Kindness to Parents: A Moral from the Story of Uwais al-Qarni

Sunday 18-Nov-2018, 4:59PM / 1430

Extraction by Bint Mustafa

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إحْسَانًا...

And we have enjoined man to be dutiful and kind to his parents  (Q 46:15)

The Noble Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم once told the Companions that there would be among the Taabi'een (the generation after the Companions) a righteous man called Uwais. He would be kind and dutiful to his mother, and if he is to swear by Allah that something should happen, Allah would cause it to happen. 

He was Uwais Ibn ‘Aamir Ibn Juz’ Ibn  Maalik al-Qarni al-Muraadi al-Yamaani. He lived at the time of the prophet and became Muslim but did not meet him. What prevented him from travelling to meet him was the fact that he was preoccupied with taking care of his mother, as was narrated by Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat al-Awliyaa.  

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Umar Bn Khattaab that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“The best of the Taabi’een is a man called Uwais, he has a mother and he honours her. If he is to swear by Allaah that something should happen, Allaah would cause it to happen. He has a white mark of leprosy; ask him to pray for forgiveness for you.” 

After Umar Bin Khattab رضي الله عنه became the Khalifah, he often asked the delegations from Yemen: "Is there Uwais Bn ‘Aamir amongst you?"

According to historical accounts, Umar Bin Khattab رضي الله عنه later met with Uwais Bn ‘Aamir during Hajj in 23 AH. When Uwais Bn ‘Aamir al-Qarni came to him, he asked if he was Uwais Bin ‘Aamir. He replied saying yes. Umar further asked whether his mother was alive. He said yes. Then Umar Bin Khattab رضي الله عنه  said:

"I heard Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم say, 

'There will come to you a person called Uwais Bn ‘Aamir with the reinforcement from the people of 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 is dutiful to her. If he were to swear by Allaah that something should happen, Allaah would cause it to happen. If you can ask him to pray for forgiveness for you then do so."

After narrating this Hadeeth, Umar Bn Khattaab requested Uwais al-Qarni to seek forgiveness (from Allaah) for him. Hence, he prayed for the Commander of the Believers.

Afterwards, Umar Bin Khattaab رضي الله عنه  asked him:

"Where do you intend to go after performing Hajj?"

 Uwais Bn ‘Aamir said: "I wanted to go to Kufa."

Umar رضي الله عنه said:

"Shall I write to the governor for you (so that he may take good care of you)."

The pious Taabi'i replied,

"Being among the common folk is dearer to me."

Esteemed reader! Just imagine the status and superiority of a person who is kind and dutiful to his mother. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised his Companions to ask Uwais Bn ‘Aamir of Qaran,who was not a Sahaabi (companion) but a Tabi'i (the generation that succeeded the Companions), to beg forgiveness for them from Allaah. 

Indeed Uwais Bin ‘Aamir al-Qarni enjoyed such a great privilege for honouring his mother as the report from Abu Nu’aym in his Hilya established that what precluded him from being a companion was his service to his mother.


 Adapted from, LOVING OUR PARENTS (Stories of Duties and Obligations) by Abdul Malik Mujahid.