Source : Agencies / 12 Mar 2014

Wali, plural awliya, is an arabic word meaning close friend. Awliya Allah, therefore, means Friends of Allah (swt).

Reference to the Friends of Allah (swt) is found in the Quran, Hadith Qudsi & Narrations of our Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

We would, firstly, like to bring you to the attention of the following authentic hadith which has been narrated in Abu Daud that Our Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

‘O people! Listen, understand and know it well. Allah has servants who are neither Prophets nor martyrs and whom the Prophets and martyrs yearn to be like, due to their seat and proximity in relation to Allah....”

Our Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then described these people and then read the following Ayah in which Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an:

"Behold! Verily on the Friends of Allah there is no fear nor shall they grieve" Quran (Surah 10: Verse 62)

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) [a companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] who said: the Messenger of Allah [Blessings of Allah be upon him] said:

Allah the Almighty has said: "Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, 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 ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it." (Related by Bukhari)

If one of you shows enmity to the Friends of Allah (awliya Allah), my Lord declares war against you. To show enmity against him means that you precede in hurting him. Who is a Wali (saint, Friend of Allah)? A Friend of Allah is one who is close to Allah, the Exalted. He has drawn close to Allah by following His Commands, and doing many additional acts of worship and by exerting in learning to know about Allah. And he is always with Allah. He does not move except by Allah. So when you show enmity to a Friend of Allah who is well-known as a saint, and for steadfastness in his life-history, then it is right and proper that Allah should wage war against you because you dislike His beloved (Friend).

Why is he called a Wali? It is because Allah has befriended him and loves him. So if you show enmity to him whom Allah loves, Allah inflicts you with misfortunes and calamities. And who has power enough in a war against Allah? (They are) like those who deny the miracles of the awliya (Friends of Allah). And the miracles of the Friends of Allah are not manifested except by them being drawn close to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted. This opposition (by the denier) comes either because of his jealousy or because of the devil leading him astray from this person whose saintliness is clearly manifested. Even so, he hurts him, is bad mannered with him in his gathering or insults him, or abuses him. This, may Allah protect us, is like challenging Allah because He is Benevolent to the one He loves. So showing enmity to the Friends of Allah is showing enmity to the Truth.

A Friend of Allah is not generally known except by witnessing. What are seen are his indications, his miracles, his life-history and his steadfastness. And mostly, his miracle is the greatest proof. And his steadfastness is his greatest miracle. And the miracle of the wali is the greatest testimony.

“Whenever (Nabi) Zakariyya entered her place of Prayer, he found with her provision.”(3:37)

When he entered her sanctuary in winter, he found with her fruit of the summer season, and when he entered her sanctuary in summer, he found with her fruit of the winter season.

“He said: O Maryam! From where does this come to you? She replied: It is from Allah. Indeed Allah provides to whom He wills without measure.”(3:37)

The Qur’an and the Hadith are filled with (narrations about) miracles. And how many of the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) had miracles and in the same way, all those who had reverential awe of Allah (had miracles).

The Rewards conferred upon a Wali by Allah

The reward for such dedicated devotion to Allah has been clearly outlined in the Holy Qur'an:

The greatest reward by far is that Allah begins to love them: Verily Allah loves Al-Tawwaboon and Al Muttahharoon (The repentant and the pure)(2:222)

Verily Allah loves Al Muttaqoon (the God-conscious)(9:4)

Verily Allah loves Al-Muhsinoon (The people of excellence)(3:134).

This love is not only restricted to Allah, but when Allah loves a wali the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth love him as well:

Verily those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, The Most Beneficent will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers) (19:96)

For them are glad tidings in the life of this world and the (life) of the hereafter.(10:6)

The glad tidings and rewards are in two stages: the life of the world and the life after the life of this world. The hereafter includes life after death (Barzakh), the Day of Resurrection, and life in paradise. The Rewards of the life of the world For them is a life good and pure(16:97)

They shall have neither fear nor grief.(10:6)

Verily those who believe and do deeds of righteousness The Most Beneficent will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers)(19:96)

The rewards after their demise:

Verily those who say: "Our Lord is Allah," and they remain steadfast, on them the angels will descend (at death) saying: " Fear not nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise, which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are so in the hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner selves desire, and therein shall you have all that you ask for(41:30-31)

And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in faith-to them shall we join their offspring, and We shall not decrease of their deeds in anything.(52:21)

On the Day of Resurrection Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al -Muttaqoon: (It will be said, " My devotees! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve,(43:67-68)

Some faces that Day shall be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord(75: 22-23)

In Paradise Verily Al- Muttaqoon will be in the midst of gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth near the Omnipotent King -Allah.(55:54-55)

Verily, Al Muttaqoon will be in the midst of gardens and springs, taking joy in the things their Lord had given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinoon. They used to sleep but little by night (invoking their Lord), and in the hours before the dawn, they were (found) asking Allah for forgiveness.(51:15-18)

From this, we can say that although we have never seen many of the great Awliya, but we only love them, because they love Allah (Azzawajal), and Allah (Azzawajal) loves them. Therefore, we love them for the sake of Allah (Azzawajal), and we should distance ourselves from those who dislike the friends of Allah (Azzawajal), as we will be hating them for Allah's (Azzawajal) sake.