Q121. Who are "Awliyah Allah"?
Answer.
1.Meaning

The word 'Awliya' singular 'wali' comes from the root word of 'wilaya'. 'Wilaya' is the opposite of enemity (adawaa). The Wali is thereforethe one who is close.

Those who believe take Allah as their Wali as mentioned in the Quran in Surah Baqara 2 : 257 "Allah is the protector of those who have Faith: from the depths of darkness he will lead them forth into light. "
Those who disbelieve take Satan as their Awliya
2:257".. Of those who reject Faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them froth into the depths of darkness."

2.Characteristics of a Awliya Allah
1. Taqwa and Imam
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Yunus 10:62-63
"Behold verily on the friends of Allah is no fear, nor shall they grieve; Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil (have Taqwa)"

The Awliya Allah have firm belief in Allah without any shirk in any form. They also have sincere Taqwa. What is Taqwa this description is present in the Quran in many places. Lets see the description given right in the beginning of the Quran in Baqara 2:2-4 "This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who have Taqwa; Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter."

2. Obedience of the Prophet
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ale Imran 3:31
"Say: "If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

3.Obedience of the Prophet is compulsory if a person loves Allah and wants to be loved by Allah. Hence the Awliya Allah obey the prophet and follow the way shown by the prophet. Whatever stage the person reaches in his devotion, asceticism or knowledge, but without belief in the entire message brought by Muhammed(SAW), it can never make him a Wali of Allah.

Rasoolullah (SAW) said it is recorded in Sahih Bukhari vol 8: no 509
 "Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him."

This Hadith describes the Awliyah Allah. Allah says "And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory)" Hence the Awliyah Allah not only do all Fardh acts but also perform Nawafils to come closer to Allah. When Allah says "so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks" it means that whatever the person hears, sees, does or walks towards are all acts which Allah has approved of. Indeed it is Allah alone who makes them do so because they have done acts that pleased Allah.
They strive to follow the right path. But they are not Masoom (sinless) as thought by many people. They make mistakes but repent as soon as they realise.
4:17 "Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom."
Rasoolullah (SAW) said "All of the children of Adam do sins but the best of those who do sins are those who constantly repent"
[Sahih Bukhari]

4.Awliya Allah have no special Appearance
Awliya Allah have no special appearance with which they differ from other people. They have no special dress from other than that which is permissible. Rather they are to be found in all catagories of the nation of Muhammed(SAW). However the Quran clearly shows that the most high and honourable among men are those who have Taqwa.
"..Verily the most honoured amongst you are those who have the maximum Taqwa.."[ Surah Hujurat 49:13]

5.Divine revelation is needed to identify the Awliya Allah
The Awliya Allah are those who fear Allah much, truly believe and do righteous deeds not only Fardh but also Nawafil. However knowing whether a person really has Taqwa or no is known only to Allah. There were several instance from the life time of the Prophet
1. Person fighting bravely in Uhud
2. Person killed at Khaybar [Sahih Muslim 1: no 209]
3. On the authority of Abu Huraira (radhi allahu anhu) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saying: “… (Another) will be a man who has acquired knowledge (Ilm) and has taught it and who used to recite the Qur’aan. He will be brought (on the Day of Judgement) and Allah will make known to him His favors and he will acknowledge them. The All Mighty will say: “And what did you do about them? He will say: “I studied knowledge and taught it and recited the Qur’aan for your sake. He will say: “ You have lied- you did acquire knowledge so that it might be said (of you): ‘He is learned.’ Then, he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into the Hellfire...” [Saheeh Muslim # 4688, narrated Abu Huraira, At-Tirmidhee and an-Nisaee]
4. Rasoolullah(SAW) taught us  " ..If anyone has to praise his brother at all , he should say I think him to be so and so, and even on this he should say I do not consider anyone purer than what Allah considers.."[Sahih Muslim 4 no 7140]

Today however people are lax about this matter. If we say so and so is a wali of Allah then it is as if we are claiming thast we have received the revelation of Allah. Hence we should leave the matter to Allah to decide. If the person was the wali of Allah , Allah will surely reward him according to his effort.

6.Why Qualities of Awliya Allah described?
Allah (SWT) describes the qualities of awliya Allah so that all can strive to achieve that position and hence get the reward promised to the Awliya Allah  "..for them are glad tidings in this life and the hereafter.."[10:63]

7.Easy to identify who is not an Awliya Allah
Anyone who does any fundamental act of disobedience to Allah, or does Shirk or follows a way other than that of the messenger (SAW) then clearly such a person is not a wali of Allah.

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