A Wali is a pious Muslim, who due to his knowledge & closeness to Allah Ta'ala, has been given a specific position. Usually this grade is given to a Wali due to his strict followance the Shari'at & also his devotion & his worship. Wilaayat is, however, sometimes given to a person from birth & therefore, without devotion & effort.
From the Auliyah-e-Ummat-e-Muhammadi, the most superior Auliyah are the four Khulafa, namely Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Usman & Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhum) & then all the Sahaba-e-Kiraam. All the Sahaba are also Auliyah. The source of the blessing for the Auliyah after these is Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu). In other words, they are all blessed with Wilayah through the blessing of Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu).From the Auliyah of all the Ummah, the greatest Auliyah are from the Ummah of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). There have been Auliya in every era & there will always be Auliya in every era, however, their recognition may be difficult. Their knowledge is extensive, till the extent that many give information of "Makaana Wamaayakoon" or what has happened & what will happen & on Lauh-e-Mahfooz.
There are four famous Silsilas (Spiritual Orders) in the world of Spiritualism. "Qaadiriyah", whose Imam is Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu), "Chishtiyah", whose Sheikh is Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu), "Soharwardiyah", whose Sheikh is Khwaja Shahabuddin Soharwardi (radi Allahu anhu) & "Naqshbandiyah", whose Sheikh is Khwaja Baha'uddin Naqshbandi (radi Allahu anhu). To follow the Holy Quran & the Hadees is the real aim of each one of them. Islam is one huge sea & these four Silsilas are its rivers. From these four Silsilas' Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) is very great.
BELIEFS CONCERNING THE AULIYA:
Allah Ta'ala has given the Awliya great strength. Whoever asks for their help is given that help even though they may be a great distance away. After the demise of the Auliya their power & strength increases.
To visit the Mazaars (shrines & tombs) of the Auliya is to gain virtue, prosperity & blessing. To present them with Esaal-e-Sawab is a very good thing & a way of gaining blessings. To perform the Urs (death anniversary) of the Auliya-e-Kiram, meaning that every year to recite the Quran, perform Fateha, speech ceremony, Esaal-e-Sawab & send the Sawaab to the Auliya are all good things & are worthy of reward. However, as regard to bad acts & non-permissible actions like, dancing, playing music, etc. are all sinful deeds & are even more sinful when performed near Mazaars.
To make Sajdah-e-Tazeem (Prostration of Respect) to anyone other than Allah Ta'ala is totally Haraam. To make Sajdah-e-Ibadah (Prostration of Worship) to anyone other than Allah Ta'ala is undoubtedly & certainly Shirk & open Kufr. Sajdah-e-Tazeem for one's Peer-o-Murshid or Mazaar of a Wali is not permitted, but is a grievous sin & also Haraam.
Any ignorant person or a person of a Cult Sect (Wahabi, Shi'ite, etc) can never be a Saint.
Cleansing of the heart & to accept & follow the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) physically & spiritually & to follow the commands of Shari'ah is known as Tassawuf.
A Sahaba once pitched his tent on a plot of ground without realizing that he was doing so over a grave. After a while, he realized that his tent was over a grave for he could hear the recital of the Surah Mulk. He related the entire episode to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), who replied that the recital of Surah Mulk indeed assists the person within the grave & protects him from pain & punishment. (Tirmidhi Shareef) From this episode, we see that the beloved servants of Allah are still alive within their graves, or else the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would have merely disregarded the entire incident. But he did not do so. Rather, he commented on the excellences of the Sura Mulk, which means that he also accepted that the beloved servants of Allah Ta'ala are still alive within their graves.
It is recorded that in the period of Sayyiduna Mu'awiya (radi Allahu anhu) a canal was dug between Mecca & Medina. Co-incidentally, the canal passed through that plot of land where the Shuhada (Martyrs) of Uhud lay buried. A person while digging accidentally cut the foot of a Shaheed with a spade. As a result of this, blood began to flow from the blessed foot. We learn from this incident that aside from their souls, even the bodies of these great & beloved servants of Allah are alive. (Jazb-ul-Quloob, Sharah-us-Sudur) Imam Abu Na'eem (radi Allahu anhu) in his book, "Hilyat-ul-Auliya", narrates from Sayyiduna Sa'eed (radi Allahu anhu). The great Saint states, "By Allah, Hameed Taweel (radi Allahu Anhu) & myself were burying Sayyiduna Thaabit Nibhaani (radi Allahu anhu). As we were setting the final rocks, one rock accidentally fell into the grave. As I peeped into the grave, I saw that Sayyiduna Thaabit Nibhaani (radi allahu anhu) was about to perform the Salaat & he was imploring Allah in the following manner, 'O Allah, You have given certain of Your creation the permission to perform their Salaat within the grave, give me also the same permission'. It was indeed beyond the Mercy of Allah to refuse him." Sayyiduna Saabit bin Aslam Nibhaani Basri (radi Allahu anhu) was a Taabi'in. He used to complete the recitation of the Holy Quran in one day & night. He also used to fast during the day. This proves that the Auliya are alive in their graves & perform Ibaadah as when they were alive in the physical world.
It is reported in the Hadith-e-Qudsi that Allah Ta'ala has stated: "When My slave, becomes My beloved, then his words & attributes become the mirror of My Words & Attributes. Whatever he pleads for, I bestow it upon him. If he seeks refuge in Me, I protect him." As we have seen, all these gifts are still found in the beloved servants of Allah even after they have departed from this world. It is due solely to this that the believing Muslims visit the graves of the Saints for they are indeed people who have been promised the mercy & assistance of Allah Ta'ala. We derive from these proofs, that if an individual goes to the Mazaar of a great Saint & implores to him in this manner, "O beloved servant of Allah, you are indeed the beloved slave of Allah. Please ask the Almighty on my behalf," how, we ask of you, can this be termed Shirk, when the Allah Ta'ala Himself has promised them all these gifts?
After considering these facts, if any person feels that he cannot achieve any help & assistance by visiting a Mazaar of a great Saint, then he has not in any way insulted the Saint, rather he has doubted the promise of Allah Ta'ala whereas Allah Ta'ala has promised His slaves His assistance.
The Beloved of Allah are Ayat Rahmah (Signs of Mercy). They take into their fold of mercy all those who remember & honour them & also focus their beams of mercy on them. Someone asked the King of the Auliya, Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu): "If any person takes your name in respect & honour though he may not be your Mureed or not initiated by you personally, would he be counted as your Mureed?" The great Ghous replied: "Allah will accept those who have any form of relation or connection with me & notes his name in my spiritual office. If such a person adopts any desired path, Allah will bless him with guidance & repentance. He will be under my spiritual banner. Verily, my Rabb, the All Powerful & Almighty, has promised me that all my Mureeds, all those who love me & all those who follow the path I am on, will enter Jannat (Paradise)". (Bahjat-ul-Asraar)
MIRACLES PERFORMED BY THE AULIYA:
Saints perform miracles at times, however miracles are not necessary a condition of Sainthood. The Saints (Auliya) regard obeying the Shari'at conscientiously as the biggest miracle. Ghous al-A'zam (radi Allahu anhu) said: "The miracle of a Wali is his complete compliance to the teachings of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)". Sheikh-e-Akbar, Muhayyuddin Muhammed Ibn al-Arabi (radi Allahu anhu) explains the phenomenon of miracles:
The steadfast adherence to the Shari'at is the best Karaamat. A true Saint is righteous & follows the path laid down by the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Sheikh Bayazid Bustaami (radi Allahu anhu) cautions us: "If you see a person sitting cross-legged in the air, don't be fooled by his act! Observe his approach/attitude to the compulsory acts (Farz, Waajib) & prohibited acts (Haraam, Makruh Tahreemi) & detestable acts (Makrooh) & other restrictions & etiquette's of the Shari'at". (Risaalah Qushayriya)
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