Hazrat Uwais Qarni (r.a)
. Regarding Uwais Qarni (rahmatullah alayh), Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) said: "Uwais Qarni is the noblest of the Tabieen with ihsaan."
(The highest stage of ihsaan is to worship Allah Ta'ala as if you are seeing Him.)
Sometimes Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) would turn in the direction of Yemen and say: "I perceive the fragrance of love from Yemen."
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) said: "Tomorrow on the Day of Qiyaamah Allah Ta'ala will create 70,000 malaa-ikah in the image of Uwais Qarni who will enter in their midst into Jannat. No one will recognise him except those whom Allah wishes." Since he engrossed himself in ibaadat in concealment, fleeing from people, Allah Ta'ala will preserve his concealment even in the Aakhirah. Allah Ta'ala has said: "My Auliyaa are under My Mantle. None besides Me knows them."
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) said: "In my Ummat is a man whose shafaa'at (intercession) will be accepted on behalf of so many people whose number equals the hairs on the sheep/goats of the tribes of Rabeeh and Mudhir."
These two Arab tribes possessed the most sheep and goats, hence the analogy. When the Sahaabah enquired about the identity of this man, Rasulullah (b) said: "A servant among the servants of Allah." The Sahaabah responded: "We all are the servants of Allah. What is his name?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) said: "Uwais Qarni."
Sahaabah: "Where is he?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ): "In Qarn."
Sahaabah: "Have he seen you?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ): "Not with his physical eyes, but he has seen me with his spiritual eyes."
Sahaabah: "Such an ardent lover, but why has he not entered into your companionship?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ): "There are two reasons. The first is ghalbah haal (i.e. he is always in a high spiritual state which makes him oblivious of everything besides Allah Ta'ala). The second is his profound observance of my Shariat. His mu'minah mother is extremely old and blind. He tends to camels and with his earnings he supports his mother."
Sahaabah: "Can we see him?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) said to Hadhrat Abu Bakr (d): "You will not see him, but Umar and Ali will see him. His entire body is covered with hair. On the palm of his hand and left side is a white spot, the size of a dirham, which is not the mark of leprosy. When you meet him, convey my salaam to him and tell him to make dua for my Ummat. Among the Auliyaa those who are the Atqiyaa (a very loft category of Auliyaa), he is the holiest."
Sahaabah: "Where shall we find him?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ): "In Yemen, he is a camel-herd known as Uwais. You should follow in his footsteps."
As Rasulullah's ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) demise neared, the Sahaabah asked: "To whom shall we give your jubbah (cloak)?"
Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) said: "To Uwais Qarni."
After the demise of Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم ) Hadhrat Umar and Hadhrat Ali (dma) journied to Kufa. After delivering a Khutbah, Hadhrat Umar (d) said: "O people of Najd, all of you stand up." Everyone obeyed. He then enquired: "Is any among you from Qaran?" When they said, 'yes', he asked for information about Uwais Qarni.
