Hadith: Whenever reinforcements from the people of Yemen came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him), he would ask them: Is Uways ibn ‘Āmir amongst you?

عن أُسَير بن عمرو، ويقال: ابن جابر قال: كَانَ عُمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه إِذَا أَتَى عَلَيه أَمْدَادُ أَهْلِ اليَمَن سَأَلَهُم: أَفِيكُم أُوَيس بنُ عَامِر؟ حَتَّى أَتَى عَلَى أُوَيس رضي الله عنه فقال له: أَنْت أُوَيس بنُ عَامِر؟ قال: نَعَم، قال: مِنْ مُرَادٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ قَرْنٍ؟ قَالَ: نَعَم، قَال: فَكَانَ بِكَ بَرَصٌ، فَبَرَأَتَ مِنُه إِلاَّ مَوْضِعّ دِرهَم؟ قال: نعم، قَالَ: لَكَ وَالِدة؟ قال: نعم، قال: سَمِعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «يَأتِي عَلَيكُم أُوَيس بنُ عَامِر مَعَ أَمْدَادِ أَهْلِ اليَمَن مِنْ مُرَاد، ثُمَّ مِنْ قَرْن كَانَ بِهِ بَرَصٌ، فَبَرَأَ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ مَوضِعَ دِرْهَم، لَهُ وَالِدَة هُوَ بِهَا بَرُّ، لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى الله لَأَبَرَّه، فَإِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرَ لَكَ فَافْعَلْ» فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِي فَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُ، فَقَالَ لَه عُمر: أَيْنَ تُرِيد؟ قَالَ: الكُوفَة، قال: أَلاَ أَكتُبُ لَكَ إِلَى عَامِلِهَا؟ قال: أَكُون فِي غَبْرَاءِ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ العَام الْمُقْبِل حَجَّ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَشْرَافِهِم، فَوَافَقَ عُمَر، فَسَأَلَه عَنْ أُوَيس، فقال: تَرَكْتُهُ رَثَّ البَّيت قَلِيلَ الْمَتَاعِ، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «يَأْتِي عَلَيكُم أُوَيس بنُ عَامِر مَعَ أَمْدَادٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ اليَمَن مِنْ مُرَاد، ثُمَّ مِنْ قَرْن، كَانَ بِهِ بَرَص فَبَرَأَ مِنْه إِلاَّ مَوْضِعَ دِرْهَم، لَهُ وَالِدَة هُوَ بِهَا بَرٌّ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلى الله لَأَبَرَّهُ، فَإِنْ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِر لَكَ، فَافْعَلْ» فَأَتَى أُوَيسًا، فقال: اسْتَغْفِر لِي، قال: أَنْتَ أَحْدَثُ عَهْدًا بِسَفَرٍ صَالِحٍ، فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِي، قال: لَقِيتَ عمر؟ قال: نَعَم، فاستغفر له، فَفَطِنَ لَهُ النَّاس، فَانْطَلَقَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ. وفي رواية أيضا عن أُسَير بن جابر: أنَّ أَهلَ الكُوفَةِ وَفَدُوا على عمر رضي الله عنه وفيهم رَجُلٌ مِمَّن كان يَسْخَرُ بِأُوَيْسٍ، فقال عمر: هَل هاهُنَا أَحَدٌ مِنَ القَرَنِيِّين؟ فَجَاء ذلك الرجل، فقال عمر: إِنَّ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ قال: «إِنَّ رَجُلاً يَأْتِيكُم مِنَ اليَمَنِ يُقَالُ لَهُ: أُوَيْسٌ، لاَ يَدَعُ بِاليَمَنِ غَيرَ أُمٍّ لَهُ، قَد كَان بِهِ بَيَاضٌ فَدَعَا الله تعالى ، فَأَذْهَبَهُ إِلاَّ مَوضِعَ الدِّينَارِ أَو الدِّرْهَمِ، فَمَنْ لَقِيَهُ مِنْكُمْ، فَلْيَسْتَغْفِر لَكُم». وفي رواية له: عن عمر رضي الله عنه قال: إِنِّي سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «إِنَّ خَيرَ التَّابِعِين رَجُلٌ يُقَال لَهُ: أُوَيسٌ، وَلَهُ وَالِدَةٌ وَكَانَ بِهِ بَيَاضٌ، فَمُرُوهُ، فَلْيَسْتَغْفِر لَكُم».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم]

Usayr ibn ‘Amr (another said Ibn Jābir) reported: Whenever reinforcements from the people of Yemen came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) he would ask them: "Is Uways ibn ‘Āmir amongst you?" This continued till he met Uways (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: "Are you Uways ibn ‘Āmir?" He said: ‘Yes.’ ‘Umar asked: "Are you from the Qarn branch of the tribe of Murād?" He said: ‘Yes.’ He further asked: "Did you suffer from leprosy and then you were cured but for the spot of a dirham?" He said: ‘Yes.’ Then, he asked: "Is your mother still alive?" He said: ‘Yes.’ ‘Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'There would come to you Uways ibn ‘Āmir with reinforcements from the people of Yemen. He would be from Qarn, of Murād. He had been suffering from leprosy from which he was cured but for the spot of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is dutiful. If he were to take an oath in the name of Allah, Allah would fulfill his oath. If it is possible for you, ask him to ask forgiveness for you.' So, ask forgiveness for me." He asked forgiveness for him. ‘Umar asked: "Where do you intend to go?" He said: "To Kufah." He said: "Shall I write a letter for you to its governor." Uways said: "It is dearer to me to live amongst the poor people." The following year, a person from among the elite (of Kufah) performed Hajj and met ‘Umar, who asked him about Uways. The man replied: "I left him in an old house and with little means of sustenance." Thereupon, ‘Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'There would come to you Uways ibn ‘Āmir with reinforcements from the people of Yemen. He would be from Qarn, of Murād. He had been suffering from leprosy from which he was cured but for the spot of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is dutiful. If he were to take an oath in the name of Allah, Allah would fulfill his oath. If it is possible for you, ask him to ask forgiveness for you.'" So, the man went to Uways and asked him to ask forgiveness for him. Uways said to him: "You have just returned from a blessed journey; so, it is you who should ask forgiveness for me." Then, he asked: "Did you meet ‘Umar?" The man said: ‘Yes.’ Uways asked forgiveness for him. Hence, the people recognized the status of Uways, and so he quickly went away from that place. In another narration also reported by Usayr ibn Jābir: "A delegation from Kufah came to ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Among them was a man who used to mock Uways. ‘Umar asked: 'Is there anyone among you who is from Qarn?' This man stepped forward. Then, ‘Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'A man will come to you from Yemen named Uways. He will be leaving in Yemen none but his mother. He was suffering from leucoderma and supplicated Allah, the Exalted, Who cured him from it except for a space the size of a dinar or dirham. Whoever of you meets him should ask him to ask forgiveness for you.'" Another narration reported by him reads: "‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'The best one among the Tābi‘is is a man called Uways. He has a mother and was suffering from leucoderma. So, ask him to ask forgiveness for you.'"
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

Whenever the groups of fighters from the people of Yemen came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb as reinforcements to the Muslim armies in their battles, he would ask them: “Is there amongst you Uways ibn ‘Āmir.” He continued to do so till Uways (may Allah have mercy upon him) came to him. ‘Umar asked him: “Are you Uways ibn ‘Āmir?” He replied in the affirmative. ‘Umar further asked: “Are you from Qarn, of the Murād tribe?” Uways said: 'Yes.' ‘Umar asked: “Did you suffer from leprosy and were cured from it except for the spot of a dirham?” He replied in the affirmative. ‘Umar asked: “Is your mother still alive?” Uways replied: 'Yes.' Thereupon, ‘Umar said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘There would come to you Uways ibn ‘Āmir along with the groups of fighters from the people of Yemen, from the Qarn branch of the Murād tribe. He was suffering from leprosy and Allah cured him except for the size of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is dutiful. If he were to take an oath in the name of Allah that something should happen, Allah would fulfill his oath and make this thing happen. If it is possible for you, O ‘Umar, to make him ask forgiveness for you, do so.’” This should not, however, be understood to denote the superiority of Uways over ‘Umar, or that ‘Umar’s sins were not forgiven. Rather, there is a consensus that ‘Umar was superior to Uways, for the former is a Companion and the latter is a Tābi‘i. However, the Hadīth informs that Uways was a person whose supplication was readily answered by Allah, the Exalted, and that ‘Umar was instructed to seek more good and benefit from the supplication of those to whom it is hoped Allah will respond. This is similar to the Prophet’s command to us to supplicate for him, invoke the blessings of Allah upon him, and ask Allah to grant him the rank of Al-Wasīlah, even though the Prophet is the best among all the children of Adam. Then, ‘Umar asked him to seek forgiveness for him, which Uways did. After that, ‘Umar asked: “Where will you go?” Uways replied: “Kufa.” ‘Umar said: “Shall I write a letter for you to its governor ordering him to give you money from the Muslim treasury that will be sufficient for you?” Thereupon, Uways said: “It is dearer to me to be one of the ordinary and poor people.” The following year, a man from the elite people of Kufa made the journey of Hajj and met ‘Umar, who asked him about Uways. The man replied: “I left him living in a modest house and having little furniture.” Upon that, ‘Umar said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘There would come to you Uways ibn ‘Āmir along with the groups of fighters from the people of Yemen, from the Qarn branch of the Murād tribe. He was suffering from leprosy and Allah cured him except for the size of a dirham. He has a mother to whom he is dutiful. If he were to take an oath in the name of Allah that something should happen, Allah would fulfill his oath and make this thing happen. If it is possible for you, O ‘Umar, to make him ask forgiveness for you, do so.’” This man went to Uways and said to him: “Ask forgiveness for me.” Uways said: “You have just returned back from a blessed journey. So, you ask forgiveness for me.” Then, Uways thought he might have met ‘Umar. So, he asked him: “Did you meet ‘Umar?” The man replied in the affirmative. Uways asked forgiveness for him. Consequently, people recognized his merit and took an interest in him. Therefore, he left Kufa and went to another place where no one knew him.