Sufi Innovation of Salat of Uways al-Qarni

While we accept the reality of kashf and ilham after the sealing of Nubuwwa, we have always maintained that they cannot be a source for legislation in the Religion. The Finality of Prophethood signifies that all religious legislation has been finalized until Judgment Day. Anyone who legislates something new into the Religion, such as novel acts of worship which have no basis in the Quran or Sunna, is an innovator. The claim that these novel acts of worship which have been innovated are based on one’s ilham (inspiration) is a repudiation of the Finality of Prophethood. The truth is, these may be inspiration but they are not inspiration from Allah, rather, from the Devil. However, the Barelwi and extreme Sufi sect commit many innovations, such as the offering of various novel prayers, like so-called Salat al-Sa’dat, the Salat al-Nur, the Salat al-Buruj, the Salat al-Khidr, Salat al-Ragha’ib and the Salat of Uways al-Qarni. According to the text Fawaid al-Fawad of Amir Hasan Ala Sanjari of Delhi, in which conversations with his shaikh Nizam ud-Din Awliya have been recorded, the author once asked his shaikh the source of the so-called Salat of Uways al-Qarni:

اویس قرنی رحمۃ اللہ علیہ نے ماہ رجب کی تیسری چوتھی اور پانچویں تاریخوں میں نماز کے لۓ کہا ہے میرے دل میں خیال آتا ہے کہ جس بزرگ نے کسی دعاء یا نماز کے لۓ کہا ہے وہ یا تو حضرت رسالت پناہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے سنی ہے یا صحابہ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم سے۔ خواجہ اویس قرنی رحمۃ اللہ علیہ نے جن نمازوں کی بابت فرمایا ہے اور سورتوں مقرر کی ہیں، یہ کہاں سے سنی ہیں؟ خواجہ صاحب نے فرمایا: الہام ہو تھا۔

Uways Qarni has prescribed certain prayer to be performed on third, fourth and fifth of Rajab. This prayer is known as namaz-i-Uwais Qarni. One day Hasan Sanjari asked Shaikh Nizamuddin that all the namazs and du’a which are recommended have been received from the Prophet or the Companions (sahaba). Shaikh Uwais Qarni had prescribed this namaz and has specified the surahs of the Quran to be read and prayers (du’a) to be said. Now what is the source? The Shaikh replied: “These things are done through ilham (divine inspiration).” (Hasht Behsht: Fawaid ul-Fawad, p.144):

 

It should be noted that there is no proof that the eminent tabi Uways al-Qarni (rahimahullah) ever prescribed such an innovation, rather, this innovated prayer has been attributed to him by the extremist Sufis who have no regard for the Shari’a of Prophet Muhammad (sall Allahu alayhi wasallam) but follow their own desires upon which they have constructed a different religion altogether.