Who are the awliya (close friends of Allah) and what are their conditions?
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Question:
May Allah reward you with good. This brother Mustafa says: I hope that Honorable Shaykh Salih will elaborate on this topic, as we and some of our colleagues have disagreed on it. He says in this question: Shaykh, who are the awliya? Are there specific awliya who are pious toward Allah the Exalted? What are their conditions? And what are their examples in this regard?
Answer:
My brother, this does not require debate. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has made clear to us who the awliya of Allah are in His saying, the Exalted:[Yunus 10:62-63] So whoever possesses these two qualities, faith and piety, is a wali (close friend of Allah) of Allah the Exalted. The awliya of Allah are known by this, and one should not exaggerate in their regard, believing that they possess blessing and seeking blessing from them, or worse than that, slaughtering animals for them, making vows for them, or directing various types of worship to them. This is invalid and not permissible; it is shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah the Exalted. We love the awliya of Allah and follow their example, but we do not exaggerate in their regard.
It is also not permissible for us to belittle them or diminish their status. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6502 The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah the Exalted said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6502 He has challenged Me to combat. So whoever opposes the awliya of Allah is a combatant against Allah the Exalted.
Because they are the awliya of Allah, and they have their value and status, and they are to be respected. Therefore, it is not permissible to exaggerate in their regard, nor is it permissible to insult them. Wilayah (friendship with Allah) varies; some awliya are more complete than others. Every believer who is pious is a wali of Allah according to his faith and piety. He may have a strong wilayah with Allah, or he may be moderate, or he may be below that. Yes.
May Allah reward you with good. This brother Mustafa says: I hope that Honorable Shaykh Salih will elaborate on this topic, as we and some of our colleagues have disagreed on it. He says in this question: Shaykh, who are the awliya? Are there specific awliya who are pious toward Allah the Exalted? What are their conditions? And what are their examples in this regard?
Answer:
My brother, this does not require debate. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has made clear to us who the awliya of Allah are in His saying, the Exalted:
(62) Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve (63) Those who believed and were fearing Allah
أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَIt is also not permissible for us to belittle them or diminish their status. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I will declare war against
من عادى لي وليا فقدAllah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows
الله تعالى من عادى لي وليا فقدBecause they are the awliya of Allah, and they have their value and status, and they are to be respected. Therefore, it is not permissible to exaggerate in their regard, nor is it permissible to insult them. Wilayah (friendship with Allah) varies; some awliya are more complete than others. Every believer who is pious is a wali of Allah according to his faith and piety. He may have a strong wilayah with Allah, or he may be moderate, or he may be below that. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، من هم الأولياء؟ وما صفتهم؟ وما واجبنا نحوهم؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.