Why I love Allah’s Names “Al Wadud & Al waliyy” part 2.
Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light Q2:257
BismillahiRahmaniRaheem
Al-Waliyy refers to the attribute of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ being a close friend or ally.
He wants you to know you're protected, supported, and looked after.
The idea that Allah is a close friend to us is so heartwarming especially in times when you feel like no one understands you or what you’re going through. He’s there listening and seeing, guiding you🥹.
But then there’s a certain type of people that are awliyah of Allāh. He’s closest friends.
He provides them with peace, guidance, and success in this life and the hereafter.
Awliyah of Allah:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid, “Verily Allah ta’ala has said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.’” [Bukhari & Muslim]
Although the description of the awliya is like the description of believers in general, it is important to understand that the awliya are steadfast and devoted completely to Allah. They give everything to Allah, and have absolutely no attachment or love for the worldly things.
Sheikh Tosun Bayrak writes, "There is neither fear nor sadness for them, for they do not know any other friend but Allah. They fear nothing except opposing Allah's pleasure."
The awliyah of Allah are very much so scattered amongst the people, you don’t know who they are, and that’s what makes this so interesting.
You don’t know who a wali, friend of Allah, is. In fact, some of the awliya of Allah themselves don’t know that they’re awliya of Allah; they don’t quite understand how much Allah loves them and how they could have ascended in those ranks.1
Ali (ra) Said: Allah has hidden two things amongst the people: He’s hidden His pleasure in His good deeds; so you don’t know which of the good deed is the one that unlocks His pleasure. And Allah has hidden His awliya, His special friends amongst the people.”
I’ve read so many books about the sahabah and some remarkable people from the past and I keep asking myself “how are they different from me? What makes them so special?”
It’s how they’ve managed to remove the love for this dunya from their heart.
But why does detachment feel so hard?
Especially in the 21st century where there’re so many distractions.
We surround ourselves with distractions that make it more difficult for us to stay focused. It’s why we forget so easily.
It’s especially not helpful when the people around you are also distracted. It makes it more difficult to stay focused on what really matters.
This is not one of those letters where I tell you what I think the solution is. I honestly don’t have anything new to say that I haven’t said before and I honestly don’t know what the solution is. I’m also still working on myself, all I have to say is that we should pray for Allah’s guidance because only He has the answers; and pray that He (SWT) makes us one of His closest friends.
It is possible for every servant of Allah to become a wali. The doors of prophethood are closed, the doors of become a Sahabi are closed, but the doors of wilayat are not closed. If a person desires to become a wali and exhorts himself, then the help of Allah will be with him to assist him in his goals.2
Ibn Al Qayyim said:
“How many nations have been protected or destroyed because of a wali within them or against them. One or two people that Allah holds in such high standard.”
Book that might help;
Purification of the soul by Ghazzālī, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, and Ibn Rajab
Sincere counsel to the seekers of sacred knowledge by ibn Al Jawzi
Extraordinary occurrences from the Allies of Allāh by imam Al Lalikā’ī
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu🤍
this is beautiful. Allahumma barik. also love the honesty.