A DISCUSSION ON WILAAYAAT

Wilaayat is a Wahbi and Ataai (that which is bestowed and blessed to someone) that is, it is a reward bestowed by Allah Almighty. It is not something which can be acquired by worshipping Allah Almighty (i.e. by mere self-effort), rather Allah Almighty bestows this Wilaayat to whomsoever He Wills. Virtuous actions however become a means of attaining it, therefore Huzoor Sadrush Shariah Alaihir Rahma writes in Bahaar e Shariat: Wilaayat is a special closeness which Almighty Allah has afforded to some of His beloved servants by His Grace and Mercy. Wilaayat cannot be acquired by self-effort. It is bestowed by Almighty Allah. However, good deeds and virtuous behaviour is a means of allowing it to be bestowed. Some blessed personalities are blessed with this privilege in advance. (Bahaar e Shariat volume 1 page 77 / Qadri Kitaab Ghar Bareilly Shareef) Huzoor Ala Hazrat Alaihir Rahma writes in Fataawa Razviyyah Shareef: Wilaayat is not something which can be acquired (i.e. through self-effort). It is that which is solely bestowed (upon a person) by Allah Almighty. Yes, Almighty Allah guides those who strive and do spiritual exercises (Mujaahida), towards His Path (i.e. towards Allah’s Nearness). (Fataawa Razviyyah Shareef volume 21 page 603) However! Sometimes due to piety, one becomes a Wali. Therefore some scholars metaphorically refer to Wilaayat as being Kasbi (and this is not in the real sense but it is only figurative). This is just as the famous commentator of the Holy Qur'an Hazrat Allamah Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Naeemi Alaihir Rahma writes in Noor ul Irfaan Fi Tafseer il Qur'an: "The beloved and accepted servants of Allah are called "Awliya Allah" and those rejected by Him are "Min Doonillah". Some of these beloveds become renowned and accepted because of their piety and purity etc. This is Wilaayat e Kasbi. Some are born as a Wali, this is Wilaayat e Ataai, for example Bibi Maryam (Radi Allahu Anha) was born a Waliyyah, and (then there is) Hazrat Adam Alaihis Salaam, that as He was born, the Angels prostrated to him, and then there are some people who become Wali by the Blessed Glance of someone, this is called Wilaayat e Wahbi, for example the magicians (in the time) of Hazrat Musa Alaihis Salaam immediately became believers, the Sahaba (Noble Companions) and the martyrs or Habeeb Naj’jaar Alaihir Rahma who was from the

loyal disciples of Hazrat Isa Alaihis Salaam and instantly became a Wali. The verse of the Holy Qur'an includes all three types of saints (Awliya). There are two (basic) types of Wali, Wali Tashri'ee and Wali Takweeni. Every pious Muslim who has nearness to Allah Almighty is a Wali Tashri'ee. A Takweeni Wali is the one who has been given the special authority to administrate the affairs of the world. A Wali Tashri'ee is one of every forty pious Muslims and a Wali Takweeni refers to the special and spiritually elite group of the Awliya, for example the Ghaus, the Qutub, the Abdaal etc. who are from this elite group of the Awliya and all of them are free from the fear and grief of the day of judgment and they are also protected from the harm, fear and grief of the world." (Noor ul Irfaan Fi Tafseeril Qur'an, chapter 11, Surah Yunus verse number 62)

Note: Righteous faith and piety are such attributes that are the conditions for every Wali of Allah, therefore no atheist, disbeliever or Faasiq and Faajir (immoral people) can be Wali of Allah.