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."
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.
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