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LOVE OF UWAIS FOR HIS MOTHER

373

“Whenever a delegation came from Yemen to Omar, the son of Khattab he would ask: ‘Is Uwais, the son of 'Amir among you?’ When he finally met him he asked: ‘Are you Uwais, the son of 'Amir?’ He replied: ‘Yes.’ Then he asked if he belonged to the Karn branch of the tribe of Murad. Uwais replied: ‘Yes.’ Then Omar asked: ‘Have you ever suffered from leprosy and with the exception of a small spot the size of a dirham (coin) made a complete recovery from it?’ Uwais replied: ‘Yes.’ ‘Is your mother still alive?’ asked Omar. Uwais replied: ‘Yes.’ Omar continued saying: ‘I heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, say: Uwais, the son of 'Amir will come to you among a delegation from Yemen. He is from the Murad tribe of Karn. He had leprosy but has now recovered from it, with the exception of a spot the size of a dirham. He is devoted to his mother, and if he were to swear, relying upon Allah, for something, Allah will fulfill his oath. If you can persuade him to supplicate for forgiveness for you, do so. So I ask you to supplicate for forgiveness for me.’ So Uwais supplicated for forgiveness for him.

Then Omar asked him: ‘Where are you going?’ He replied: ‘In the direction of Kufa.’ Omar asked him: ‘Would you like me to write to the Governor of Kufa on your behalf?’ Uwais replied: ‘I prefer to be among the unknown poor.’

The next year, a noble from Kufa went on the Pilgrimage and met Omar. Omar asked him about Uwais. He told him: ‘I left him in a dilapidated, sparsely furnished house.’ Omar told him that he had heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, say: Uwais, the son of 'Amir will come to you among a delegation from Yemen. He is from the Murad tribe of Karn. He had leprosy but has now recovered from it, with the exception of a spot the size of a dirham. He is devoted to his mother, and if he were to swear, relying upon Allah, for something, Allah would fulfill his oath. If you can persuade him to supplicate for forgiveness for you, do so.

The noble returned and went to visit Uwais and asked him to supplicate for forgiveness for him. Uwais said: ‘You have just returned from a blessed journey, it is you who should supplicate for forgiveness for me - did you meet Omar?’ The noble replied: ‘Yes.’ So Uwais supplicated for forgiveness for him. Thereafter, people became aware of Uwais so he decided to leave that place.”

“Some people from Kufa waited upon Omar. Among them was a person who used to deride Uwais. Omar inquired: ‘Is there anyone among you who is of the Karn?’ So the man stepped forward. Omar said that: ‘The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: ‘Uwais will come to you from Yemen. He will have left nothing there except his mother. He suffered from leprosy and prayed to Allah for a cure, and was cured except for a small spot the size of a dirham. If any of you meet him you should ask him to supplicate for forgiveness for you.'"

I (Omar) heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, say: 'In the next generation the best person is a man called Uwais. He has a mother and suffered from leprosy. Go to him and ask him to supplicate for forgiveness for you.'

Muslim with a chain up to Usair the son of Amr who related this.