His name was Awais, he was known as Awais Qarni because he lived in a town called "Qarn" in Yemen. Hazrat Owais Qarni was a very pious and noble person. He was a great follower of Islam. He had embraced Islam while the Holy Prophet was still alive. He naturally had a very strong desire to see the Prophet but since his mother was old and she needed his help and care, he could not visit the Holy Prophet. As a reward of his service to his mother, he was treated as a Sahabi (Companion of Prophet) by the Prophet even though he could not see him personally. His name entered the list of Sahaba only because of his strong intention to see the Holy Prophet.

Once the Companions asked the Holy Prophet: "Has Hazrat Awais Qarni ever visited you? The Holy Prophet replied: "No, He never watched me physically, but spiritually he met me." Sufism is based on the spiritual connection or link that was between the Holy Prophet & Hazrat Awais Qarni, in Sufism that spiritual connection is known as "Nisbat-e-Awaisiya".

When Hazrat Awais Qarni received a message about the Holy Prophet Mohammed, that he had lost a tooth in the battle of "Uhud", Hazrat Awais Qarni pulled one of his own out (because of his love towards the Holy Prophet). Thinking that he might not have pulled out the right tooth, and because he loved the Holy Prophet more than he loved himself, he pulled out all of his teeth to make sure that he had lost the same tooth as the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

During his last days, the Holy Prophet asked Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali to take his shirt (Jubba Mubarak) to Hazrat Awais and ask him to pray for the forgiveness of my followers (Ummah). The reason for this was to show his companions the very high status of Hazrat Awais. Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali asked the people if there was anyone from Qarn. One man came forward and told them how to find the place. They set out for Qarn. When they arrived, they asked the people where Awais was. The villagers answered their questions, but were very surprised to see the two prominent Companions asking for an unknown camel shepherd. When Hazrat Umar and Hazrat Ali reached to him, they saw Hazrat Awais saying his prayers. As he finished his prayers, he said, "It is the first time anyone has ever seen me praying. The two men passed on to him Holy Prophet Mohammed’s message asking Awais to pray for the forgiveness of the followers of Mohammed. This he did. After a while he said, "Allah has forgiven and rewarded as many of Mohammed’s followers as the hair of the sheeps of the Rabia and Mazhar tribes. They asked Hazrat Awais, "If you loved Mohammed so much, why didn’t you visit him more often during his life time?" He did not answer, but asked if they took part in the battle of Uhad? And if so, which tooth had Mohammed lost there? Hazrat Umar was greatly impressed by this simple person and asked Hazrat Awais to pray for him. Hazrat Awais replied, "I pray for the forgiveness of everyone at the end of every prayer. If you keep your faith in Allah and His Messenger Mohammed, you will receive my prayers in your graves."

Many times in the company of his followers, the Holy Prophet stated: "I can smell the beauty of my fried from the land of Yemen'". This statement is in direct reference to the spiritual greatness of Hazrat Awais. The prophet also said: "I feel a sweet, peaceful breeze (naseem-e-rehmat) from Yemen".

Hazrat Umar quotes the Prophet as saying "Oh! Umar. From Yemen a man will arrive whose name is Awais and he has signs of Leprosy on his body, he cares for his old and frail mother. If for anything, he takes an oath in the name of Allah, Allah will fulfill his oath. If you can ask from him prayers for your own forgiveness, then you must do so."

Hazrat Ibn-e-Sa'd quotes the Holy Prophet as saying "In my ummah (followers) I have a friend whose name is Awais Qarni"