99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Wālī - The Patron / The Protective Ruler

Allah is Al-Wālī " ٱلْوَالِي "  - The Friendly Lord, The Patron and The Protecting Friend. For true believers, there can be no true friend and patron but Allah, the Al-Wālī (pronounced Waalee).

Although, Al-Wālī  is not specifically mentioned as an attribute of Allah in the Qur'an, it has been derived out of the word "Wall" from the eleventh verse of Surah 13 Ar Ra'd:

لَهٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۡۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهٖ يَحۡفَظُوۡنَهٗ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰهِ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتّٰى يُغَيِّرُوۡا مَا بِاَنۡفُسِهِمۡ​ؕ وَاِذَاۤ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِقَوۡمٍ سُوۡۤءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهٗ​ۚ وَمَا لَهُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِهٖ مِنۡ وَّالٍ‏ 

There are guardians over everyone, both before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Verily Allah does not change a people's condition unless they change their inner selves. And when Allah decides to make a people suffer punishment, no one can avert it. Nor can any be of help to such a people against Allah.

That is, Allah not only directly watches over whatever each person does, and is fully aware of everything he does, but He has also appointed such guardians as accompany him everywhere and keep a full record of all his deeds. This has been stated here to warn those people who live their lives under the delusion that they have been left absolutely free to do whatever they like and shall not be required to render an account of what they did in this worldly life. The warning is that such people invite their own retribution.

This is to warn them further that they should not remain under any delusion that some holy person or saint or angel has the power to rescue them from divine retribution, for there is none who could defend them against Allah, even though they might have been paying homage and making offerings to their so called patrons and protectors in the hope that they would rescue them from punishment from Allah on the Day of Judgment.

In this verse, Allah has clearly warned the disbelievers that unless they believe and make Allah has their Patron, none other would help them when dark clouds loom over head. It is Allah alone, and no one else, Who is the sole Patron and the protector against any bad luck or calamity.

Wālī takes its root from w-l-y  which in classical Arabic means: (1) to be near, close, nearby, (2) to be a friend, helper, supporter, maintainer, (3) to defend, guard (lit. friendly dealing), (4) to be in charge, to turn one toward something, and (5) to be the master, owner, lord

There are two attributes of Allah which look almost similar:  Walī  " الولى  " and Wālī " ٱلْوَالِي ". 

While Walī " الولى  " - pronounced Waliyy, emphasizes the nearness and protective, supportive, guarding aspects of the One who is also the lord and master. This attribute Wālī " ٱلْوَالِي " emphasizes the aspects of lordship, ownership and mastery of the One who is also friend and helper.

If you recite this attribute of Allah repeatedly, Allah will safeguard you from all unexpected calamities.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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