Praise be to Allah,
Technically, ‘Wilaayah’ means closeness to Allah through one’s obedience to Him. In Arabic, Al-Wilayah stands for loyalty and is the opposite of al-Adwah or enmity or discord[i].
A wali(singular of Wilaayah) is from Wilaayah which is the opposite of ‘adawah or enmity.[ii]’ The complete definition of a ‘Wali’ is given by Ibn Taymiyah ( May Allah have mercy on him). He said,
“A ‘Wali’ is the one who believes in God, wills what God wills, loves what He approves of, hates what He disapproves of, enjoins what He commands, and forbids what He prohibits. The prophet (PBUH) is the dividing line between the friends of God and His enemies. No one is a Wali who does not believe in him and in what he teaches, as well as follow him in the external and internal actions. Those who claim to love God and be His friends but do not follow him are not at all friends of God.”[iii]
Awliya in Quran and sunnah
Allah says,
- ‘No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, –
- Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds)
- [Quran translation 10: 62-63]
- ‘Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire, and they will abide therein forever. [Quran translation 2:257]
- ‘Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim (Abraham) are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad ) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers. [Quran translation 3:68]
The most authentic hadith one subject is from the Abu Hurairah, (May Allah be pleased with him) who said:
‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Verily Allah has said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a ‘Wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.’[iv]
The hadith explains that Allah will wage war against whosoever shows hatred towards His friends. The hadith also makes very clear the conditions of being wali of Allah- complete obedience to Him by performing all obligatory duties.
Awliya of Shaytaan
Allah says,
- ‘Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah.” And whoever takes Shaitan(Satan) as a Wali (protector or helper) instead of Allah, has surely suffered a manifest loss. [Quran translation 4:119]
- Children of Adam! Let not Shaitan(Satan) deceive you, as he got your parents [Adam and Hawwa (Eve)] out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiments, to show them their private parts. Verily, he and Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinns or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them. Verily, We made the Shayatin (devils) Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not’. [Quran translation 7:27]
- ‘A group He has guided, and a group deserved to be in error; (because) surely they took the Shayatin(devils) as Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) instead of Allah, and consider that they are guided.’ [Quran translation 7: 30]
The word ‘awliya’ is used in another context as well including Close relative, the closeness between men[v].
Conditions of Wilayah
- Taqwa and belief: The first condition of becoming the Wilayah of Allah is Taqwa and piety. Allah says,
‘None can be its guardian except Al-Muttaqun, but most of them know not’. [Quran translation 8:34]
‘No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, –
Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds)’ [Quran translation 10: 62-63]
Therefore, the main criterion to become a ‘Wali’ is Emaan and Taqwaa which is shared by all believers. The ignorant believe that the main criterion of Wilayah is the performance of miracles called Karamaat’. Consequently, those who hold this belief, ‘the faith and the practice of the “miracle”, are of no consequence[vi].
It’s neither the dress nor outward appearance.
The Awliya of Allah has no visible signs to distinguish them from others. The clothing or any peculiar outward appearance is no distinct feature of an Awliya. Also, there is neither any hairstyle that will make him an awliya. Rather, they are found from any categories of people except for anyone accused of heresy and immorality.[vii]
Following Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Following the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the determining factor between the friends of Allah and friends of Shaytaan. Therefore, anyone who claims to be a wali but does not follow him (PBUH) both outwardly and inwardly, is a false Wali.
Allah says,
‘Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran translation 3:31]
The great taba’een Al Hasan al- Basri commented on this verse as:
‘A people claimed that they loved Allah so Allah revealed this verse to test them.’[viii]
As for the hadith, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said,
‘Indeed the family of so and so are not my Awliya-[refrerring to a group of his close relations]- indeed my Waliy is only Allah and the righteous believers.’[ix]
Therefore, whosoever believes that there is a person from amongst the Awliyah who has a route to Allah other than through following Muhammad (PBUH) is an Awliya of Shaytaan.
The Awliyah can be anywhere and at anyplace
The ‘Awliya’ of Allah is not limited to a sect or a group that performs miracles. They are neither limited to any place. The prophet (PBUH) confirmed this as:
‘My Awliya is the pious and God-fearing, whosoever they may be and wheresoever they may be.’[x]
The Wali of Allah differs in degree
The more committed a believer is to his religion, the closer he will be to Allah. Therefore, all believers are not equal in closeness to Allah. The closest to Allah are the prophets even though in themselves it will vary in degree like the messengers. They occupy the highest closeness to Allah amongst all prophets. The best of them is Muhammad (PBUH).
Apart from the prophets, pious men and women are of two kinds. Those who are average and those who are closest to Allah. The average pious are those who perform obligatory duties of the heart and body, and the latter is the one who performs optional worship over and above that. This based on the hadith:
‘….And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him.”[xi]
Ibn Taymiyyah says,
‘Those who are more perfect in faith and piety will be the greater friends of God. The strength of their faith and the quality of their piety will determine their rank in God’s friendship. Similarly, faithlessness and hypocrisy of a person will determine his status in his enmity with God’.[xii]
‘The awliya of Allah are of two types- the front runner and the middle-ranking people of the Right Hand. This is based on the verse of the Quran:
- When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.And there can be no denying of its befalling. It will bring low (some); (and others) it will exalt; When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake. And the mountains will be powdered to dust. So that they will become floating dust particles. And you (all) will be in three kinds (i.e. separate groups). So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Records in their right hands), Who will be those on the Right Hand? (As a respect for them, because they will enter Paradise). And those on the Left Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Record in their left hands), Who will be those on the Left Hand? (As a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell). And those foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islam,] will be foremost (in Paradise). These will be those nearest to Allah. 56:1-11
Allah Knows Best.
[i] The foundations of Faith, in the light of Quran and sunnah, A committee scholar, translated by Dr. Abdur Razaak Abdul Majeed Alaro. Page 312
[ii] Commentary on the Creed of At-Tahwee by Ibn al-Izz. Translated by Muhammad Abdul haqq Ansaari, Page 311
[iii] Ibn Taymiyah Expounds on Islam. Compiled and translated by Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari. Page 471
[iv] ” [Al-Bukhari], Reference: Hadith 38, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi
[v] The Fundamentals of Tawheed, Dr. Bilal Philips. Page 177
[vi] The Fundamentals of Tawheed, Dr. Bilal Philips. Page 179
[vii] The foundations of Faith, in the light of Quran and sunnah, A committee scholar, translated by Dr. Abdur Razaak Abdul Majeed Alaro. Page 316
[viii] The decisive criterion between The Friends Of Allah and the friends of Shaytaan, Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, translated by Abu Rumaysah, page 58
[ix] Reported by al-Bukhari English translation 8/14 No- 19. The decisive criterion between The Friends Of Allah and the friends of Shaytaan, Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, translated by Abu Rumaysah, page 62
[x] The decisive criterion between The Friends Of Allah and the friends of Shaytaan, Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, translated by Abu Rumaysah, page 62
Reported by Ahmad [5/235] and at-Tabarani, ‘al-Kabir No. 241).
[xi] ” [Al-Bukhari], Reference: Hadith 38, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi
Commentary on the Creed of At-Tahwee by Ibn al-Izz. Translated by Muhammad Abdul haqq Ansaari, page 314
[xii] Ibn Taymiyah Expounds on Islam. Compiled and translated by Muhammad Abdul Haq Ansari. Page 478