Supremacy of Aulia Kiram

Dear Islamic brothers!  The beloved prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is the last messenger of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. Although there is no prophet after him صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ but the legacy of Prophethood which is knowledge and guidance still exists in the form of two honorable groups of Muslims i.e. Ulama (the religious scholars) and Aulia (The friends of Allah or saints). Both these groups are like two eyes- equally important- and we need both of them at the same time.

In this blog we will learn about the Aulia (The friends of Allah) and their excellence and supremacy in thelight of Quran and Hadith.

The Excellence of Aulia in Quran

The friends of Allah are pious people and even Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ their lord praises them in Quran.

اَلَاۤ اِنَّ اَوْلِیَآءَ اللّٰهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا هُمْ یَحْزَنُوْنَۚۖ(۶۲)

Beware ! The friends of Allah do not have any fear nor will they be greived (ever).”

Who are Aulia (The friends of Allah)?

Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari explaining the 63rd verse of Surah Yunus in his world renowned tafseer Sirat-ul-Jinan, gave the definition of Aulia in following words.

ولی وہ ہے جو صحیح اور دلیل پر مبنی اعتقاد رکھتا ہو اور شریعت کے مطابق نیک اعمال بجالاتا ہو ۔

Only that person can be a friend of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ whose beliefs are both sound and derived from (valid Islamic) sources and whose actions are virtuous and approved by Islamic sacred Law (Sharia).

The Holy Traditions about Aulia

In many traditions of the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ the signs and ranks of Aulia are mentioned. Let us read few of them.

War against the Enemy of Aulia

A hadith Qudsi says,

“Anyone who is enemy of my friend I declare war against him. My bondman does not attain my closeness by anything which is dearer to me than obligatory actions. My bondman keeps on attaining my closeness to me, to the extent that I begin to love him and when I love him I become his ears by which he hears. I become his eyes by which he beholds. I become his hands by which he holds and I become his feet by which he walks. If he asks me for anything I must grant him. If he seeks my refuge I must take him in my refuge.”

Their Status on the Day of Judgment

Another hadith mentions their status on the Day of Judgment. Hazrat Umar bin Khattab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ says that the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, “Indeed there are some bondmen of Allah who are neither prophets nor martyrs, yet, on the day of judgment, even prophets and martyrs will envy them seeing their ranks because of the (lofty) ranks they will be granted by Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.” The companions humbly said, “Who will they be? O beloved of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. Please tell us. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, “They are those people who love each other just because of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ not because of any kinship or business. By Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ their faces will be glowing with light and they will be sitting on top of light i.e. hills made of light. They will not have any fear when other people will be in fear. They will not have any grief when other people will be dejected. After that the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ recited the verse.”

“Beware! The friends of Allah do not have any fear nor will they be greived”

Unique Powers

They have been given unique power which is mentioned as the Noor .i.e. light of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ narrates from the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ that he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, “Beware of the insight of the believer. Verily, he sees with the light of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ” then the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ recited the following verse.”

اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّلْمُتَوَسِّمِیْنَ(۷۵)

Indeed in that are signs for those who discern. 

                                                                                                                         (15:75)

May Almighty Allah make us one of them and enable us to respect them whenever we have opportunity to meet any of them! Ameen