[This is the reply we were giving to Sunnis, but now a days we are forced to give same reply to our own Shia brothers]
The most explicit proof of self-inflicted injury comes from Owais al-Qarni the great Muslim Sahabi, praised by both Shi'a and Sunni erudite.
He had an immense love for the Holy Prophet (s). When the news reached him in Yemen that two teeth of the Holy Prophet (s) were brokenin the battle of Ohad, he extracted all his teeth. When the Holy Prophet (s) got the news in Medina that Owais had struck down all his teeth, he (s) exclaimed, "Indeed Owais is our devoted friend".
This event can be found written in 'Seerate Halbia' vol II, page 295.
This event can be found written in 'Seerate Halbia' vol II, page 295.
The renowned Sunni Scholar Shiekh Farid al Din Attaar in 'Tadhkhirah tul Awliya' Urdu translation page 17 and 18 writes:
" Uways Qarni (ra) said to Umar Khattab (ra): 'If you were true in friendship than
why on the day when the holy teeth of the Prophet (s) were broken didn't you break
your teeth in companionship? Because, it is a condition of companionship.' Then he
showed his teeth all of which were broken and said 'I broke all of my teeth without
seeing you (O Prophet) and in the state of Ghaybah in your companionship. I had
broken one tooth but couldn't get satisfaction so kept on breaking them one by one
until I had broken them all '".
The episode can also be found at a Sunni website:
http://www.aghayiah.com/hazrat-oawis.htm
Comment:
Had the breaking of teeth by Uways Qarni (ra) been in opposition to Shariah, Umar would
certainly have pointed it out at the time or at least commented and answered the accusation by
Uways Qarni (ra) of his less than perfect companionship. The silence of Umar proves that he
didn't deem the act of breaking one's teeth as done by Uways Qarni (ra) as opposed to Shariah
but considered it an act of sincerity and also a proof of friendship.
It is interesting that Ibn al Hashimi argues:
In regards to the actual rituals of the Shia, these are barbaric practises of self-flagellation, violence, and paganism
Tell us, would Uways Qarni’ss destruction of his teeth with a blunt instrument not fall within
your definition of ‘barbaric practises of self-flagellation, violence, and paganism’? If so, did the
Prophet (s) agree with your view and condemn this extreme form of self harm?
We should point out that breaking one's teeth is a thousand times more painful than the
beating of one's chest for a few hours. It is more extreme than chest beating with chains or
knives (Zanjeer) because those who have suffered from tooth ache will understand the
immense pain that circulates in the mouth and head. Compare the removal of a tooth to the
forced removal of a full set of teeth without the benefit of modern day anaesthetics and
instruments. The pain must have been unbearable. This was clearly an act of great courage.
