Who Is a Wali Of Allah? True Signs Beyond Miracles
By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam
03 January 2025
A Wali of Allah is recognized not by miracles but by unwavering obedience to Shariah, sincere faith, noble character, and the ability to turn hearts toward Allah through piety, humility, and spiritual influence.
Wilayah is closeness to Allah, not public display of miracles.
Adherence to Shariah is the foremost sign of a true Wali.
Miracles are not proof of spiritual superiority.
Awliya inspire remembrance of Allah through their presence.
True Wilayah is rooted in faith, piety, and noble character.
In every age, people seek to identify the friends of Allah and often associate Wilayah with miracles and supernatural feats. However, Islamic scholarship clarifies that true Wilayah lies not in extraordinary acts, but in sincere faith, piety, moral excellence, and complete adherence to the Shariah.
Many people often ask: What is the identity of a Wali of Allah? How can one recognize him? Can a righteous servant of Allah be called a Wali only when he displays miracles (karamat)?
Let us look at what our scholars of religion have written on this subject.
The word Wali is derived from Wilayah, which means closeness and support. Wali or Awliya is an Arabic-root word meaning “guardian,” “protector,” “caretaker,” or “friend.”
Some people believe that a Wali can be identified through KHarq-e-'aadat (extraordinary acts or miracles). However, miracles are not necessary conditions of Wilayah. Many Awliya of Allah never displayed any outward miracle, yet this does not mean they were not the friends of Allah. Similarly, miracles are not commonly reported from the majority of the Companions (Sahaba), even though the lowest-ranking Companion is superior to all later Awliya. This shows that superiority among the Awliya is not due to the abundance of miracles, but due to the abundance of righteous causes, namely worship and closeness to Allah. Miracles are merely divine bestowals. That is why Hadith scholars did not mention miracles in the virtues of the Sahaba, but instead dedicated a separate chapter to miracles.
Hazrat Mujaddid Alf-e-Sani stated that miracles are also found among yogis. According to the author of Awarif, Allah grants the ability of miracles to some people and not to others, even though those without miracles may be superior. Miracles rank lower than remembrance of the heart.
In today’s age, worldly distractions dominate and longing for closeness to Allah is diminishing. Therefore, people incline more toward mystical unveilings and hidden knowledge, giving them undue importance. They say, “If he were a Wali, he would know unseen matters.” In exactly the same way, during the era of Prophethood, hypocrites used to say similar things about the Hazrat Prophet Muhammad, and thus they were deprived.
Now the question arises: if miracles are not a condition, then what is the true sign of a Wali of Allah?
Hazrat Mujaddid Alf-e-Sani provides two answers.
First: Why is it necessary to know who a Wali is? Wilayah is a relationship with Allah Himself, whether people know it or not. Many Awliya are unaware of their own Wilayah and will realize its results only after death. Miracles are needed by Prophets because they must invite people and establish their Prophethood. Scholars call toward Shariah, and Awliya call toward remembrance (Zikr). For both, the miracles of the Prophet are sufficient. There is no need for personal miracles.
According to Qushayri, a Messenger requires miracles because he must be believed. A Sufi does not need to be believed; therefore, he should keep his abilities hidden. It is not even necessary for a Sufi to recognize himself. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says: “My Awliya are beneath My tents; none knows them except Me.”
Hazrat Ghaus-e-Azam states that Tasawwuf is not mere talk, but action, and that any reality not confirmed by Shariah is misguidance.
(Futuh-ul-Ghaib, p. 82)
A true disciple constantly witnesses his Shaykh’s miracle in this sense: he finds transformation in his own state. His dead heart becomes alive and engages in spiritual witnessing. Reviving the dead body is considered great by the masses, but reviving a dead heart is far greater in the sight of the spiritually elite.
Hazrat Bayazid Bustami said: If you see someone flying in the air, walking on water, or giving news of the unseen, but he does not follow Shariah, then know that he is misguided and heretical.
(Saba Sanabil Sharif, p. 186)
However, by Allah’s permission, the Awliya can perform astonishing miracles, such as reviving the dead, curing the blind and lepers, traversing the distance from east to west in a single step, in short, all extraordinary acts are possible for the Awliya, except those miracles exclusively reserved for Prophets, such as producing a Surah like the Qur’an, or seeing Allah with physical eyes while awake, or receiving divine speech directly. Whoever claims this for himself or for any Wali is a disbeliever.
The real sign of a Wali is steadfastness upon Shariah. Allah says:
“For the Awliya' of Allah, there is no fear and they shall not grieve.”
Firm adherence to Shariah is the first and foremost condition, regardless of how many miracles one shows. A person can only be a Wali if he fully practices Shariah, neglects no obligation or Sunnah, and does not violate the rights of Allah or people. Without this, no number of miracles can make him a Wali.
A man once came to Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi intending to become his disciple only after seeing a miracle. He stayed at the Khanqah for ten years, then left disappointed. Hazrat Junayd called him and asked why he was leaving. The man replied that he had seen no miracle in ten years. Hazrat Junayd said: “You observed my eating, sleeping, waking, sitting, and standing, did you ever see me commit anything against Shariah?” The man replied no. Hazrat Junayd said: “Is there any greater miracle than remaining free from disobedience for ten years?”
(Tarikh-ul-Awliya, Vol. 1, p. 67)
The Awliya have many categories. Hazrat Abu Darda narrated that the Prophets were the pillars of the earth. When Prophethood ended, Allah appointed a group from the Ummah of Hazrat Prophet Muhammad as their deputies, known as Abdal. They are not superior due to excessive fasting or prayer, but because of noble character, true piety, sincerity, purity of heart toward Muslims, patience, wisdom, humility without weakness, and goodwill toward all believers. They are forty Siddiqs; thirty of them possess faith like that of Hazrat Prophet Ibrahim. Through them, calamities are lifted, rain falls, and sustenance is given. None of them dies until Allah appoints his successor.
They do not curse anyone, harm their subordinates, belittle others, envy those above them, crave the world, practice ostentatious silence, arrogance, or showy humility. They are gentle in speech, deeply pious, generous by nature, and steadfast in their spiritual state.
Their hearts rise toward Allah’s pleasure and longing. A major sign of a Wali is that sitting in his company inclines the heart toward Allah. Imam Nawawi narrates that the Hazrat Prophet Muhammad was asked about the signs of Allah’s Awliya. He replied: “Those upon seeing whom Allah is remembered.” In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says: “My Awliya are those who are remembered when I am remembered.”
Hazrat Prophet Muhammad said:
مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ
Translation: Whoever shows enmity to My Wali, I declare war upon him.
(Bukhari, Hadith 6502)
Scholars further state that a Wali is one who holds correct beliefs based on evidence and performs righteous deeds according to Shariah. Some Arifeen said Wilayah is a constant engagement with Allah. When one reaches this state, fear and grief disappear.
Even in the Prophet’s time, some unfortunate people were deprived of guidance despite seeing his blessed face. Spiritual influence exists in varying degrees among Awliya. If a Wali possesses inner spiritual force, he draws his disciple toward Allah through attraction and elevates him in closeness.
...
A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism and Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/wali-allah-signs-miracles/d/138293
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism