Question:
The question is regarding whether the story of Owais al-Qarni breaking his teeth out of love for the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) is true or not. I haven’t found it in the primary sources nor hadith commentaries nor biographical accounts, but could you suggest any books that I should search further in? I’m not sure where the Arabic source for such an account is.
Answer:
“Know that what became famous on the tongues of the general public that Uways pulled out all his teeth out of extreme sorrow when he heard that the tooth of the Messenger of Allah (upon him blessings and peace) had been harmed in the battle of Uhud – and he did not know what tooth for sure – is baseless according to the scholars; not to mention that it contravenes the pristine Law, hence none of the great Companions did it, although it suffices that such an act is abuse which only fools commit.”
Mulla `Ali al-Qari, last paragraph of his booklet al-Ma`dan al-`Adani fi Fadl Uways al-Qarani.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
