Shaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestani’s (QS) Vision of Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu)
Vision of Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) by Grandsheikh Abdullah al-Faiz ad-Dagestani (KS)
The story of the account of Sheikh Abdullah ad-Dagestani’s (QS) Vision of Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu):
Our grandsheikh ‘Abdullah al-Faiz ad-Daghestani (QS) said: “After Shaykh Sharafuddin ad-Dagestani (QS) passed, and I was awaiting an opening to emigrate from Turkey, I was in a seclusion in the mosque next to the tomb of my shaykh, praying one night before Fajr. It was a cold and snowy night. I could feel the coldness in my bones. I could hear the quiet falling of the snow on the trees and the howling of wolves in the woods. I heard a voice calling my name, ‘Abdullah Effendi.’ I looked around but saw no one. Then I heard the voice again calling out, ‘Abdullah!’ I looked again, but again could not see anyone. I knew it was the voice of my shaikh. The warmth of that voice energized me, and I ran outside, without even putting on my shoes or my woolen cloak. I saw my shaikh in a brilliant vision, standing on the hill. He called to me and said, ‘Abdullah Effendi, come.’ I did not even think to put shoes on; I walked on the snow and could feel warmth from the Divine Love emanating from his spirit. As I reached him he said, ‘My son, tonight I have been ordered to take you to the presence of Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) by the order of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim).’”
“Then he said, ‘My son, take my hand.’ I was very happy to take the hand of my sheikh, and as soon as I took his hand I found myself in the association of saints, in the presence of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim), and Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) was sitting there. We entered, and found there were two places left for us to sit. We gave our respect and took our places.”
“Then Sayyidina ‘Ali (RadiAllah Anhu) stood up and said, ‘For the first time we are revealing this secret to the association of saints. Only now have we received the permission from the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) for that secret to appear.’”
“I saw present in the gathering the 7,007 Naqshbandi saints, together with the 313 Naqshbandi saints who are on the footsteps of the 313 great messengers, and the grandsheikhs of the Golden Chain. Sayyidina ‘Ali (RadiAllah Anhu) said, addressing the association, and especially me, ‘When the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) was passing away, he called Sayyidina ‘Umar (RadiAllah Anhu) and me to his presence and he said, ‘After I die, you take the clothes I am wearing when I pass away, as a trust from me to Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu). You will find Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) in such and such a place.””
“Sayyidina ‘Ali (RadiAllah Anhu) said, ‘While the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) lay passing he was sweating a great amount. After he had passed we took those sweat-soaked clothes as a trust. We went as the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) had directed us and looked for Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu). We asked about him but no one knew of him. Then Sayyidina ‘Umar (RadiAllah Anhu) said, ‘O Ali, we haven’t found him and no one here knows of him. We might as well go back.’ I said, ‘O Umar, that is impossible. If the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) said he is here, we must find him. Perhaps he is known by a different name.’ Then we began asking, ‘Do you know someone who is a shepherd? He takes care of his mother and never leaves her.’ Some people said, ‘Yes. But his name is not Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu), his name is ‘Abdullah.’ Then they showed us where he lived.’”
“‘We went to that place and we saw in the distance a man sitting with his back to us. We approached. When we came near, without turning around, he said, ‘O ‘Ali, O ‘Umar, give me my trust.’ Immediately we handed him the robe of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim). He stood up, kissed the robe, put it on his head, then put it to his heart and said, ‘I accept, I accept, I accept.””
“‘We wondered why he was kissing the robe and saying these words, because he had never seen the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) in all his life. But we were hesitant to ask.’”
“‘Then he turned to Sayyidina ‘Umar (RadiAllah Anhu) and said to him, ‘Ya ‘Umar, how many times have you seen the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim)?’ ‘Umar was astonished at this question. He said, ‘That is a strange question. I spent my whole life in the company of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim).’ Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) said, ‘I am asking for a reason. How many times did you actually see him?’ Sayyidina ‘Umar said, ‘How do you mean? I was with him all the time!’ Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) said, ‘Describe him to me.’ Sayyidina ‘Umar began to describe the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim), his eyes, his features, his appearance. Then Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) said, ‘Ya ‘Umar, this description is known to everyone, including those who disbelieved in him.’”
“‘Then he looked at me and said, ‘Ya ‘Ali, how many times did you see the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim)?’ I knew what he meant, and I said, ‘Ya Uwais, in my life I only saw the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) one time.’ Sayyidina ‘Umar was looking at me in amazement. I said, ‘I saw him one time. The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) called me and told me, ‘Look at me from my navel and above. I looked and I saw that the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) from his navel up filled the universes and the Seven Heavens. From his neck and up, I was unable to see, but it was above the Sidratul Muntaha (Furthermost Limit). Then he told me, ‘Look from my navel and down.’ I looked and I saw all these universes, all these worlds, stars and planets had disappeared and all that I saw was the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim), from his waist to his knees filling up that entire space. And from his knees down to his feet I was unable to see. Then He (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) said, (Look at all of me, from top to bottom.) I looked at him, and the Sidratul Muntaha and all these universes disappeared, and all I saw was Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim), everywhere. At that time I knew that Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) is the Heart of the Divine Presence (al-Haqiqat al-Muhammadiyya).’”
“‘Then Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) looked at me and said, ‘You really saw the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) one time. And that is why He (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) said about you, ‘I am the City of Knowledge and ‘Ali is its Door.’ Allah has also given this Divine Knowledge to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RadiAllah Anhu), as the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) mentioned, ‘Whatever Allah poured into my heart, I poured into the heart of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RadiAllah Anhu).’
“‘In this state of wonderment, Sayyidina ‘Umar (RadiAllah Anhu) asked Sayyidina Uwais (RA) , ‘What is the significance of that robe we brought to you?’ He said, ‘O ‘Umar, that is one of the biggest secrets, which will not be revealed to people until the Last Days of his Nation. While the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) was passing away, he was asking for intercession for his Nation.’”
“‘Then he said, ‘His Nation includes all human beings. And that is why Allah said, ‘Say [O Prophet]: O mankind! I am a Messenger to you all from Allah, to Whom belongs the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth.’ [7: 158]. The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) asked for intercession and Allah gave permission. He was interceding for every individual that Allah created. As he was asking he was sweating, and each drop of sweat represented one human being. He took on the burdens of each person. Until he was satisfied that Allah had forgiven everyone, then he left this world. And the symbols of that forgiveness are the drops of sweat which soaked this robe.’”
“‘This robe was given to me because the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) wanted to tell me, ‘O Uwais, I am passing to you the Divine Knowledge to clean the Nation after they make sins. You must pass that power to your successors, from me to you and from you to them.””
“And Sayyidina ‘Ali (RadiAllah Anhu) said that Sayyidina Uwais al-Qarani (RadiAllah Anhu) said, ‘I didn’t see the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) physically, but in every moment, of every day, I was with him during his life. I received from him every matter of importance for his Nation. I am going to transmit this secret to the many successors and inheritors among Allah’s saints. Without a physical connection but through a spiritual connection, they will receive the secret of the cleansing power and revive it in every century, until the Day of Judgment.’”
“Then Sayyidina ‘Ali (RadiAllah Anhu) said to the association of saints, but directing his speech to me, ‘What is passed to you and to many saints before you is from that Uwaisi power. This is the first time that secret has been revealed, by permission of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim).’”
“Then my shaykh said to me, ‘O my son, now you can go back to your seclusion.’ As soon as he said that, I found myself entering the mosque and feeling the cold again.”
From time to time, saints experience such inspirations and visions through the spiritual power of their exalted predecessors.
Source: Naqshbandi.org
*** The Holy Prophet’s (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim) Mantle (Cloak) resides in the mosque in Istanbul, Hirka Sherif Camisi, and every Ramadan the mantle is brought out for Ziyyara. It still smells intensely of the Holy Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi wa Sallim).
