Are there standards by which a person can measure himself to determine whether he is a close friend of Allah or not?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: Are there clear standards or measures by which a person can measure himself to determine whether he is a close friend of Allah or not?

Answer:
Every believing, pious person is a close friend of Allah. There is no sign for the wali (close friend of Allah); the wali has no sign. He may be someone known to people, pushed through the doors, disheveled and dusty. The wali has no sign, neither in his life nor after his death. In his life, he is humble, he hides from people, he does not love to show off, and people do not know him. This is the true wali.
As for the one who shows off to people, wearing a turban and wide sleeves, and displays himself to people as a wali, he is a liar. The wali does not say, "I am a wali," nor does he put up signs indicating that he is a wali.
As for after death, the wali in their view is the one upon whom a building is constructed. This wali, upon whom there is no building, is not a wali in the view of the people of misguidance. So there is a difference between the close friend of Allah and the enemy of Allah.