❀ Sayyiduna Uwais al-Qarni (رحمه الله) and the Fabricated Tooth-Breaking Story ❀

Authored by: Hafiz Bilal Ashraf A‘zami

✔ Brief Biography of Sayyiduna Uwais al-Qarni (رحمه الله)​

Sayyiduna Uwais ibn ‘Amir al-Qarni (d. 37 AH) was born and raised in Yemen and belonged to the tribe of Qarn. Although he lived during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, he did not get the chance to see him. He is regarded as the leader of the Tabi‘in (Followers).

The Prophet ﷺ gave glad tidings about him:
"Verily, the best among the Tabi‘in is a man called Uwais. He has a mother and was afflicted with leucoderma. (If you meet him,) then ask him to seek forgiveness for you."
(Sahih Muslim: 2542)

Another narration from Sahih Muslim (2/311) indicates that he did not visit the Prophet ﷺ due to being preoccupied with serving his mother, a deed fully aligned with the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ.

✔ His Sincere Devotion and Status​

Allah removed the signs of his skin condition except for a spot the size of a dirham on his navel. When asked about it, he said:
"So that I may remember my Lord."
(Musnad Ahmad: 1/38 – Chain is Hasan)

During the caliphate of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه), Uwais came to Madinah. Sayyiduna ‘Umar requested him to seek forgiveness for him. Uwais (رحمه الله) replied:
"You are more deserving to seek forgiveness for me, for you are a companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."

Then Sayyiduna ‘Umar narrated the Prophet’s saying to him and insisted until Uwais made du‘a for him.
(Musnad Ahmad: 1/38; Mustadrak al-Hakim: 5720 – Chain is Hasan)

✔ His Humility​

Once, a man from Kufa returned from Hajj and requested Uwais (رحمه الله), who was residing in Kufa at that time, to pray for him. He responded:
"You have recently returned from a righteous journey; you pray for me."

✔ His Shafa‘ah (Intercession)​

The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A man from my Ummah will intercede and more people will enter Paradise through his intercession than the tribe of Banu Tamim."
(Tirmidhi: 2438; Ibn Majah: 4316 – Hasan chain)

Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله) interpreted this hadith as referring to Uwais al-Qarni.
(Mustadrak al-Hakim: 5/62 – Authentic chain)

✔ Recognitions by Classical Scholars​

Imam al-Hakim (d. 405 AH) wrote:
"Uwais was the ascetic of this Ummah. Though he did not accompany the Prophet ﷺ, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned him, which indicates his virtue. I have mentioned him among those who were martyred at Siffin in the company of Sayyiduna ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه)."
(Mustadrak al-Hakim: 5/49)

Hafiz al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH) stated:
"Uwais al-Qarni was a model, an ascetic, and the leader of the Tabi‘in in his time."
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala: 5/69)

The Fabricated Tooth-Breaking Story​

A well-known yet fabricated story is often circulated, claiming:
"When Uwais al-Qarni (رحمه الله) heard that the Prophet ﷺ lost a tooth during the Battle of Uhud, he began breaking his own teeth one by one, not knowing exactly which one it was, until he broke them all. Only then did he find peace."

A similar tale appears in the book Tadhkirat al-Awliya by Fariduddin ‘Attar al-Nishapuri (d. 627 AH), but without any chain of narration, making it baseless.

After thorough investigation, it is clear that this story is groundless and fabricated, and it is not found in any authentic collection of Hadith or historical work of the scholars of Hadith.

✔ Refutations from Scholars​

Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari al-Hanafi (d. 1014 AH) writes:
"Know that what is commonly circulated—that Uwais broke his teeth out of sorrow after hearing that the Prophet ﷺ lost a tooth at Uhud, without knowing exactly which tooth it was—has no basis among scholars, is against the clear Shari‘ah, and was not practiced by any major Sahabi. Such an act is frivolous and only befits the ignorant."
(Majmu‘ Rasā’il Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari: 2/368)

Hafiz Zubair ‘Ali Zai (رحمه الله) wrote:
"The story that Sayyiduna Uwais broke all his teeth is a baseless and fabricated narration that has become popular among the ignorant masses. It does not exist in any authentic book of Hadith."
(Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam): 2/278)

✔ Admissions by Barelvi Scholars​

❀ Mufti Muhammad Younus Raza Owaisi wrote:
"This narration is famous, but I have never seen it in any book. Most likely, such a narration does not exist."

(Fatawa Bareilly Sharif, p. 301, Shabbir Brothers, Lahore)

❀ Qazi ‘Abdur Rahim Bastawi approved this response:
"The answer is correct, and the responder is accurate. Allah knows best."
(Fatawa Bareilly Sharif, p. 302)


❀ Muhammad Sharif al-Haqq Amjadi stated:
"This narration is complete falsehood and fabrication..."
(Fatawa Sharh Bukhari: 2/114)

❀ Muhammad ‘Ali Naqshbandi added:
"Ahl al-Sunnah reject the narrative of Uwais breaking his teeth. If any Shia can prove it with an authentic, unblemished chain, I will reward them with 30,000 rupees."
(Fiqh-e-Ja‘fariyah: 3/111-112)

❀ Fadl Ahmad Chishti remarked:
"The story is completely fabricated, falsely attributed to the love of the Prophet ﷺ, and has no foundation in any reliable book."
(Fatwa on the False Story Attributed to Uwais al-Qarni, p. 1)

✔ Shia Perspective​

Shia scholar Muhammad al-Husayn al-Husayni al-Zahrawani wrote:
"On the same day and hour that the Prophet ﷺ’s tooth was broken at Uhud, Uwais’s tooth broke in Yemen."
(Ma‘rifatullah: 1/140)

❖ Conclusion​

The story of Uwais al-Qarni breaking his teeth is fabricated and baseless. It holds no credibility among the scholars of Hadith or any authentic Islamic source.