Dars 26

In the words of my master, my grandfather, may Allah spread his benefit, when he explained the Saying of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) (in a Hadith Qudsi), in which he quoted these Words of his Lord, the Glorified and the Exalted.

If one of you shows enmity to the Friends of Allah (awliya Allah), my Lord declares war against you. To show enmity against him means that you precede in hurting him. Who is a Wali (saint, Friend of Allah)? A Friend of Allah is one who is close to Allah, the Exalted. He has drawn close to Allah by following His Commands, and doing many additional acts of worship and by exerting in learning to know about Allah. And he is always with Allah. He does not move except by Allah. So when you show enmity to a Friend of Allah who is well-known as a saint, and for steadfastness in his life-history, then it is right and proper that Allah should wage war against you because you dislike His beloved (Friend).

Why is he called a Wali? It is because Allah has befriended him and loves him. So if you show enmity to him whom Allah loves, Allah inflicts you with misfortunes and calamities. And who has power enough in a war against Allah? (They are) like those who deny the miracles of the awliya (Friends of Allah). And the miracles of the Friends of Allah are not manifested except by them being drawn close to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted. This opposition (by the denier) comes either because of his jealousy or because of the devil leading him astray from this person whose saintliness is clearly manifested. Even so, he hurts him, is bad mannered with him in his gathering or insults him, or abuses him. This, may Allah protect us, is like challenging Allah because He is Benevolent to the one He loves. So showing enmity to the Friends of Allah is showing enmity to the Truth.

So how do you know a Wali? It has been narrated that once the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was with his Companions when a funeral passed by them. And people were heard mentioning something about the bad deeds of the deceased. So the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “It is inevitable”. Then another funeral passed by and people mentioned good things about the deceased. So the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “It is inevitable”. It means that the testimony of faithful Muslims about a person is testimony about his goodness or wickedness. If the followers of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) testify that someone is good, then he is good, and if they testify that he is bad, then he is bad. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him, said: “You are Allah’s witnesses on His earth”.

So that you may be witnesses against mankind, and the Prophetic Messenger a witness for you. (2:143)

A Friend of Allah is not generally known except by witnessing. What are seen are his indications, his miracles, his life-history and his steadfastness. And mostly, his miracle is the greatest proof. And his steadfastness is his greatest miracle. And the miracle of the wali is the greatest testimony.

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has mentioned about these things many times, for example, the incident of Jurayj, and what Allah has said (in the Qur’an) about the incident of Sayyidatina Maryam (peace be upon her).

Whenever (Nabi) Zakariyya entered her place of Prayer, he found with her provision. (3:37)

When he entered her sanctuary in winter, he found with her fruit of the summer season, and when he entered her sanctuary in summer, he found with her fruit of the winter season.

He said: O Maryam! From where does this come to you? She replied: It is from Allah. Indeed Allah provides to whom He wills without measure. (3:37)

The Qur’an and the Hadith are filled with (narrations about) miracles. And how many of the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) had miracles and in the same way, all those who had reverential awe of Allah (had miracles).

And if the Muslim community attests that a person is good, then he is good, and we should respect him and honour him, and to have good manners with him, because if we miss the proper decorum with him, we miss the proper decorum with Allah, as he has not attained to this position except because Allah loves him.

	WELCOME TO
	MADRASA AL-HIDAYA
	MUSLIM SCHOOL OF RIGHT GUIDANCE

DARS 28: RESPECT THE AWLIYA ALLAH (FRIENDS OF ALLAH)