Uwaisi

The Uwaisī (or Owaisi; Arabic: أُوَيْس), Silsila (chain of transmission) or Tariqa (pathway) is a form of spiritual transmission in the vocabulary of Islamic mysticism that was named after Owais al-Qarani. It refers to the transmission of spiritual knowledge between two individuals without the need for physical interaction between them.^[1] The term Uwaisīyaan refers to those Sufis who have gained the Sufi spiritual chain from another Sufi without physically meeting them in this world. It can refer to a school of Sufism, and its singular form, Uwaisi, refers to a single individual, who are Sunni Muslims.

Background[]

In the science of spirituality of Islam (Tasawwuf) the Uwaisi Transmission occurs when the spirits of righteous believers (saliheen, awliya) meet in the world called `alam al-arwaah (the world of spirits) which is beyond `alam al-ajsam (the material plane). Whoever takes knowledge through spirituality from a master in `alam al-arwaah is called "Uwaisi". This means of transmission is considered as powerful and effective as the physical relation of master and disciple.^[2]

The term "Uwaisi" is derived from the name of Owais al-Qarani, who never met the Islamic prophet Muhammad physically,^[3]^[4] yet was fully aware of his spiritual presence at all times of his life.

It is stated in Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition, by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani that:

The sign of the Favor of Allah Almighty and Exalted on his servant is to authorize one of His saints to uplift that servant to the Divine Presence. That is why many saints who came in previous times were guides for those who came after through this spiritual (Uwaisi) connection. It is known that many saints have been under the guidance and training of prophets and other saints that lifted them up.^[5]

Contemporary Western orders[]

Silsila Owaisi is an active Uwaisi Sufi order from the United Kingdom led by Shaykh Banaras Owaisi. They operate a charity and offer spiritual healing services.^[6]

According to Dr. Alan Godlas of the University of Georgia Department of Religion, the "Uwaysi Order, a Shi'i branch of the Kubrawiya, was brought to the West by its shaykh, Shah Maghsoud Angha."^[7] There are two recent and distinct contemporary branches of the Uwaisi Order in the West following lengthy legal disputes between Shah Maghsoud's offspring.^[8]

One is Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi, headed by Nader Angha, the son of Shah Maghsoud.^[9] The other is the Uwaiysi Tarighat, led by Shah Maghsoud's daughter, Dr. Nahid Angha and her husband Dr. Ali Kianfar. They also co-founded the International Association of Sufism.^[10]

Muhammadia Uwaisia Order[]

Muhamadia Uwaisia Order is blessed to Shaykh Muhammad Owais Naqibi Qadri Suharwardi AbuAlAlai Naqshbandi, Chishti Sabri Jahangiri.

Shaykh Muhammad Owais was granted permission of Uwaisia silsila directly from Muhammad in his court in Madinah in 1st Shaban 1434 AH (2013 CE) and Muhammad blessed this silsila with the name "Mohammadia Uwaisia" (or "Muhammadia Uwaisia" or "Muhammadiya Uwaisia" or "Muhammdiya Owaisia"; Arabic: محمدئة أُوَيْسئة).^[11]

Last shaykh of silsla Uwaisa was Nūr ad-Dīn 'Abd ar-Rahmān Jāmī (Persian: نورالدین عبدالرحمن جامی‎) (1414-1492 CE).

People named Uwaisi[]

'Uwaisi' is also a name for people who claim to have been initiated through the Uwaisi method, or for those who claim to be descendants of Owais al-Qarani. Among the most famous is the Owaisi family of Hyderabad, India, one of the most prominent political and Sufi Muslim families of the city, including:

Shaykh Banaras Owaisi
Khaja Syed Muhammed Hashmi Owaisi Qibla
Khaja Syed Anwar Hashmi Owaisi Qibla
Khaja Syed Owais Hashmi Owaisi Qibla
Khaja Syed Ather Hashmi Owaisi
Khaja Syed Akhter Hashmi Owaisi
Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi
Asaduddin Owaisi
Akbaruddin Owaisi

References[]

^ "The story of Uwais Al-Qarni – Sahih Muslim | AbdurRahman.Org". Salaf-us-saalih.com. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
^ "The 'Uwaysi' Transmission of Spiritual Knowledge".
^ Mohammad, Inam (1978). Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar of Sehwan-Sharif. Royal Book Co. p. 87. ISBN 0-918437-21-0. See Amazon page ASIN: B0000CQRGQ. Original from the University of Michigan.
^ "The Hidden Owaisi Treasure".
^ Kabbani, Shaykh M. Hisham (2004). Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition. Islamic Supreme Council of America. pp. 63–64. ISBN 1-930409-23-0. See Amazon page
^ "Medina Ghosia".
^ "Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders: Sufism's Many Paths". Islam.uga.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
^ "96-15002 - US 9th Circuit - FindLaw". Caselaw.lp.findlaw.com. 1999-06-17. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
^ "MTO Shahmagsoudi School of Islamic Sufism". Mto.org. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
^ "Founders Of IAS | International Association Of Sufism". Ias.org. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
^ "Uwaisia". www.uwaisia.com. Retrieved 2021-05-12.

External links[]

[Salafussalih2009-1] "The story of Uwais Al-Qarni – Sahih Muslim | AbdurRahman.Org". Salaf-us-saalih.com. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

[2] "The 'Uwaysi' Transmission of Spiritual Knowledge".

[Hazrat-3] Mohammad, Inam (1978). Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar of Sehwan-Sharif. Royal Book Co. p. 87. ISBN 0-918437-21-0. See Amazon page ASIN: B0000CQRGQ. Original from the University of Michigan.

[4] "The Hidden Owaisi Treasure".

[ClassicalIslam-5] Kabbani, Shaykh M. Hisham (2004). Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition. Islamic Supreme Council of America. pp. 63–64. ISBN 1-930409-23-0. See Amazon page

[6] "Medina Ghosia".

[7] "Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders: Sufism's Many Paths". Islam.uga.edu. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

[8] "96-15002 - US 9th Circuit - FindLaw". Caselaw.lp.findlaw.com. 1999-06-17. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

[9] "MTO Shahmagsoudi School of Islamic Sufism". Mto.org. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

[10] "Founders Of IAS | International Association Of Sufism". Ias.org. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

[11] "Uwaisia". www.uwaisia.com. Retrieved 2021-05-12.

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