The Friends of Allah (Awliyyah)

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THE FRIENDS OF ALLAH (AWLIYYAH) AS DESCRIBED IN THE HOLY QUR'AN The devotion of the Awliya Allah
The friends of Allah have been described in detail in the Holy Qur'an. The quality of their Taqwa (reverence) and Iman (faith), their actions, their worship, their character, their steadfastness, and the position that they are held in by Allah, can be understood from the descriptions found in the Holy Qur'an. Awliya Allah have been given various titles in the Holy Qur'an. Each title reflects a certain quality, which makes the wali beloved in the sight of Allah. As their qualities are so numerous and each one describes the manner in which they love Allah, likewise, Allah has conferred many titles upon them.
Allah has referred to Awliya Allah as being:
Al-Muttaqoon (The God-conscious)
Al- Muslimoon (Those who submit to Allah)
Al -Mu'minoon (The believers)
Al- Muhsinoon (Doers of Good)
Al-Sadiqoon (The truthful)
'Ibaad ur Rahman (The special servants of the Most Merciful)
Al-Salihoon (The pious)
Al-Saabiroon (The patient ones)
Al-Qanitoon (The obedient)
Al-Zaakiroon (Those who remember Allah)
Al Khaashi'oon (The humble ones before Allah)
Al-Mutasaddiqoon (The charitable ones)
Al Mustagfiroon (The ones seeking forgiveness)
Al-Taaiboon (The repentant)
Al 'Abidoon (The devout), etc. Although this may be applied to believers in general, the distinctive quality of the Awliya Allah is their steadfastness and the level of application of the above attributes in their personalities. We can understand this further by the descriptions given by Allah of their level of devotion in the Holy Qur'an:

Men, whom neither trade nor sale diverts from the remembrance of Allah or from performing Salaah or from giving the Zakaat. They fear a day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of the torment of the day of Resurrection). That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and even more for them out of His grace. And Allah provides without measure to whom He wills. (24: 37-38)

The believers, are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts and when His verses are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and put their trust in their Lord. Who establish As-Salaat and spend out of that We have provided them. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness and a generous provision. (8:2-4)

Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord; and those who believe in the signs of their Lord, and those who join not anyone in worship as partners with their Lord; and those who give that which they give (charity) with their hearts full of fear because they are sure to return to their Lord; it is these who hasten in good work, and they are foremost in them. (23:56-60)

Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah, verily in the remembrance of Allah do the hearts find solace. (13: 28)

Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and reflect deeply about the creation of the heavens in the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory to You. Give us salvation from the torment of the fire. (3: 192)

Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (charity in Allah's cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. (32: 16)

And those who spend the night before their Lord prostrate and standing. (25: 64)

And those who believe are overflowing in their love for Allah (2:165)

The love that Awliya Allah have for Allah is so intense that they love Allah more than anything else. Their love has no bounds and this love consumes them. Allah Himself amply rewards this type of devotion on the part of the devotee of Allah. This reward is not limited to the hereafter but is also bestowed to them in this world. Whoever works righteousness, male or female and is a true believer, verily to him we will give a good, pure life and We will reward them according to the best of their actions. (16:97)

The Rewards conferred upon a Wali by Allah
The reward for such dedicated devotion to Allah has been clearly outlined in the Holy Qur'an:The greatest reward by far is that Allah begins to love them: Verily Allah loves Al-Tawwaboon and Al Muttahharoon (The repentant and the pure) (2:222)

Verily Allah loves Al Muttaqoon (the God-conscious) (9:4)

Verily Allah loves Al-Muhsinoon (The people of excellence) (3:134).

This love is not only restricted to Allah, but when Allah loves a wali the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth love him as well:

Verily those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, The Most Beneficent will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers) (19:96)

For them are glad tidings in the life of this world and the (life) of the hereafter. (10:6)

The glad tidings and rewards are in two stages: the life of the world and the life after the life of this world. The hereafter includes life after death (Barzakh), the Day of Resurrection, and life in paradise. The Rewards of the life of the world For them is a life good and pure (16:97)

They shall have neither fear nor grief. (10:6)

Verily those who believe and do deeds of righteousness The Most Beneficent will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers) (19:96)

The rewards after their demise:
Verily those who say: "Our Lord is Allah," and they remain steadfast, on them the angels will descend (at death) saying: " Fear not nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise, which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are so in the hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner selves desire, and therein shall you have all that you ask for (41:30-31)

And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in faith-to them shall we join their offspring, and We shall not decrease of their deeds in anything. (52:21)

On the Day of Resurrection Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al -Muttaqoon: (It will be said, " My devotees! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve, (43:67-68)

Some faces that Day shall be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord (75: 22-23)

In Paradise Verily Al- Muttaqoon will be in the midst of gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth near the Omnipotent King -Allah. (55:54-55)

Verily, Al Muttaqoon will be in the midst of gardens and springs, taking joy in the things their Lord had given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinoon. They used to sleep but little by night (invoking their Lord), and in the hours before the dawn, they were (found) asking Allah for forgiveness. (51:15-18)

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