The Truth About Saints(Wali-Awliya)?
Follow what has been sent down(the Quran) unto you from your Lord, and follow not any Auliya' (protectors and helpers, etc. who order you to associate partners in worship with Allah), besides Him (Allah). Little do you remember!
Let's examine the word "awliya" or "auliya" which is often translated as "friends, protectors, guardians, masters, etc."
The word wali is the singular form of the word awliya. The word "wali " is used in its singular and plural forms, "awliya," in over 80 verses of the Quran. As Raghib al-Isfahani states in his Quranic terminology dictionary, "Mufradat," the root of the word "wali" is "wala." "Wala" and "waliyat" signify closeness in place, time, religion, belief, and relationship. In its etymological development, this word has acquired the meanings of help, undertaking a task, and providing support. The words "wali" (plural "awliya") and "mawla" (mawali) are derived from the same root and mean friend, helper, and supporter.
That is because Allah is the Maula (Mawla, Lord, Master, Helper, Protector, etc.) of those who believe, and the disbelievers have no Maula (mawla, lord, master, helper, protector, etc.).
The word "mawla" (plural: mawali), derived from the same root, means both one who frees slaves and the freed slave, as well as guardian and master. However, as Raghib points out, while the Quran uses the word "wali" as a common attribute of both God and man, it uses the attribute "mawla" only for God. There are approximately 20 verses that present God as the sole master of the believers. In other words, a believer can be God's guardian, and God can be the believer's guardian, but being a "mawla" is exclusive to God.
One of the attributes of God listed in the Names of Allah (Asmaul Husna) is al-Wali (the Guardian). God is the most perfect and immortal embodiment of guardianship.
Allah is the Wali (Protector, Helper, etc) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light.
But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire, and they will abide therein forever.
Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim (Abraham) are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers.
"Verily, my Wali (Protector, Helper etc.) is Allah Who has revealed the Book (the Quran), and He protects the righteous.
Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed. With Him is (the knowledge of) the unseen of the heavens and the earth. How clearly He sees, and hears (everything)! They have no Wali (Helper, Protector, etc.) other than Him, and He makes none to share in His Decision and His Rule."
And He it is Who sends down the rain after they have despaired, and spreads abroad His Mercy.
And He is the Wali (Helper, Supporter, Protector, etc.), Worthy of all Praise.
Say: "Shall I take as a Wali (helper, protector, etc.) any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed." Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah (as Muslims)." And be not you of the Mushrikun [polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah].
"My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous."
Or have they taken (for worship) Auliya' (guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, etc.) besides Him?
But Allah, He Alone is the Wali (Protector, Helper etc.). And it is He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things.
Allah has full knowledge of your enemies, and Allah is Sufficient as a Wali (Protector), and Allah is Sufficient as a Helper.
For them will be the home of peace (Paradise) with their Lord. And He will be their Wali (Helper and Protector) because of what they used to do.
https://www.quranv.com/en/10/62
Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah. Verily, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) are Auliya' (protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allah is the Wali (Helper, Protector, etc.) of the Muttaqun (pious).
Who is a real friend of Allah?
62.No doubt! Verily, the Auliya' of Allah, and love Allah much
63.Those who believed, and have Taqwa(Godwary-by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds).
64.For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter. No change can there be in the Words of Allah, this is indeed the supreme success.
55.Verily, your Wali is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, - those who perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat-pray), and give Zakat, and they bow down (submit themselves with obedience to Allah in prayer).
And whoever is an ally of Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allah - they will be the predominant.
The believers, men and women, are Auliya' (helpers, supporters, friends) of one another,
They enjoin what is right(Al-Ma'ruf) and forbid what is wrong(Al-Munkar) and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
31. We are your friends in the life of this world and in the Hereafter, and you will have in it whatever your souls desire, and you will have in it whatever you ask for,
32. as a hospitality from One all-forgiving, all-merciful.’
Friends of Satan
The devil's friends (awliya' al-shaytan) operate primarily by establish fear. The masses now know that this fear consists of threats of the afterlife and hell. By establishing this fear, people are pushed into an artificial psychology where they need certain 'saviors,' 'intermediaries', and 'intercessors' (the terms are from the Quran). Following this, the commissions these saviors will receive in return for their salvation are listed. This is why, at the end of the verse addressing this point, it is stated that the way to escape this is to know that there is no power to be feared other than Allah.
It is only Shaitan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliya' [supporters, followers, friends],
so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.
The following verse more clearly highlights that polytheism is a satanic religion, showing that falling into polytheism is the result of obeying the devil's followers.
Eat not of that on which Allah's Name has not been pronounced, for sure it is Fisq (a sin and disobedience of Allah). And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them, then you would indeed be Mushrikun(polytheists).
It is undisputed that Azar, the father of Prophet Abraham mentioned in the following verse, was not a devil worshipper. He was a polytheist, taking alternative gods besides Allah. By characterizing this act as 'devil worship,' the Quran emphasizes that the true meaning of devil worship is falling into polytheism.
Father! I am indeed afraid that a punishment from the All-beneficent will befall you, and you will become Satan’s Wali (friend, accomplice, ally).
Once again, with a magnificent verse, the truth of "min dunillah," meaning "besides Allah," which we discussed in the previous section, is emphasized, while the expression "friends (awliya) beside Allah" underscores that these are none other than Satan himself .
A part has He guided aright and (as for another) part, error is justly their due, surely they took the Shaitans for guardians(Auliya') beside Allah, and they think that they are followers of the right.
And (remember) when We said to the angels; "Prostrate to Adam." So they prostrated except Iblis (Satan). He was one of the jinns; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then take him (Iblis) and his offspring as awliya (protectors and helpers) besides Me while they are enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc).
By Allah, We indeed sent (Messengers) to the nations before you, but Shaitan (Satan) made their deeds fair-seeming to them. So he (Satan) is their Wali (helper) today (i.e. in this world), and theirs will be a painful torment.
The following verses also explain that we should not take friends (wali-awliya) besides Allah .
The belief of considering other things as one's guardians(awliya) besides God is as feeble(powerless) as a spider's web. The spider's web is the frailest(weakest) of all dwellings(place of residence), if only they knew it.
And as for those who take as Auliya' (guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, etc.) others besides Him.
Allah is Hafiz(Protector) over them, and you are not a Wakil (guardian or a disposer of their affairs) over them.
Or have they taken Auliya' (guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, etc.) besides Him? But Allah, He Alone is the Wali (Protector, etc.). And it is He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things.
Say: Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah.
Say: Do you take then besides Him guardians(Auliya') who do not control any profit or harm for themselves?
Say: Are the blind and the seeing alike? Or can the darkness and the light be equal? Or have they set up with Allah associates who have created creation like His, so that what is created became confused to them?
Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.
And whosoever does not respond to Allah's Caller, he cannot escape on earth, and there will be no Auliya' (protectors) for him besides Allah (from Allah's Punishment). Those are in manifest error.
They have no awliya to help them besides Allah. There is no way out for those whom Allah leads astray.
51. And warn therewith (the Quran) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allah and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from committing sins and by doing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained).
As seen in the two verses below, they use intercession to draw closer to Allah through the beings they list in succession.
Surely, the religion is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya' (protectors and helpers) besides Him: "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.
And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say: "Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?" Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!
There can be no distance between God and His servant.
However, there is no distance between God and His servant that would need a mediator or intercessor . There is no intermediary, so there is no need for intermediaries. The claim of 'bringing closer' in polytheism is fundamentally inconsistent and is itself an admission of shirk(polytheism). To claim that God is separate and distant from His servant is also shirk(polytheism). The following two verses serve as a response to the statements in the two verses above.
And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).
83. Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?
84. And you at the moment are looking on,
85. But We are nearer to him than you, but you see not,
O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he (SAW) calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allah comes in between a person and his heart. And verily to Him you shall (all) be gathered.
And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.
(The point to note in this verse is that: When the servants asked the messenger about Allah, Allah Himself answered by saying, "I am very near ." He did not even say "say" to His messenger. In the translation used, it is given in parentheses for clarity, but the words "answer/say to them" are not in the verse. You can see that the words are missing in the detailed examination in this link .)
And to Thamud (people, We sent) their brother Salih (Saleh). He said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (God) but Him. He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive."
Have you not regarded that Allah knows whatever there is in the heavens and whatever there is in the earth? There dost not takes place any secret talk among three, but He is their fourth [companion], nor among five but He is their sixth, nor when they are less than that or more but He is with them wherever they may be. Then He will inform them about what they have done on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah has knowledge of all things.
Say: "To Allah belongs all intercession. His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, then to Him you shall be brought back."
The following verses emphasize that it is not the Prophet Muhammad or any other person who will answer for a person's wrongdoings, but rather God Almighty Himself who will deal with the matter. It is declared that there is no justification whatsoever for attempting to interfere between God and His servant.
Leave Me Alone with whom I created Alone.
Then leave Me alone with whoever denies this narration(Quran). We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.
And leave Me Alone to deal with the beliers (those who deny My Verses, etc.), and those who are in possession of good things of life. And give them respite for a little while.
The Quran identifies one of God's fundamental attributes as Al-Qayyum. Al-Qayyum means a self-sufficient being, independent of anything else in His existence and control, while all other things are dependent on Him. This Al-Qayyum attribute, before all else, means that God, who created humanity and is closer to them than their jugular vein, does not need others in His interaction and dialogue with them. Such a need would render the attribute of Al-Qayyum ineffective.
There is no Inheritance of Sin...
The Quran does not accept inheritance or transfer of sin. The individuality of sins is fundamental. The person who commits the sin pays the price of punishment. The mechanism of forgiveness is in the hands of God. No other being can operate this mechanism to forgive sins. For example, Prophet Muhammad was not given such authority. Yet, this authority, which was not even given to Prophet Muhammad, has been shamelessly used throughout history by thousands of Satanic figures.
If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.(i.e No one will be responsible for the sins of others.) Then to your Lord is your return, so He will inform you what you used to do. Verily, He is the All-Knower of that which is in (men's) breasts.
Say: "Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all things? No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return, so He will tell you that wherein you have been differing."
Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden.(i.e No one will suffer for the sins of others.) And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).
And no bearer of burdens shall bear another's burden, and if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin(relative). You (O Muhammad SAW) can warn only those who fear their Lord unseen, and perform As-Salat (IqamatasSalat). And he who purifies himself, then he purifies only for the benefit of his ownself. And to Allah is the (final) Return (of all).
That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another.
That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do.
That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do.
Not upon you (Muhammad SAW) is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves, when you spend not except seeking Allah's Countenance. And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged.
Allah does not task any soul beyond its capacity. Whatever [good] it earns is to its own benefit, and whatever [evil] it incurs is to its own harm. ‘Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or make mistakes! Our Lord! Do not place upon us a burden as You placed on those who were before us! Our Lord! Do not lay upon us what we have no strength to bear! Excuse us, forgive us, and be merciful to us! You are our Master, so help us against the faithless lot!’
O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord, and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.
The expression "sâdetenâ" which appears only in the following verse in the Quran means " our leaders ," " our guides ." Here, the word "sâdeh" is the plural of "seyyid." The expression "küberâenâ," which appears only here in the Quran, means "our elders," "our prominent figures ." Those who obey their masters and elders in polytheism, disbelief, and infidelity will complain before Almighty God that they were led astray.
67. And they will say: "Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way.
68. "Our Lord! give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse!"
The verb "istehaffe," which appears only in the following verse in the Quran, encompasses meanings such as "to belittle," "to make foolish ," " to influence ," " to take lightly , " " to mislead," " to humiliate ," and " to frighten ." As can be understood from this semantic world of the word, Pharaoh used such words as a tool of oppression, forcing them into obedience ; consequently, they submitted to Pharaoh's will and became a wicked society . There is a connection between the Pharaoh's contempt and the society's obedience to him. Without that obedience, this contempt and oppression would not have occurred.
The fact that the people responded to Pharaoh's oppression and tyranny with obedience instead of rebellion angered God, leading Him to decide to take revenge on that group.
54. Thus he [Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] befooled and misled his people, and they obeyed him. Verily, they were ever a people who were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)..
55. So when they angered Us, We punished them, and drowned them all.
Such were 'Ad (people). They rejected the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and disobeyed His Messengers, and followed the command of every proud obstinate (oppressor of the truth, from their leaders).