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The literal translation of Walee is ally or friend. It can refer to Allaah Himself, Satan, close relative, etc.
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا
Yusuf Ali 119: "I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah." Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest. (Quran Chapter 4. An Nisaa ayat 119)
The usage which concerns us most is Awliyaa Allaah close friends of Allaah. In the Quraan Allaah has designated among mankind certain types of individuals whom He considers especially close to Himself.
Allaah explains for us that the criterion for Walaayah (divine friendship) is Eemaan (faith) and Taqwaa (piety) and these qualities are shared by all true believers. Among the ignorant masses, the main criterion for Walaayah (Sainthood) is the performance of miracles which are commonly called Karaamaat.
Miracles are not the measure of righteousness or closeness to God, because evil Jinns too can perform miracles. We believe that Dajjal will perform miracles (So, is Dajjal a Walee?). During Pharoah's time, Magicians performed some magic and Prophet Moosa (AS) was scared. Devils can perform magic.
Why cant we designate certain pious people as Wali?
Only Allah knows what is in hearts. Man can only judge people by each other's outward deeds which may be misleading. Allaah made that abundantly clear in the following verse
The Prophet Muhammad specified among his companions (Sahaabah) some whom he gave glad tidings of paradise in this life. However, such pronouncements were based on revelation and not his own ability to judge the hearts.
Source
اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Yusuf Ali 257: Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever). (Quran Chapter 2. Al Baqarah ayat 257)
الله ایمان والوں کا مددگار ہے اور انہیں اندھیروں سے روشنی کی طرف نکالتا ہے اور جو لوگ کافر ہیں ان کے دوست شیطان ہیں انہیں روشنی سے اندھیروں کی طرف نکالتے ہیں یہی لوگ دوزخ میں رہنے والے ہیں وہ اس میں ہمیشہ رہیں گے
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا
اور البتہ انہیں ضرور گمراہ کروں گا اور البتہ ضرور انہیں امیدیں دلاؤں گا اور البتہ ضرور انہیں حکم کروں گا کہ جانوروں کے کان چریں اور البتہ ضرور انہیں حکم دوں گا کہ جانورں کے کان چیریں اور البتہ ضرور انہیں حکم دوں گاکہ الله کی بنائی ہوئی صورتیں بدلیں اور جو شخص الله کو چھوڑ کر شیطان کو دوست بنائے گا وہ صریح نقصان میں جا پڑا
The usage which concerns us most is Awliyaa Allaah close friends of Allaah. In the Quraan Allaah has designated among mankind certain types of individuals whom He considers especially close to Himself.
أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ - الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ
Yusuf Ali 62-63: Behold! verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve; Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil;- (Quran Chapter 10. Yunus ayat 62-63)
خبردار بے شک جو الله کے دوست ہیں نہ ان پر ڈر ہے اور نہ وہ غمگین ہوں گے - جو لوگ ایمان لائے اور ڈرتے رہے
Allaah explains for us that the criterion for Walaayah (divine friendship) is Eemaan (faith) and Taqwaa (piety) and these qualities are shared by all true believers. Among the ignorant masses, the main criterion for Walaayah (Sainthood) is the performance of miracles which are commonly called Karaamaat.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
Most people with this belief don't care about the faith and practices of the miracle performers. He can be a drunkard, womanizer, performed no prayer at all. Yet, if he did some karaamath, he is considered a Wali. Some who have been designated saints held heretical beliefs and practices, while others were known to have abandoned the religious rituals, and, yet others were even involved in licentious and vulgar behaviour. However, nowhere has Allaah made the working of miracles a stipulation for being His Walee.Yusuf Ali 13: O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran Chapter 49. Al Hujuraat ayat 13)
ا ے لوگو ہم نے تمہیں ایک ہی مرد اور عورت سے پیدا کیا ہے اور تمہارے خاندان اور قومیں جو بنائی ہیں تاکہ تمہیں آپس میں پہچان ہو بے شک زیادہ عزت والا تم میں سے الله کے نزدیک وہ ہے جو تم میں سے زیادہ پرہیزگار ہے بے شک الله سب کچھ جاننے والا خبردار ہے
Miracles are not the measure of righteousness or closeness to God, because evil Jinns too can perform miracles. We believe that Dajjal will perform miracles (So, is Dajjal a Walee?). During Pharoah's time, Magicians performed some magic and Prophet Moosa (AS) was scared. Devils can perform magic.
Why cant we designate certain pious people as Wali?
Only Allah knows what is in hearts. Man can only judge people by each other's outward deeds which may be misleading. Allaah made that abundantly clear in the following verse
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِي قَلْبِهِ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ
Yusuf Ali 204: There is the type of man whose speech about this world's life May dazzle thee, and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart; yet is he the most contentious of enemies. (Quran Chapter 2. Al Baqarah ayat 204)
اور بعض ایسے بھی ہیں جن کی بات دنیا کی زندگی میں آپ کو بھلی معلوم ہوتی ہے اور وہ اپنی دل کی باتوں پر الله کو گواہ کرتا ہے حالانکہ وہ سخت جھگڑالو ہے
Similarly, we dont have authority to call someone a martyr (Shaheed / Shahid). Ibn Abbaas said that he was told by Umar ibn al-Khattaab that on the day of (the battle) of Khaybar, some of the Prophets companions came and said, So and so is a martyr and so and so is a martyr, but when they came to a man about whom they said, So and so is a martyr, Allaahs messenger declared, By no means! I have seen him in hell in a cloak which he took (from the spoils) dishonestly. Allaahs messenger then said, Go, Ibn al-Khattaab, and announce among the people three times that only the believers will enter paradise. [Saheeh Muslim 1/209]
The Prophet Muhammad specified among his companions (Sahaabah) some whom he gave glad tidings of paradise in this life. However, such pronouncements were based on revelation and not his own ability to judge the hearts.
Source
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