Stories of the Sahabah Owais Al Qarni The Holy Prophet (S) said: “Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother.” This story is about Owais-- a man who cared for his mother and the value that Islam gives to mothers. Owais was the only man who was mentioned by name by the Holy Prophet (S) without having met him. Even Mohammed al Fatih, who was mentioned by the Prophet (S), was not mentioned by name, just by his victory. What did Owais do that was so great? He took care of his mother. This is the story of Owais. ………………………………………………… One day Omar ibn Khattab, Abu Huraira, Abu Bakr, Ali and other companions were sitting with the Prophet (S) at the mosque when the Prophet (S) said to them, “Tomorrow, a man will enter from this door to pray among you and he will be from the people of Paradise.” Abu Huraira relates that the next day he hurried to Fajr prayer at the mosque and lined up in the first row in hopes that he would be the man that the Prophet (S) was referring to the day before. There were many other Companions standing alongside him who also had the same idea. The Prophet (S) conducted Fajr prayer and sat down. The Companions were eager to know who this man of Paradise was, but it didn’t seem as though the Prophet (S) was going to mention it. So they sat and waited for a while. Eventually, some of them had to go, but others still waited. These included Abu Huraira, Abu Bakr, Ali, and Omar. Just then walked in a man, who was so poor his clothes were dirty and torn. The Prophet (S) immediately stood up and smiled from ear to ear and welcomed the man. The man asked the Prophet (S) to pray for him. The Prophet (S) raised his hands in dua and said, “Oh Allah please grant this man a position in the highest levels of Paradise, Al Firdous, with me.” So then when the man left, Abu Huraira asked the Prophet (S),”Was that him?!” “Yes,” replied the Prophet(S). “But oh Messenger of Allah, he is nothing more than a poor slave, how can that be him?” asked Abu Huraira. “Oh Abu Huraira,” said the Prophet (S). “What can I do for him if his fate in this world is to be poor? His position on the Day of Judgment is that of a king. Abu Huraira, the people that have the most value to Allah are those that are pure, starving, whose faces are dusty, who are not known on this Earth, but known in the skies. If they want to get married, no one would marry them. And if they get sick, they do not pass on the sickness to anyone (because they are alone), and if they attend something their presence is not felt, and if they leave, no one notices, and when they die, no one attends their funeral. These people, however, are not forgotten by Allah and they are held with so much value.” “Oh Messenger of Allah, tell me of one so that I may meet him,” asked Abu Huraira. “I will tell you about Owais Al Qarni,” replied the Prophet (S). The Companions looked at each other, each trying to recall if they know a man named Owais. They didn’t know that he was talking about a man that they will meet years after the Prophet (S) passed away. “He is a man of medium height, head held high despite being poor. I can see him putting his right arm on his left arm and weeping as he reads 9
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