Owais Al Qarni And His Mother

Hadrat Oways al-Qarni Radiallahu Anhu and his Mother

The great Saint Uways of Qaran! Was presented the blessed cloak of Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam on the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's instruction. It is preserved in Istanbul, Turkey. He reached his Spiritual status due to obedience to his mother.

Uways Radi allahu Anhu was from the village of Qaran, in Yemen. He had asked his mother's permission to visit Allah's Most Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, and she said: "You have my permission to go, see him once, and come straight back. If the Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is at home, you may meet with him; if not, come straight back here." Uways made a journey of three months on foot, from the Yemen to Madinah the Illuminated. When he reached Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's house, he knocked on the door and Hadrat Aisha Radi allahu Anha, wife of the Chosen Prophet and Mother of the Believers opened the door. She told him that Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam was in the Masjid.

Uways Radi allahu Anhu remembered his promise to his mother and replied: "Please convey my salaams to my Beloved Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. Kindly inform him that Uways came from the Yemen, did not find him at home, and is returning to the Yemen, since he does not have permission from his mother to meet him in the mosque."

When the Rasul Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam came home from the mosque, he found the radiance of Uways in his house. Hadrat Aisha Radi allahu Anha told him what had happened, and conveyed Uways's salutations. His blessed eyes looked towards Yemen and the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: "The fragrance of our friend is reaching us." The noble Companions asked: "If Uways is your friend, why did he not stay to see you?" Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam replied: "He complied with a promise given to his mother and he is serving her."

The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said "Uways will come back to Madinah the Illuminated, to meet me, but we will not meet physically, for I shall then be united with my Lord "

Rasulullah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said that when Uways Radi allahu Anhu came back to Madinah he was to be given his cloak, and asked to pray for the Community of Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. He also mentioned that a light was visible on one of Uways's hands.

During Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu's Caliphate, a number of Yemeni's visited Madinah the Illuminated and Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu ajmain approached them and enquired about the Saint, Uways Radi allahu Anhu, from the village of Qaran. The Yemenis said they knew of no such saint, but they did point out that a camelherd from that village, who seldom mixed with other people, preferring to spend his time in worship, alone among the camels. Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu ajmain then approached Hadrat Uways Radi allahu Anhu, greeted him, conveyed the greetings of the Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, and presented him with his blessed cloak. But he was reluctant to accept. "Surely there is some mistake!" he exclaimed, in his desire to hide himself. Seeing the light upon his hand, however, they cried: "You are the saint described to us by Allah's MessengerSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, for he told us about the light on your hand." They also reported to him the wish of the blessed MessengerSalla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam that he should pray for the Community of Muhammad.

Hadrat Uways Radi allahu Anhu rubbed the blessed cloak over his face and eyes and kissed it. Then he asked to be left alone. When he was alone he held the cloak and began to pray: "0 Allah this cloak is the cloak of Your beloved Messenger. He has presented it to me, but I refuse to wear it unless You pardon the Community of Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam." He then repeated his prayer in exactly the same words. As he was about to repeat his prayer a third time, Hadrat Ali and Hadrat Umar Radi allahu Anhu ajmain came beside him. He cried: "Oh, you came too soon! Upon my first supplication, Allah granted me forgiveness for one third of the Community; on my second, He forgave two-thirds of the Community. In my third request I was pleading for pardon for the entire Community of Muhammad - then you came along!"

As with people in every age, the Yemenis were unaware of the presence in their midst of such a saint, whose prayers were accepted. They imagined him to be an ordinary camelherd. The Friends of Allah, do not seek fame, and as such hide themselves away from other people.

Those who serve their mothers with love will be resurrected with Hadrat Uways Radi allahu Anhu. Those who are good to their parents will be happy in this world and the Hereafter.

Hazrath Uways Al-Qarni