Uwaiys-i Gharan

Uwaiys-ibn-Amir Moradi-al-Gharani (also spelled Uways and Uwais) was born in Najd, Yemen. The date of his birth is not known. He took the name of Gharan for one of two reasons: after Gharan, a place or a mountain near Najd, where he was born, or after Gharan, his group from the Bani Amir Tribe.

Uwaiys lived during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, but did not physically see the Prophet. He was a devotee and a follower of the Prophet. In 657, Uwaiys joined the army of Ali ibn Abi Talib and was martyred in the Battle of Siffin (657), a battle between Ali ibn Abi Talib (fourth Caliph) and Mu’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, a rebellious governor of Syria.

Uwaiys was a slim man of medium height who ate very little, and sold dates to earn a living. He cared for and supported his elderly mother. Uwaiys was a pious man and has also been referred to as one of the zuhad-somanieh, the eight pious ones. He was so well respected that the Prophet Mohammad asked that, after his passing, his robe be given to Uwaiys.