Uwais Qarni
| Uwais Qarni | |
|---|---|
| Theologian and Martyr | |
| Born | 594 C.E. Arabia |
| Died | 657 C.E. The Battle of Siffin |
| Honored in | Islam |
| Major shrine | Tomb of Uwais al-Qarni, Ar-Raqqah, Syria |
| Influences | Prophets of Islam and Ali |
| Influenced | Saints of the Uwaisi tradition |
| Tradition/Genre | Uwaisi |
| The Eight Ascetics |
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Uwais Qarni, known also as Saint Uwais Qarni (Arabic: أويس بن انيس القرني, also transliterated Oways b. Anis al-Qarni, Oveys Gharani and Veysel Karani) was a Muslim mystic, martyr and philosopher of Yemen who lived during the lifetime of Muhammad, but never met Muhammad personally.[1] As reported by the renowned historical scholar Ibn Battuta, Uwais' tomb is found in Ar-Raqqah, Syria, where he was killed in the Battle of Siffin, where he fought on the side of Ali. Another shrine was made in his honor in Baykan, in the Siirt Province of Turkey.[2]
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[edit] Life
Qarni converted to Islam during Muhammad's lifetime, though they never met in person. Yet Qarni was fully aware of Muhammads spiritual presence at all times of his life. 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. Not long after a meeting with Ali, Qarni left Qaran for Kufa, modern Iraq. He fought for Ali against Muawiyah I at the Battle of Siffin in 657.[3]
[edit] Attributed sayings and prayers
The following are sayings attributed to Uwais Qarni
- "An aim is required before embarking on an action; therefore, if your aim is to find God and his Prophets, then you will surely reach your aim."
- "And choose a friend who is able to free you from all else."
- "What is considered as modesty during Islamic Prayer?", he was asked. "For you to be so attuned that even if an arrow pierces you, you remain unaware of it."
- "Be such on the path of God, so that no one exists for you but Him."
- "I wanted a high position in life, I found it in modesty. I wanted leadership, I found it in giving advice. I wanted dignity, I found it in honesty. I wanted greatness, I found it in poverty. I wanted lineage, I found it in virtue. I wanted majesty, I found it in contentment. I looked for peace and found it in asceticism."
The following prayer is attributed to Uwais Qarni:
"In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O God! I call you, and want no other but you. God, I desire You only. I call upon You, O You who bring comfort to those who are scared, and give refuge to those in need. You open hearts, and are in possession of all good. You bring stability to weariness, and purify all wrongs. You write out our good deeds and allow us to ascend. I ask of You to provide us with good intentions and not to subject our beings with dark objectives. O God, O Merciful, I call upon all Your Names, and all Your kindness which shall not remain hidden. I call You, upon Your most treasured Name, the Name which shall grant my prayer to be heard and answered quicker by You. Amen, O Lord of the worlds."
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Film on Uwais Al Qarani subtittled by Al-Masumeen.com
- Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi (School of Islamic Sufism)
- The Extreme Mourning of Uwais al-Qarni, Shia Website
- Islamic Sufism Genealogy, November 2004, Tehran University Publications
- The Uwaisi Transmission of Spiritual Knowledge (Naqshbandi-Haqqani website)
- About Uwais al-Qarni, from "The Children Around the Table of Allah," by Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i
- Uwais Qarni(رضي الله عنه)
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