Life, Supplication, and Relationship of ʿUways al-Qaranī (رحمه الله) with the Prophet ﷺ — A Research-Based Review
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 278
The following are answers to three key questions regarding ʿUways ibn ʿĀmir al-Qaranī رحمه الله, clarifying common beliefs and misunderstandings.
This claim — that ʿUways رحمه الله broke all his teeth when the Prophet ﷺ’s blessed tooth was injured in the Battle of Uḥud — is baseless and fabricated. It is popular among the ignorant masses but has no mention in the works of Muḥaddithīn.
Self-harm is prohibited in Sharīʿah.
Scholars have differed regarding details about ʿUways رحمه الله, but what is authentic and verified is that his existence is established and the Prophet ﷺ said:
«إن خير التابعين رجل يقال له أويس، وله والدة، وكان به بياض، فمروه فليستغفر لكم»
"The best of the Tābiʿīn is a man called ʿUways. He has a mother and he had a patch of whiteness on his skin. Ask him to seek forgiveness for you."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Faḍāʾil al-Ṣaḥābah, Bāb Min Faḍāʾil Uways al-Qaranī, ḥadīth 2542 / Dār al-Salām: 6491)
From this narration we learn that ʿUways رحمه الله was mustajāb al-daʿwah (one whose supplication is readily accepted by Allāh).
Another narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim shows that he did not visit the Prophet ﷺ because of his devotion to serving his mother, and this was with the Prophet’s ﷺ approval.
Important Note:
It is not an insult for a more virtuous person to request duʿāʾ from someone of lesser rank. For example, ʿUmar (RA), though more virtuous than al-ʿAbbās (RA), requested him to lead the duʿāʾ al-istisqāʾ for rain (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 1010, 3710).
ʿUways رحمه الله himself would also request duʿāʾ from others who were not more virtuous than him (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6492).
The ḥadīth states:
“No one truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his parents, children, and all mankind.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 15; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 44)
This does not mean that every Tābiʿī alive during the Prophet’s ﷺ time was obliged to physically visit him, even if they had a valid Sharʿī excuse.
ʿUways رحمه الله’s not coming to Madīnah was with the permission and approval of the Prophet ﷺ. If it had been against the Prophet’s ﷺ wish, he would have commanded him to come.
The narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim about ʿUways رحمه الله is authentic and accepted by the majority of Muḥaddithīn. Imām al-Bukhārī’s criticism of it is not correct.
Summary Points:
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 278
Introduction
The following are answers to three key questions regarding ʿUways ibn ʿĀmir al-Qaranī رحمه الله, clarifying common beliefs and misunderstandings.
① Did ʿUways al-Qaranī Break All His Teeth upon Hearing of the Prophet’s ﷺ Tooth Injury in Uḥud?
This claim — that ʿUways رحمه الله broke all his teeth when the Prophet ﷺ’s blessed tooth was injured in the Battle of Uḥud — is baseless and fabricated. It is popular among the ignorant masses but has no mention in the works of Muḥaddithīn.
Self-harm is prohibited in Sharīʿah.
② Did the Prophet ﷺ Command the Companions, Especially Abū Bakr and ʿUmar (RA), to Request Duʿāʾ from ʿUways?
Scholars have differed regarding details about ʿUways رحمه الله, but what is authentic and verified is that his existence is established and the Prophet ﷺ said:
«إن خير التابعين رجل يقال له أويس، وله والدة، وكان به بياض، فمروه فليستغفر لكم»
"The best of the Tābiʿīn is a man called ʿUways. He has a mother and he had a patch of whiteness on his skin. Ask him to seek forgiveness for you."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Faḍāʾil al-Ṣaḥābah, Bāb Min Faḍāʾil Uways al-Qaranī, ḥadīth 2542 / Dār al-Salām: 6491)
From this narration we learn that ʿUways رحمه الله was mustajāb al-daʿwah (one whose supplication is readily accepted by Allāh).
Another narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim shows that he did not visit the Prophet ﷺ because of his devotion to serving his mother, and this was with the Prophet’s ﷺ approval.
- There is no authentic mention of Abū Bakr (RA) requesting duʿāʾ from him.
- However, it is narrated that ʿUmar (RA) did ask ʿUways رحمه الله to supplicate for him (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6492).
Important Note:
It is not an insult for a more virtuous person to request duʿāʾ from someone of lesser rank. For example, ʿUmar (RA), though more virtuous than al-ʿAbbās (RA), requested him to lead the duʿāʾ al-istisqāʾ for rain (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 1010, 3710).
ʿUways رحمه الله himself would also request duʿāʾ from others who were not more virtuous than him (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 6492).
③ How Does His Absence from the Prophet ﷺ Relate to the Ḥadīth about Loving the Prophet More than One’s Parents and Children?
The ḥadīth states:
“No one truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his parents, children, and all mankind.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, ḥadīth 15; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth 44)
This does not mean that every Tābiʿī alive during the Prophet’s ﷺ time was obliged to physically visit him, even if they had a valid Sharʿī excuse.
ʿUways رحمه الله’s not coming to Madīnah was with the permission and approval of the Prophet ﷺ. If it had been against the Prophet’s ﷺ wish, he would have commanded him to come.
Authenticity of the Main Ḥadīth
The narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim about ʿUways رحمه الله is authentic and accepted by the majority of Muḥaddithīn. Imām al-Bukhārī’s criticism of it is not correct.
Summary Points:
- The tooth-breaking story is fabricated.
- ʿUways رحمه الله was praised by the Prophet ﷺ as the best of the Tābiʿīn and mustajāb al-daʿwah.
- ʿUmar (RA) — not Abū Bakr (RA) — requested duʿāʾ from him.
- His absence from the Prophet ﷺ’s company was due to serving his mother, with the Prophet’s ﷺ approval.
- The authentic ḥadīth about him is in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
