Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿أَلا إِنَّ أَولِياءَ اللَّهِ لا خَوفٌ عَلَيهِم وَلا هُم يَحزَنونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَكانوا يَتَّقونَ ﴿٦٣﴾﴾ [Yūnus: 62–63]
"Indeed, the friends of Allah will have no fear, nor will they grieve—those who believed and were mindful of Allah."
From this verse, two fundamental qualities define a walī of Allah:
① Īmān — Complete and genuine faith in Allah.
② Taqwā — God-consciousness, avoiding sins, and adhering to righteousness.
Whoever is both a believer and God-fearing is truly a walī of Allah.
Anyone who commits shirk is not a walī but rather an enemy of Allah.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿مَن كانَ عَدُوًّا لِلَّهِ وَمَلـئِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبريلَ وَميكىلَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِلكـفِرينَ ﴾ [al-Baqarah: 98]
If someone calls upon or seeks help from other than Allah in matters that only Allah can fulfill, he is committing shirk and kufr.
Such a person cannot be a walī of Allah, no matter his claims.
Many present themselves as sayyids or awliyā’, yet upon closer examination:
If a person desires:
…then this contradicts taqwā and true wilāyah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever seeks knowledge to argue with the foolish, to debate the scholars, or to turn people’s faces towards him, will have such-and-such threat against him."
[Tirmidhī: 2654]
The phrase "to turn people’s faces towards him" clearly shows that craving attention is contrary to sincerity and wilāyah.
Signs of Wilāyah in the Qur’ān
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿أَلا إِنَّ أَولِياءَ اللَّهِ لا خَوفٌ عَلَيهِم وَلا هُم يَحزَنونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ الَّذينَ ءامَنوا وَكانوا يَتَّقونَ ﴿٦٣﴾﴾ [Yūnus: 62–63]
"Indeed, the friends of Allah will have no fear, nor will they grieve—those who believed and were mindful of Allah."
From this verse, two fundamental qualities define a walī of Allah:
① Īmān — Complete and genuine faith in Allah.
② Taqwā — God-consciousness, avoiding sins, and adhering to righteousness.
Whoever is both a believer and God-fearing is truly a walī of Allah.
Anyone who commits shirk is not a walī but rather an enemy of Allah.
Shirk Nullifies Wilāyah
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿مَن كانَ عَدُوًّا لِلَّهِ وَمَلـئِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبريلَ وَميكىلَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِلكـفِرينَ ﴾ [al-Baqarah: 98]
If someone calls upon or seeks help from other than Allah in matters that only Allah can fulfill, he is committing shirk and kufr.
Such a person cannot be a walī of Allah, no matter his claims.
The Ruling on Seeking Help (Istighāthah) from Other than Allah
- Seeking aid from anyone other than Allah in matters of the unseen or supernatural is major shirk.
- A true walī never calls people to himself for such acts, nor claims independent power to help.
Advice to the Believers
- Do not be deceived by claimants of sainthood.
- Refer only to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
- Place all trust, hope, and reliance solely upon Allah.
This will safeguard you from fraudsters who exploit people in the name of “wilāyah.”
False Claimants of Wilāyah
Many present themselves as sayyids or awliyā’, yet upon closer examination:
- They are far from the qualities of true sainthood.
- A real walī:
- Does not claim sainthood.
- Does not desire people’s praise or veneration.
- Is humble, God-fearing, and often unknown.
- Avoids fame and public attention.
If a person desires:
- People’s veneration and praise
- To be an object of glory and a public figure
…then this contradicts taqwā and true wilāyah.
Prophetic Guidance
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever seeks knowledge to argue with the foolish, to debate the scholars, or to turn people’s faces towards him, will have such-and-such threat against him."
[Tirmidhī: 2654]
The phrase "to turn people’s faces towards him" clearly shows that craving attention is contrary to sincerity and wilāyah.
Conclusion
- True wilāyah is founded on īmān and taqwā.
- Anyone involved in shirk cannot be a walī of Allah.
- Seeking supernatural aid from other than Allah is harām and shirk.
- Be cautious of false claimants, and keep your trust solely in Allah ﷻ.
