Abstract:
The issue of wilayah is one of the most fundamental Islamic concepts in the Holy Qur‘an and Islamic hadiths. The purpose of this article is twofold. Firstly it makes an effort to study the nature and meaning of wilayah and secondly, by studying the social aspects of wilayah, it aims to explain that wilayah (or muwalat) is a strong spiritual bond between believers and the Infallibles. As will be explained later on in the article, for believers wilayah produces the same fate and aims both in
this world and the hereafter. Contrary to what most people believe, wilayah is not just the relationship between each individual believer and the Prophet and Imams, rather it is the relationship between the community of believers as a whole and the Prophet and Imams and
also the relationship amongst the believers themselves. The wilayah of Allah swt and His walis creates a united society and an integrated body of believers who demonstrate love, devotion and dedication amongst themselves. This type of wilayah is the soul of Islam and is able to give spiritual life to the Islamic ummah and bring unity to it. This article examines issues such as the essential elements, hierarchical order and mutuality of wilayah, whether or not unbelievers are under the wilayah of Allah swt, and also the social function of wilayah. By doing so, one can improve one’s
understanding of wilayah and also take a small step towards strengthening religious brotherhood and achieving a society governed by wilayah. Indeed, strengthening and reinforcing the relationship of wilayah amongst the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S) results in the
best conditions for achieving Islamic unity and furthermore, Islamic unity results in the ideal conditions for friendship and collaboration of all believers in God throughout the world. The concept of wilayah has a great and very special status in the Holy Qur’an and Islamic hadiths. Many studies have been conducted, extended discussions have been held by commentators, theologians,
and mystics and many works have been written about this issue. However, it seems that it is necessary to do much more, both from the theoretical and the practical aspects. In this article, we seek help from Allah swt in attempting to profoundly study the meaning and nature of wilayah from the theoretical point of view, and to illustrate that wilayah, by its very nature, is a matter which relates to the community and not just to individuals. Limiting wilayah to a relationship between individuals and the Infallibles is not only incorrect according to Islamic principles, but also prevents fulfillment of some of the main functions of wilayah in a religious society.
Machine summary:
The wilāyah of Allah swt and His walīs creates a united society and an integrated body of believers who demonstrate love, devotion and dedication amongst themselves.
For example, in the following verse from the Holy Qur‘an, Allah swt says: ا او و ر و و ا ة ا ن و ة ا ن ا ن ار ه و “Your walī is only Allah, His messenger, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the alms while bowing down” (5:55) In the above-mentioned verse, due to verbal and historical references (the specific historical circumstances of the sending down of the verse), walī cannot just mean assistant or friend, but rather it conveys the idea of a guardian or the one whose orders must be obeyed or the one who has the right to take control of people.
For example, in the following verse, to believe in the wilāyah of Allah, the Holy Prophet and his successors (the chief amongst whom was the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali (a.
" (5:56) According to this verse, the faithful are walīs for Allah swt, the Holy Prophet (S) and his successors (A.
The social function of wīlāyah In this section, we will study what the faithful are like and how the wīlāyah of Allah swt creates unity amongst them in such a way that in all situations, whether in times of comfort or hardship, in this world or the hereafter, they always think about each other, love each other and they are quite willing to sacrifice their lives, property and time not only for their walīs, but also for their sisters and brothers in religion.