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2542a)
There are no clear records on what his religion was pre-Islam, but some scholars have inferred his religion based on his geographical background and his overall character. Al-Dhahabi for example in his biographical dictionary of eminent Muslims describes him as:
هو القدوة الزاهد، سيّد التابعين في زمانه، أبو عمرو، أُويس بن عامر ابن جزء بن مالك القرني المُرادي اليماني.
“He was the ascetic role model, the leader of the Tabi‘in [the generation after the Companions] of his time: Abu Amr, Uwais ibn Amir ibn Juz ibn Malik al-Qarani al-Muradi, the Yemeni.” (Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, 1996, Vol. 4, p. 20, al-Resalah Beirut)
Al-Dhahabi’s description of him as a zahid (ascetic) is significant as the term is commonly used for pious individuals devoted to worship and detached from worldliness.
Acceptance of Islam
Although the exact circumstances of Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani’s conversion are vague or contested, but the hadith literature indicates that he embraced Islam during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (sa) but was unable to meet him due to his devotion to caring for his mother, acting perfectly in accordance to the famous hadith that Paradise lies under the feet of one’s mother. (Sunan al-Nasai, Hadith 3104)
Despite never meeting the Holy Prophet (sa) in person, Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) attained a rank of extraordinary distinction in Islam. The Holy Prophet (sa) was informed of his remarkable character and deep love for Islam and spoke of him with immense praise. The Holy Prophet (sa) described Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) as the finest of the tabi‘in. Because of this unique honour, Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) became renowned as Khayr al-Tabi‘in (خيرالتابعين) – “the best of the successors.”
Hazrat Umar (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) said:
إِنَّ خَيْرَ التَّابِعِينَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ أُوَيْسٌ وَلَهُ وَالِدَةٌ وَكَانَ بِهِ بَيَاضٌ فَمُرُوهُ فَلْيَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ
“Worthy amongst the successors would be a person who would be called Uwais. He would have his mother (living with him) and he would have (a small) sign of leprosy. Ask him to beg pardon for you (from Allah).” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2542b)
The exceptional status of Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) is demonstrated by a remarkable incident that took place during the Khilafat of Hazrat Umar (ra).
Sahih Muslim records:
“Whenever the reinforcement troops from the people of Yemen came to Umar ibn al-Khattab, he would ask them, ‘Is Uwais ibn Amir among you?’ until he finally met Uwais.
“Hazrat Umar (ra) asked, ‘Are you Uwais ibn Amir?’
“He replied, ‘Yes.’
“Hazrat Umar (ra) asked, ‘From Murad, and then from Qaran?’
“He replied, ‘Yes.’
“Hazrat Umar (ra) asked, ‘Were you once afflicted with leprosy, but you were cured of it except for the space of a dirham?’
“He replied, ‘Yes.’
“Hazrat Umar (ra) asked, ‘Do you have a mother?’
“He replied, ‘Yes.’
“Hazrat Umar (ra) then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say:
“‘There will come to you Uwais ibn Amir with the reinforcement troops of the people of Yemen, from Murad and then from Qaran. He had leprosy but was cured of it except for the space of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is dutiful and deeply devoted. If he were to swear an oath relying upon Allah, Allah would fulfill it for him. So, if you are able to have him ask forgiveness for you, then do so.’
“‘So, ask forgiveness for me’, Hazrat Umar (ra) requested. Hazrat Uwais (ra) then asked forgiveness for him. Hazrat Umar (ra) asked him, ‘Where do you intend to go?’ He replied, ‘To Kufa.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) said, ‘Shall I write a letter for you to its governor?’ Hazrat Uwais (ra) replied, ‘To be among the unknown, ordinary people is dearer to me.’
“The following year, a man from the nobles of Kufa performed the Hajj pilgrimage and met Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Umar (ra) asked him about Hazrat Uwais (ra). The man replied, ‘I saw him in a rundown house and of meager provisions.’
“Hazrat Umar (ra) said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘There will come to you Uwais ibn Amir with the reinforcement troops of the people of Yemen, from Murad and then from Qaran. He had leprosy but was cured of it except for the space of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is dutiful and deeply devoted. If he were to swear an oath relying upon Allah, Allah would fulfill it for him. So, if you are able to have him ask forgiveness for you, then do so.’
“Upon returning, the man went to Hazrat Uwais (ra) and said, ‘Ask forgiveness for me.’ Hazrat Uwais (ra) replied, ‘You have more recently returned from a righteous journey [the Hajj], so you ask forgiveness for me.’ The man insisted, ‘Ask forgiveness for me.’ Hazrat Uwais (ra) repeated, ‘You have more recently returned from a righteous journey, so you ask forgiveness for me.’ Then Hazrat Uwais (ra) added, ‘Did you meet Hazrat Umar (ra)?’ The man replied, ‘Yes.’ So Uwais asked forgiveness for him. Consequently, the people realised who Hazrat Uwais (ra) was [his high spiritual status], so he left and went his own way.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada’il al-Sahabah, Hadith 2542-2543)
Hazrat Uwais al-Qaranira was well known for his generosity and helping the poor. Abu Nuaim al-Isfahani wrote in his book Hilyat al-Auliya (the Ornament of the saints) that Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) would donate the surplus food he had left over at the end of the day and he regularly donated his clothes as well.
In another narration in Hilyat al-Auliya, Hazrat Uwais (ra) has been described as a man who would prostrate before his Creator day and night:
“Uwais al-Qarani, when evening came, would say: ‘This is the night of bowing’, and he would remain in ruku (bowing) until morning. And when evening came, he would say: ‘This is the night of prostration’, and he would remain in sujud (prostration) until morning. And when evening came, he would give in charity whatever surplus of food and clothing there was in his house, then he would say: ‘O Allah, whoever dies of hunger, do not hold me accountable for it; and whoever dies unclothed, do not hold me accountable for it.’ (Hilyat al-Auliya [Urdu translation], 2006, Vol. 2, pp. 416-418, Darul Ishaat, Karachi)
The famous sufi scholar Data Ali ibn Usman al-Hujwiri writes in his book Kashf al-Mahjub:
“Among them is the sun of the Ummah and the lamp of religion and community, Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra). This noble personality is regarded as one of the greatest figures among the ranks of the revered spiritual masters and is held in high esteem among the people of sufism. He lived during the time of the Holy Messenger (sa), but he could not benefit from the physical company of the Holy Prophet (sa) for two reasons, and thus remained deprived of the blessing of seeing him:
1. A state of spiritual absorption and an overpowering inner condition prevented his presence.
2. He was fully occupied in fulfilling his duty of service to his noble mother. (Kashf al-Mahjub [Urdu translation by Sayyid Muhammad Ahmad Qadri], 2012, p. 200)
It was this high devotion and simple life that made Hazrat Uwais (ra) a saint and a recipient of the love of God.
Regarding his character, the Promised Messiahas stated:
“Uwais Qarani was recipient of Divine, was also the recipient of revelation. He was so humble that he thought it disrespectful even to present himself before the Sun of Prophethood and Imamat. Our master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), would often turn his face towards Yemen, and say: ‘I smell the sweet fragrance of the Beneficent One coming from Yemen’. This was an allusion to the fact that Uwais was indeed the recipient of Divine light.”(The Need for the Imam [2007], pp. 4-5)
Encounter with Haram bin Hayyan
One example of Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) being a recipient of the Divine communion can be found in the book Tazkirat al-Awliya written by Farid-ud-Din Attar.
Once a Muslim called Haram bin Hayyan desired to meet Hazrat Uwais (ra). He found him in Kufa on the banks of the Euphrates, making ablutions and washing his clothes. When he recognised Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) from the description given by others, he met him and greeted him. Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) greeted him back and asked: “God give you long life, Haram ibn Hayyan. How are you and who has guided you to me?”
This surprised Haram, he asked how he knew his and his father’s name? He replied:
“The One whose knowledge nothing escapes informed me. My spirit recognised your spirit – the spirits of the believers are familiar with one another.”
When asked to recite the Quran, he wept and recited:
“And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Ch.51: V.57), “And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between the two in play.” (Surah al-Anbiya, Ch.21: V.17) and “We created them not but for an eternal purpose, but most of them understand not” up to “Surely, He is the Mighty, the Merciful.”(Surah ad-Dukhan, Ch.44: V.40-43)
After crying out intensely, Hazrat Uwais (ra) asked:
“Son of Hayyan, what has brought you to this place?”
Haram said he wished to know and comfort him, to which Hazrat Uwais (ra) replied:
“I never realised that someone who knew the Mighty and Glorious Lord could get to know any other than Him or comfort any other than Him.”
When asked for counsel, Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) said:
“Keep death under your pillow when you sleep and keep it before your eyes when you get up […] Don’t look at how petty a sin is, look at how great it is, for it led you to rebel against Him.”
When asked where to settle, Hazrat Uwais (ra) said: “In Syria.”
And when questioned about livelihood there, he exclaimed: “Ugh, hearts like these! They’ve been overwhelmed by polytheism and will not take advice.”
Hazrat Uwais (ra) then reminded Haram of death, listing the passing of the prophets and companions, and said of Hazrat Umar (ra): “The Real Most High informed me of Umar’s death […] You and I are both among the dead.”
Then he called down blessings on the Holy Prophet (sa) and his family and gave him as a final advise:
“My counsel is that you take up the book of the Mighty and Glorious Lord and follow the path of the righteous. Don’t let the thought of death slip your mind for an instant. When you reach your people, counsel them. Do not withhold advice from the Lord’s creatures. And do not take one step that is not in conformity with the consensus of the community, lest suddenly you be left without faith and not know it and tumble into hell.”
He then said several prayers and said:
“You are about to go, son of Hayyan. You will not see me again, nor I you. Remember me in your prayers, for I will remember you in mine. You go this way, and I’ll go that.”
Haram watched him walk away until he disappeared and never heard news of him again. (Farid ad-Din Attar’s Memorial of God’s Friends, 2009, Paul Losensky, pp. 58-60)
His demise
Not many details can be found of Hazrat Uwais (ra) after his departure from Kufa, but it has been reported that he came back during the Khilafat of Hazrat Ali (ra). In Kashf al-Mahjub it is recorded that Hazrat Uwais (ra) met his demise during the battle of Siffin in 657. While some others reported he fell in battle during the Islamic conquest of Azerbaijan. His burial site is in the Uwais al-Qarani Mosque in Syria.
His legacy
It is noteworthy that the Holy Prophet (sa) specifically conveyed his greetings to only two individuals whom he would not meet in his lifetime: Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) and the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as).
Regarding this, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rh), Khalifatul Masih IV, said in his Friday sermon on 24 June 1994:
“Thus, there was that Qarani who lived in the Holy Prophet’s (sa) era and yet could not meet him. And then there was the one who was born in Qadian, who displayed such love that no example of it can be found in the Ummah of Muhammad (sa). Upon his heart too, having received knowledge from Allah, the gaze of Muhammad, the Messenger (sa) of Allah fell, and he said: ‘Even if you have to reach him by crawling on your knees over heaps of snow, you must reach the Mahdi and convey my greetings. This is a remarkable event, a great event, but it is a matter that links the earliest with the later ones. It is necessary to understand this subject.”
The life of Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) serves as a powerful example for us as Ahmadi Muslims of how sincere obedience to Islamic teachings, even when it requires great personal sacrifice, can lead to immense spiritual blessings. Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) endured many hardships in his life. He suffered from leprosy, lost his father at a young age and bore the responsibility of caring for his mother. Although he possessed a deep love for the Holy Prophet (sa) and longed to travel to Medina to meet him, he chose instead to remain by his mother’s side and serve her with unwavering devotion.
This sacrifice did not go unnoticed in the sight of Allah. As a result of his sincerity, humility and obedience, Allah the Almighty granted Hazrat Uwais (ra) a unique spiritual rank. Though he never met the Holy Prophet (sa) physically, he attained a special spiritual connection with him – a distinction earned through true devotion to Allah and profound love for His Messenger (sa).
I end this article with a prayer ascribed to Hazrat Uwais al-Qarani (ra) which he used to supplicate to gain nearness to Allah:
“O [Allah]! The Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Exalted, the Pure, the Purifier, the Supreme, the Powerful, the Omnipotent; O Thee who are called upon from every distant land, in diverse tongues and varied languages, for countless needs and supplications; O Thee whom no matter distracts from another matter.
“Thou are the One whom the passage of time does not alter, whom no place can encompass, and whom neither slumber nor sleep can overtake.
“Make easy for me that whose difficulty I fear. Relieve me concerning that affair whose hardship I dread. Facilitate for me that matter whose sorrow and distress I fear.
“Glory be to Thee. There is no god but Thee. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers. I have committed sin and wronged my own soul; therefore forgive me, for none forgives sins except Thee.
“All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. There is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
“Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, His Messenger (sa) and upon his progeny.” (Muhaj al-da‘awat wa manhaj al-ibadat, 1905, al-Sayyid bin Tawus, p. 103)