The Wilaayah (becoming a Walee of Allaah) in a nutshell

Revised (Nov. 12, 2014)

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

This is a brief explanation of the world around a Walee and the many misunderstandings related with it:

A) Definition of “Walee”:

Linguistically, the `Arabic word Walee means: “to be near to”, “close to”.

It also means: “ally”, “protector”, “guardian”, “helper”, “supporter” etc.

It also means: “friend”, “companion”.

So, when the “Walee of a woman” is mentioned, then it means her close male guardian/supporter like her father, brother, etc who are responsible for taking care of her and in charge of her marriage. A woman is not allowed to get married except with the presence/permission of her Walee.

And when “Walee of Allaah” (pl. Auliyaa’ of Allaah) is mentioned then in English the word Walee is loosely translated as: “saint”.

But in Islaam, the more appropriate meaning is: “close friend”.

As Nubuwwah means Prophethood, Wilaayah means sainthood (this is the closest translation of the word in English).

The Walee of Allaah is a person who strives for the religion of Allaah, so Allaah تعالى helps him and supports him, as Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّـهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ﴾

{Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.} [Surah al-Hajj (22):40]

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B) Some Clarifications:

The Wilaayah (becoming a Walee) in a nutshell:

1. There are 2 conditions for becoming a Walee:

a. being a Believer.

b. being a Mutaqee (God-conscious / God-fearing / pious).

Evidence is the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿‎ أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّـهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ﴾

{No doubt! Verily, the Auliyaa’ of Allaah no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve - those who BELIEVED (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islaamic Monotheism), and used to FEAR Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).} [Surah Yunus (10):62-63]

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2. Age is not a factor and Wilaayah (sainthood) is not a monopoly at the hands of old people. Example: the boy in the incident of the people of the Ditch (See the Tafseer of Surah al-Burooj).

Also the group of youths mentioned in Surah al-Kahf, who fled for the sake of their religion, so Allaah protected them and helped them:

﴿إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا﴾

{(Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their disbelieving folk) to the Cave, they said: "Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!"} [Surah al-Kahf (18): 10]

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3. The level of one’s Wilaayah depends upon the level of his Imaan. The more righteous a person is, the closer he/she will be to Allaah.

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا﴾

{The believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’aan) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith} [Surah al-Anfaal (8):2]

The Hadeeth which mentions the status of a “Walee of Allaah” also mentions how to come closer to Allaah تبارك وتعالى. Verily, it is the performance of righteous deeds which increases the person’s Imaan (Faith) and brings him closer to Allaah. The more he performs righteous deeds, the more he increases in his status.

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah said: {I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a Walee (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 Nawaafil (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.}” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6502)]

Another instance:

Narrated Hanzalah Usayyidi رضي الله عنه: I met Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. He said (to me): How are you? He (Hanzalah) said: Hanzalah has turned out to be a hypocrite. He (Abu Bakr) said: Hallowed be Allaah, what are you saying? Thereupon he said: I say that when we are in the company of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم we ponder over Hell-Fire and Paradise as if we are seeing them before our very eyes. When we are away from Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم we attend to our wives, our children, our business; most of these things (pertaining to the Afterlife) slip out of our minds. Abu Bakr said: By Allaah, I also experience the same. So Abu Bakr and I went to Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم and said to him: Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم, Hanzalah has turned to be a hypocrite. Thereupon Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “What has happened to you?” I said: Allaah's Apostle, when we are in your company, we are reminded of Hell-Fire and Paradise as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but whenever we go away from you and attend to our wives, children and business, many of these things go out of our minds. Thereupon Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if your state of mind remains the same as it is in my presence and you are always busy in remembrance (of Allaah), the angels will shake hands with you in your beds and on your paths. However, Hanzalah, time should be devoted (to the worldly affairs) and time (should be devoted to prayer and meditation).” He صلى الله عليه وسلم said this thrice. [Saheeh Muslim (6623)]

And in another narration, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Hanzalah, there is a time (for worldly affairs) and a time (for worship and devotion), and if your state of mind is always the same as it is at the time of remembrance of Allaah, the Angels would shake hands with you and would greet you on the path (by saying: Assalaam-`Alaikum).” [Saheeh Muslim (6624)]

Wilaayah is not achieved except when Imaan and Taqwaa are achieved. And Taqwaa is not achieved except when a person performs righteous deeds and shuns sins and evil deeds. And Allaah is the One who Grants success.

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4. The best Auliyaa are the Prophets and Messengers عليهم الصلاة والسلام. They enjoy the highest position with Allaah. No other human being can come even closer to them.

A Walee (pl. Auliyaa), irrespective of how pious he is, or all of them combined together, can never ever outdo not even a single Prophet.

A Walee will always be obliged to follow the Sharee`ah. Being a Walee does not absolve him from offering the Salaah, Zakaah, Siyaam, Hajj etc.

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5. “Karaamah” (pl.: “Karaamaat” loosely translated as “miracles”) is a derivative of the word “Karam” which means “honor”.

Karaamah is an extraordinary event which is not performed by a Walee (a righteous believer) whenever he wills. Rather, it is Allaah who performs it as a Karam (honor), whenever He تعالى Wills, through the hands of His Walee in order to honor him or to support the truth he is upon.

Example Allaah تعالى would provide Maryam عليها السلام with fruits out of season (the fruits of the summer during winter, and the fruits of the winter during summer – see Tafseer Ibn Katheer):

﴿كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّـهِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ﴾

{Every time he (Zakariyah) entered Al-Mihraab to (visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Maryam! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allaah." Verily, Allaah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit."} [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 37]

Another example:

Narrated Al-Baraa’ ibn `Aazib رضي الله عنه: A man was reciting Surah Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him; a cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and told him of that experience. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “That was As-Sakeena (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’aan.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3614, 5011) and Saheeh Muslim (1739, 1740)]

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6. Performing a Karaamah (miracle) is not a condition of being a Walee. It is neither a prerequisite of being a Walee of Allaah, nor is it an option after becoming a Walee of Allaah. There are a few people whom Allaah تعالى mentioned in the Qur’aan with goodness, but they did not perform any extraordinary thing. The biggest Karaamah (honor) for them is that Allaah تعالى mentioned them with goodness, preserved their honor till the Day of Judgment and whenever the Qur'aan is recited, their goodness is mentioned and this is the biggest sign of their being the Auliyaa’ of Allaah.

﴿وَجَآءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَى قَالَ يقَوْمِ اتَّبِعُواْ الْمُرْسَلِينَ - اتَّبِعُواْ مَن لاَّ يَسْـَلُكُمْ أَجْراً وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُونَ - وَمَا لِىَ لاَ أَعْبُدُ الَّذِى فَطَرَنِى وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ - أَءَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ الرَّحْمَـنُ بِضُرٍّ لاَّ تُغْنِ عَنِّى شَفَـعَتُهُمْ شَيْئاً وَلاَ يُنقِذُونَ - إِنِّى إِذاً لَّفِى ضَلَـلٍ مُّبِينٍ - إِنِّى ءَامَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ - قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يلَيْتَ قَوْمِى يَعْلَمُونَ - بِمَا غَفَرَ لِى رَبِّى وَجَعَلَنِى مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ﴾

{And there came a man running from the farthest part of the town. He said: “O my people! Obey the Messengers. Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided. And why should I not worship Him (Allaah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned. Shall I take besides Him aalihah (gods)? If the Most Gracious (Allaah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me. Then verily, I should be in plain error. Verily, I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!” It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): “Enter Paradise.” He said: “Would that my people knew That my Lord (Allaah) has forgiven me, and made me of the MUKRAMEEN (honored ones)!”} [Surah Yaaseen (36): 20-27]

So not only did Allaah تعالى mentioned him with honor, but also informed us that he is from the people of Paradise – and there is no sign of Wilaayah better than this.

About another person whom Allaah mentioned with honor can be found in Surah Ghaafir (40): 28-45. In the last Ayah, Allaah تعالى informs us that He تعالى saved him from the torment:

{So, Allaah saved him from the evils that they plotted (against him), while an evil torment encompassed Fir`aun’s (Pharaoh’s) people.}

So all this proves that Karaamah (miracles) is not an essential part of being a Walee.

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7. After the Prophets and Messengers, the best Auliyaa’ were the Companions رضوان الله عليهم اجمعين. If they were not the Auliyaa’, then I do not know who Auliyaa’ are.

Verily! After the Prophets and Messengers, the best Auliyaa’ of Allaah are the Companions رضي الله عنهم, they believed in the Unseen without asking for miracles, and they were blessed by Allaah جل وعلا to see the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and to live with him, hear the Qur’aan from him, eat with him, travel with him, support him, fight with him, endured with him, perform Hajj with him etc.

They are the generation about whom Allaah تعالى said:

﴿رَضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ﴾

{Allaah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.} [Surah Tawbah (9):100]

He تعالى also said:

﴿لَّقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ﴾

{Indeed, Allaah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bai`a (pledge) to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) under the tree} [Surah al-Fath (48):18]

And there are many more Aayaat (verses) like these.

And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ

“The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them (i.e. the second generation), and then those who will follow the latter (i.e. the third generation).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

After the generation of the Companions رضي الله عنهم, none can come closer to them in rank and status. This was confirmed when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لاَ تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَلَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ، ذَهَبًا مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ، وَلاَ نَصِيفَهُ

“Do not abuse my companions, for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allaah’s cause) it would not be equal to a Mud (a handful) or even half of it spent by one of them.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

Subhaan-Allaah! After all the praises the Companions received from Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, they never claimed any superiority over the other slaves of Allaah. Rather, this made them more humble and submissive to Allaah – and this is the sign of true Wilaayah. Unlike those Soofee saints – the Qutubs and the Abdaals etc. - who claim to have supernatural powers, and that they help Allaah in governing His dominion. Allaah’s refuge is sought from them, for they are none but the Auliyaa’ of Shayaateen.

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8. Unlike Prophethood and Messengership, Wilaayah (sainthood) is not limited to men only (this is the general meaning of the Aayah). Moreover, there are women who have exceeded a lot of men in righteousness. (Example: Maryam عليها السلام, Khadeejah, `Aaishah, the Prophet’s daughter Faatimah رضي الله عنهـن etc.). [But as said earlier, a woman - irrespective of her righteousness - still needs a male guardian in order to get married].

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9. Wilaaya is not for self-glorification or self-amazement or for gaining fame, status and wealth. If personal fame was the objective, then Allaah تعالى would have mentioned the names of the youths in Surah al-Kahf or the names of the men in Surah Yaaseen and Surah al-Ghaafir or the names of Fir`aun’s magicians who had embraced Islaam etc. Rather, the purpose of Wilaaya is to aid the Deen of Allaah. The Walee of Allaah is a person who strives for the Religion of Allaah, so Allaah تعالى helps him and supports him, as Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّـهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ﴾

{Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.} [Surah al-Hajj (22):40]

Unlike those Sufee saints who devour people’s wealth unjustly, and avert them from the Way of Allaah and His Religion.

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10. Becoming a Walee does not guarantee a good end:

What the Sufees want us to believe is that the Awliyaa are infallible – and this is far from being true. Also, do not let your actions deceive you; do not be proud of your good deeds, lest it gets into your head; for the apparent actions might seem good, but what has been decreed could be something else. Verily! The rewards of the deeds are decided by the last actions done by a person before his death. And what confirms this are the following Aayaat and Ahaadeeth:

10A) Evidence from the Qur’aan:

﴿وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ * وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث ۚ ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾

{And recite (O Muhammad) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Aayaat (proofs), but he threw them away, so Shaitaan followed him up, and he became of those who went astray. And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his description is the description of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. Such is the description of the people who reject Our Aayaat. So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect.} [Surah al-A`raaf (175-176)]

Summarized from Tafseer Ibn Katheer:

It is reported from Ibn Mas`ood and Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما and others that this verse is about Bal`am, a man from the Children of Israel. Allaah favored him by teaching him His Greatest Name, by which, if He is asked, He will grant, and if He is called upon, He answers. He used to live in Bayt Al-Maqdis with the tyrants. It is also reported that he was a man whom Allaah had given the knowledge of His Aayaat, but he abandoned them. He was one of the scholars of the Children of Israa’eel whose supplication was quickly answered. They used to seek his lead in supplication in times of difficulty. It is also reported that he is a man from the city of the tyrants (Jerusalem) whose name was Bal`am and who knew Allaah’s Greatest Name. When Moosaa عليه السلام and those with him went to the city of the tyrants (Jerusalem), the cousins of Bal`am and his people came to him and said: Moosaa is a strong man, and he has many soldiers. If he gains the upper hand over us, we will be destroyed. Therefore, supplicate to Allaah that He prevents Moosaa and those with him from prevailing over us. Bal`am said: If I supplicate to Allaah that He turns back Moosaa and those with him, I will lose in this life and the Hereafter. They kept luring him until he supplicated against Moosaa and his people, and Allaah took away what he bestowed on him (of knowledge).

It is also reported that when Moosaa entered the land of Banee Canaan in the area of Ash-Shaam (Greater Syria), the people of Bal`am came to him, saying: This is Moosaa, son of `Imraan with the Children of Israel. He wants to drive us out from our land, kill us and replace us with the Children of Israel. We are your people and have no other dwelling area. You are a person whose supplication is acceptable (to Allaah), so go out and supplicate to Allaah against them. He said: Woe to you! Here is Allaah's Prophet (Moosaa) with whom the angels and believers are! How can I supplicate against them when I know from Allaah what I know'' They said: We have no other dwelling area. So they kept luring and begging him until he was tempted by the trial and went on his donkey towards Mount Husban, which was behind the Israelite military barracks. When he proceeded on the Mount for a while, the donkey sat down and refused to proceed. He got off the donkey and struck it until it stood up again and he rode it. The donkey did the same after a little while, and he struck it again until it stood up. So he proceeded and tried to supplicate against Moosaa and his people. However, Allaah made his tongue mention his people with evil and the Children of Israa’eel with good instead of his people, who protested: O Bal`am! What are you doing? You are supplicating for them and against us! He said: It is against my will. This is a matter that Allaah has decided. He then said to them, as his tongue was made to loll out of his mouth: Now I have lost this life and the Hereafter. Thus Allaah allowed him to go astray and expelled him from His mercy.

--from Tafseer Ibn Katheer

10B) The warning of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “A man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise for a long time, then his deeds end with one of the deeds of the people of the Fire; and a man may do the deeds of the people of the Fire for a long time, then his deeds end with one of the deeds of the people of Paradise.” [Saheeh Muslim (6740)]

Narrated Sahl رضي الله عنه: During one of his Ghazawaat, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم encountered the pagans, and the two armies fought, and then each of them returned to their army camps. Amongst the (army of the) Muslims there was a man who would follow every pagan separated from the army and strike him with his sword. It was said: O Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم! None has fought so satisfactorily as so-and-so (namely, that brave Muslim). The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “He is from the dwellers of the Hell-Fire.” The people said: Who amongst us will be of the dwellers of Paradise if this (man) is from the dwellers of the Hell-Fire? Then a man from amongst the people said: I will follow him and accompany him in his fast and slow movements. The (brave) man got wounded, and wanting to die at once, he put the handle of his sword on the ground and its tip in between his breasts, and then threw himself over it, committing suicide. Then the man (who had watched the deceased) returned to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: I testify that you are Apostle of Allaah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “What is this?” The man told him the whole story. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “A man may do what may seem to the people as the deeds of the dwellers of Paradise, but he is of the dwellers of the Hell-Fire and a man may do what may seem to the people as the deeds of the dwellers of the Hell-Fire, but he is from the dwellers of Paradise. Verily! (The rewards of) the deeds are decided by the last actions (deeds).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (4207, 6493, 6607) and the wordings are his and Saheeh Muslim (6741) without mentioning the incident.]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “…By the One besides Whom there is none other worthy of worship! One of you will do deeds of the people of Paradise, until there is between him and it but a forearm span, then he is overcome by what is written for him, and he is sealed off with the deeds of the people of the Fire, so that he enters it. And indeed one of you will do deeds of the people of the Fire, until there is between him and it but a forearm span, then he is overcome by what is written for him, and he is sealed off with the deeds of the people of Paradise, so that he enters it.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3208, 3332, 6594, 7454) and Saheeh Muslim (6390) and the wordings are his]

10C) The Du`aa and the precaution of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

Narrated Anas: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say quite frequently: “O Turner of the heart, keep me steadfast in your religion.” A man said: Allaah’s Apostle, “we do affirm faith in you and in that which you have been sent with. (Despite this) you entertain fear about us.” Whereupon he said: “Yes. Verily the hearts are between two Fingers from the Fingers of Allaah and He turns them as He likes.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (3834) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2140, 3522) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh Al-Albaanee]

Narrated `Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn al-`Aas رضي الله عنهما: I heard Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Aadam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart. He turns that to any (direction) He likes.” Then Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said:  “O Allaah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts towards Your obedience.” [Saheeh Muslim (6418)]

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11. Becoming a Walee does not guarantee Paradise:

Apart from being infallible, the Sufees also want us to believe that their Awliyaa are, without a doubt, going into Paradise. But what they forget is that no one will enter Paradise by virtue of his deeds, rather it is only by the Mercy of Allaah تعالى. No one should feel secured that he will surely enter Paradise. We affirm Paradise only for those who have been mentioned in the Qur’aan to enter it. We also affirm Paradise for those of the Companions to whom the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave the glad tidings of entering it. Apart from these, no one is guaranteed paradise, because as stated in the previous point, a person may change before his death, from good to bad and hence enter the Fire.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and receive good news because one’s good deeds will not make him enter Paradise.” They asked: Even you, O Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Even I, unless and until Allaah bestows His pardon and Mercy on me.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5673, 6463, 6464, 6467) and Saheeh Muslim (6760, 6761, 6762, 6763, 6764, 6765, 6770)]

Jaabir رضي الله عنه reported: I heard Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “None of you would get into Paradise because of his good deeds alone, and he would not be rescued from Fire, not even I, but because of the Mercy of Allaah.” [Saheeh Muslim (6769)]

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C) Conclusion:

So with this, we can conclude that: the “Walee of Allaah” is every pious Believer - irrespective of the age and gender - whom Allaah تعالى helps with or without Karaamaat (mircales).

All this clarification about the Auliaa’ was necessary to remove the doubts on: “Who are the Auliyaa’ of Allaah and who are the Auliyaa’ of Shaitaan?”

The Sufees believe that “true” Auliyaa can only come from their clans, like the Nakhshbandees, the Chishtees, the Tijaanees and the Dusookees etc.

Whenever one debates with them, they will rush to say: O you don’t love the Auliyaa’ etc. etc. Shaikh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee رحمه الله rightly summarized their behavior, saying:

“Your conversation with an ignorant person with evidences is like wasting time. (It reminds of) that narration of Imaam al-Shaafi`ee, if its attribution to him is true, where he said:

‘I have never debated with a knowledgeable person, except that I won the debate, and I have never debated with an ignorant person, except that I lost.’

This is because the ignorant person does not follow the evidences, even if you try to explain it to him. He would revile you, insult you and would even reach out for the stick (to beat you up)! This is the evidence of a helpless (incompetent) person when he is cornered. And this is what we see with the followers of Sufism when they are cornered and when the evidence is established against what they are upon. They say:

‘These are the people who do not love the Auliyaa’, these are the enemies of the Auliyaa’, enemies of the Messengers, this is new religion.’

These are the responses of these helpless ones when the evidences are established against them. And Allaah’s help is sought.”

[Sharh al-Qawaaid al-Arba` (1/52) of Shaikh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee رحمه الله]

And Allaah is the Granter of Success.