Prophetic Prophecy regarding Owais e Qarani, and his participation in the Battle of Siffeen

 ‘Owais e Qarani is regarded as one of the most pious and respected ‘Tabe’een’ who was martyred in the Battle of Siffen in the army of Imam Ali (a.s.).’

It is mentioned in a narration of Abdur Rahman that: In the Battle of Siffeen, a man from the Syrian army came in the open, faced the Iraqi army and said: Is Owais e Qarani among you?

I said to him: Yes.

The Syrian man said: I heard the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) say:

''خیر التابعین اویس القرنی''

‘The best of ‘Tabe’een’ is Owais e Qarani’.

He said this and exited the Syrian Army and joined us.

It has been narrated by Asbagh bin Nabata that: I was in the Amir’ al-Momineen’s army in the Battle of Siffeen when ninty nine people pledged allegiance with him and his holiness said:

‘Where is the hundredth person? The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) informed me that hundred men will make allegiance with me today’.

Asbagh says: At that time, a man who was wearing two woollen gowns on his body and had two swords with him, came in front and said: Stretch your hand so that I can pledge allegiance with you.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: For what do you wish to pledge allegiance?

He said: For sacrificing my life on you.

He asked: Who are you?

He replied: I am Owais e Qarani.

Thereafter, he pledged allegiance with his holiness and fought before him until he attained martyrdom and his body was found among the soldiers.

It is written in ‘Manaqib e Ibn e Shehr Aashob’ that: He had two swords with him and had also brought a sling with him to throw stones towards the enemies.

It is narrated from Asbagh in ‘Hul’yatul Awliya’ that: The reason why Owais could not meet the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was his good deed for his mother. It was Owais’ habit that when the time of dusk arrived, he used to say: ‘Tonight is for Rukoo’ and used to remain in the position of Rukoo’ until morning, and when it was night again, he used to give away all the edibles and clothes he had in his house as Alms and then say:

أللّٰھُمَّ مَنْ مٰاتَ جُوعاً فَلاٰ تُؤٰاخِذْنِی بِہِ، وَ مَنْ مٰاتَ عُرْیٰاناً فَلاٰ تُؤٰاخِذْنِي بِہِ

‘O Lord! Do not question me if a person dies starving and do not question me if a person dies naked’.

          It is mentioned in another Hadith that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said to his companions one day:      

ابْشِرُوا بِرَجُلٍ مِنْ اُمَّتِی یُقٰالُ لَہُ: اُوَیْسُ الْقَرَنِي؛ فَاِنَّہُ یَشْفَعُ لِمِثْلِ رَبِیْعَةِ وَمُضَر۔

‘Give good tidings to a man from my nation who is called Owais al-Qarani, and he will (on the Day of Resurrection) intercede as many individuals as those from the tribes of ‘Rabea’ and ‘Mudar’.[1]

                   As per this narration, Owais e Qarani was on Imam Ali’s side in the battle of Siffeen and had pledged allegiance with his highness, but in the other narration that we will mention, he has pledged allegiance with his highness in the city of Kufa.