Uwais al-Qarani

Uwais al-Qarani (also Owais Bin Amir, and Saint Uwais Qarni) (594-657 AD) was a Muslim mystic, martyr and philosopher from Saudi Arabia, who lived during the lifetime of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.  His burial place is in Salalah, Oman. His memorial shrine is in al-Raqqah, Syria.

Quotes

• O Allah, I offer my apology to You for every hungry stomach and unclothed body, but I own nothing in this world except what is on my back and in my stomach.
  • Biography of Uways al-Qarni, Islam Q&A (03 July 2015)

• I love to live among the poor people.
• I pray for the forgiveness of everyone at the end of every prayer. If you keep your faith in Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), you will receive my prayers in your graves.
  • Quoted in Owais Qarni and his love for Prophet, by Abu Tariq Hijazi, Arab News, (28 May 2016)

• 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 reduce 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. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said 'Owais will come to Madinah to meet me, but he will not find me physically, for I shall then be united with my Lord.
  • Quoted in Owais Qarni and his love for Prophet, by Abu Tariq Hijazi, Arab News, (28 May 2016)

• I began in the morning by loving Allah, and I finished the evening in praising Him.
• In Allah's Eyes, Exalted is He, what a Muslim possesses does not gather any silver or gold, for one should only be doing what is permitted and avoiding what is forbidden, and whatever does not have leave a believer with a single friend. When we ask them to do what is permitted they insult us, and in that they are helped by the unbelievers and sinful people. By Allah they have thrown terrible things at me, but O Allah I will not leave them until I show them the right way.
  • Quoted in The Children Around the Table of Allah, by Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i, Excerpt online(2000)

• As-salaamu alaikum wa Rahmutullahi wa Barakatuh, for I will not see you after this day. May Allah have mercy upon you, but I do not like to be known, and I love to be solitary, for I am in deep anxiety when I am with people. So do not ask about me, and do not call upon me, but know that you are in my heart even if I do not see you nor you see me. Mention me and pray for me, for I will mention you and pray for you, if Allah, Exalted is He, so wishes. So go away from here.
  • Quoted in The Children Around the Table of Allah, by Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i], (2000)

Quotes about

• Uwais Qarni (known also as Saint Uwais Qarni, Oways b. Anis al-Qarni, Oveys Gharani and Veysel Karani) was a Muslim mystic, martyr and philosopher of Saudi Arabia who lived during the lifetime of Muhammad, but never met the prophet personally.
  • UwaysīʿUways al-Qaranī and Related Information, Bahai Studies]

• The Uwaisi form of spiritual transmission in the vocabulary of Islamic mysticism was named after Uwais Qarni, as it refers to the transmission of spiritual knowledge between two individuals without the need for physical interaction between them.
  • UwaysīʿUways al-Qaranī and Related Information, Bahai Studies]

• When the people in Qarn began revering him and considering him a saint, on account of his status in Islam, he left Qarn for Kufa where he engaged in imparting Islamic education. Later, he took part in the unfortunate Battle of Siffin (37AH) where he was fatally wounded, subsequently dying at the age of 63. He was buried at Al-Raqqah, Syria. A grand Aal-Zaria Mosque as Jaame Owais Qarni stands at Qarn in Asir region and another Owais Qarni Mosque in Ilford UK. The love of the Holy Prophet is the boon that can be achieved without meeting him. This opens the door for millions of Muslims living in different areas and eras of the world.
  • Owais Qarni and his love for Prophet, by Abu Tariq Hijazi, Arab News, (28 May 2016)

• He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: 'There will come to you Uways ibn ‘Aamir with the reinforcements from Yemen, from Muraad then from Qaran. He had leprosy but he recovered from it except for a spot the size of a dirham. He has a mother and he honours her. If he were to swear in the name of Allah that something should happen, Allah would cause it to happen. If you can ask him to pray for forgiveness for you then do so.
  • Biography of Uways al-Qarni, Islam Q&A (03 July 2015)