Why is Uwais al-Qarani so highly honoured although he never saw the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)?

Uwais al-Qarani longed to see the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), but stayed with his sick mother to serve her. He sacrificed his greatest wish for the sake of duty, and it is this very sacrifice that earned him a place of honour.

The Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) are held in great esteem by Muslims, because they knew him and stood by him. Uwais al-Qarani lived at the same time but never met him. Even so, his name is mentioned with great honour. The reason lies in a decision he made.

Uwais longed with all his heart to visit the Holy Prophet (saw). But his mother was ill and depended on him. He could have gone, but he stayed. He set aside his greatest wish in order to fulfil his duty towards her. This was not a lack of love for the Prophet (saw). It was a love ready to give up its own happiness because that was what God wanted.

This is exactly what Islam teaches. The Holy Qur’an mentions kindness to parents immediately after the worship of God. And when a man wanted to set out with the Holy Prophet (saw), he sent him back to his parents to serve them. Uwais therefore acted wholly in the spirit of this teaching.

This shows what truly counts in Islam. Closeness does not come only from meeting someone outwardly. It also comes from sharing the same spirit and from sacrifice made out of a sense of duty. Whoever serves their parents selflessly follows the teaching of the Holy Prophet (saw) and is close to him in spirit, even without ever having seen him.