3.1. WALEE : THE “SAINT”
The term saint has been used to translate the Arabic word Walee (pl. Awliyaa) which Allah used to designate those who are close to Him. But, a more appropriate translation is “close friend” because Walee literally means an “ally.” Allaah even uses it to refer to Himself in the verse:
“Allah is the Walee of those who believe and takes them from the darkness into light.”11
He also uses it to refer to Satan as in the verse:
“Whoever takes Satan as a Walee instead of Allah, has clearly lost all.”12
This term also means “close relative” as in the following verse:
“We have given power to the Walee of whoever is wrongly killed, but do not be excessive in the execution (of the murderer).”13
It is also used in Quran to indicate closeness between men, for example,
“The believers should not take the disbelievers as Awliyaa instead of other believers.”14
But the usage which concerns us most is “Awliyaa-ullaah” close friends of Allah. In the Quran Allah has designated among mankind certain types of individuals whom He considers especially close to Himself. Allah’s description of His Walees can be found in Soorah al-Anfaal where Allaah states:
“Verily His (Allaah’s) Awliyaa are only those with Taqwaa, but most people do not realize that.”15
And Soorah Younus:
“Behold! Certainly no fear nor grief shall overcome that Awliyaa of Allah, those who believe and have Taqwaa.”16
Allaah explains for us that the criterion for “Walaayah” (divine friendship) is Eemaan (faith) and Taqwaa (piety) and these qualities are shared by all true believers. Among the ignorant masses, the main criterion for Walaayah (“Sainthood”) is the performance of miracles which are commonly called Karaamaat to distinguish them from the miracles Mu‘jizaat of the prophets. To most who hold this belief, the faith and practise of the “miracle” worker are of no consequence. Hence, some who have been designated “saints’ ‘ held heretical beliefs and practises, while others were known to have abandoned the religious rituals, and, yet others were even involved in licentious and vulgar behaviour. However, nowhere has Allaah made the working of miracles a stipulation for being His Walee. Therefore, as earlier states, all believers who have Eemaan and Taqwaa are Walees of Allah and He is their Walee, as Allaah Himself said,
“Allah is the Walee of those who believe.”18
Consequently, Muslims are not allowed to designate certain believers as belong Awliyaa of Allah and not others. In spite of this clear Islamic position, a hierarchy of so-called Muslims saints has become a prominent feature in Sufi circles and among the masses who blindly follow them. In ascending order of merit they are: the Akhyaar (chosen) who number 300; the Abdaal (substitutes) numbering 40; the 7 Abraar (pious); the 4 Awtaad (pegs); the 3 Nuqabaa (watchmen), the Qutb (pole) who is considered the greatest saint of his time, and at the top of the list is the Ghawth (Succor), the greatest of Saints, who is believed, in some circles, to be capable of taking on his shoulders a portion of the sins of the believers. According to the belief of “mystics”, the saints of the top three classes are present invisibly in Makkah at the hours of prayer. When the Ghawth dies, the Qutb replaces him and there is a moving up all through the series, the purest soul of each class rising to the next degree.This body of mythology has been borrowed from Christianity, just as Dhikr beads were adopted from the Christian rosary, and Mawlid from the Christian celebration of Christmas.
By Bilal Philips
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