2008 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; he said: My father narrated to me; Hisham ibn al-Qasim narrated to us; Sulaiman—meaning ibn al-Mughirah—narrated to us; Saʿid al-Jurayri related to me, from Abu Nadrah, from Usayr ibn Jabir, who said:

He used to teach in Kufa. When he finished his lesson he would say, “Disperse,” yet a small circle of his companions would remain. Among them was a man who spoke words unlike anything I had ever heard. I grew fond of him and brought him forward.

I asked my friends, “Do you know the man who used to sit with us on such-and-such a day?” One of the group replied, “Yes, I know him; that is Uways al-Qarani.”

I said, “Do you know where he lives?” He answered, “Yes.” I set off with him until I knocked, and Uways came out to me. I said, “My brother, what keeps you from joining us?” He replied, “Lack of clothing.”

His peers used to mock and hurt him. I said, “Take this cloak and wear it.” He replied, “Do not do that, for if they see it on me they will torment me.” I persisted until he put it on and went out to them. They said, “Who do you suppose this fellow swindled out of his cloak?”

So he returned and set it down, saying, “Do you see?”

Usayr continues: I went to the gathering and said, “What do you want with this man? You have caused him pain. Sometimes a person is unclothed, and sometimes he is clothed.” I rebuked them sharply with my tongue.

It later happened that the people of Kufa sent a delegation to ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—and one of those who had mocked Uways was among them. ʿUmar asked, “Is anyone here from the Qarani tribe?” That man stepped forward, and ʿUmar said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘A man named Uways will come to you from Yemen. He has left behind no one there except his mother. He once had a patch of leukoderma and prayed to Allah, who removed it except for a spot the size of a dinar or a dirham. Whoever among you meets him, let him ask him to seek forgiveness for you.’ ”

When Uways arrived among us I asked, “From where have you come?” He said, “From Yemen.” I asked, “What is your name?” He said, “Uways.” I asked, “Whom have you left in Yemen?” He said, “My mother.” I asked, “Did you have a white patch and pray to Allah until He removed it from you?” He said, “Yes.”

I said, “Pray for my forgiveness.” He replied, “Would someone like me seek forgiveness for someone like you, O Commander of the Believers?” Nevertheless, he sought forgiveness for him.

I said, “My brother, do not leave my side.” But he slipped away from me. Later I was informed that he had reached Kufa.

The man who had mocked him now belittled him, saying, “Who is this man among us? We do not know him.” ʿUmar said, “Indeed.” The man added, “He is someone who keeps himself lowly.” He then said, “Among us, O Commander of the Believers, there is a man named Uways whom we make fun of.” ʿUmar replied, “Catch up with him, though I doubt you will.”

The man went off and reached Uways before the latter arrived at his own home. Uways asked him, “⦗278⦘ This is not your usual practice; what has changed?” He answered, “I heard ʿUmar speak about you in such-and-such a way. So ask Allah to forgive me, O Uways.”

Uways said, “I will not do so until you pledge that you will never again mock me, and that you will not mention what you heard from ʿUmar to anyone.” The man agreed, and Uways sought forgiveness for him.

Usayr continues: I came to Uways one night and entered upon him. I said, “My brother, I notice you disappear and we do not realize it.” He said, “I have no need to make a living among people through this. Every servant will only be repaid according to his own deeds.” Then he slipped away from them and departed.