So…
There is this whole concept of wali/aulia who are there in every time, designated by God, to handle matters on earth etc etc…
what i want to know..
how does a person conclude that a certain person is a wali??
like whats the elibility criteria…and whats the source of that criteria?
Re: Identifying a Wali
See if u can try this :
Some Wali-ALLAH are sitting and engrossed in ibadat either in masjid, or some other place like some shrine of some other Buzurg etc. Sit behind him in a way that he doesnt know that you are sitting behind him, start reciting Darud Sharif in your heart, He will notice that and turn around and look at you.
Now, see if his eyes are deep and shiny and his face is bright and innocent. thats a simple method.
Re: Identifying a Wali
^whats the source of that method? any hadith?
Re: Identifying a Wali
As far as I know the person who wants to reach that status has to study under other walis for decades, it is only when the teacher gives permission to the person can they give themselves any title. They don't become a wali in a day, after decades of vigorous training they may be given something but they must continue to strive for the rest of their lives, the number of status' are uncountable so these people are continually working.
Also, true walis will never say 'I am a wali' they will never bestow titles upon themselves since to become a wali you must consider yourself as nothing, to become something. True walis will always have other walis/ shaykhs give them titles but they will never ask to be called Shaykh this or Mawlana that, it defeats their purpose. They won't ask for recognition or material goods or anything except that you strive to be a better muslim.
Some people like to 'test' walis, I know my mother, who didn't believe at first, tested our Mawlana, she never turned back :) Although it won't always go to plan, to believe in someone due to pure faith holds more power than believing someone after they've passed your test. I would be surprised if BMW3FAN's method didn't work, I've seen many people do similar tests.
I think that when you're in the company of someone that great you just know, there's no material evidence, no certificate just a feeling, as wishy washy as that sounds. Don't worry about identifying a wali, you'll just know is probably the best answer I can give!
This is all based on stories of close friends and personal experiences, I can't source material for you if that's what you're looking for, the best way would be to go to the person and see for yourself as opposed to believing hear-say.
Re: Identifying a Wali
Also, true walis will never say 'I am a wali'
That.
Also I don't think there is any need for someone to go searching out for wali, testing them, etc. I respect all people I come across who try to adhere to Islam to the fullest. That includes people you meet everyday, colleagues at work, the local masjid imam, my late grandfather, etc.
Re: Identifying a Wali
^and me?? :)
Re: Identifying a Wali
if a wali doesn't say ever that he is a wali.........then how people determine that someone is a wali and should be given a title??
I respect all people I come across who try to adhere to Islam to the fullest. That includes people you meet everyday, colleagues at work, the local masjid imam, my late grandfather, etc.
i am talking about tareeqat and peer mureed system.......those people which are held by other to be 'divinely designated'......
Re: Identifying a Wali
Because their teacher, who is known to be a wali, gives them the status. A wali must go through rigorous training sometimes under numerous teachers, eventually they are given permission to give bayyah and call people to the tariqat. Most tareeqats will have a chain linking back to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), I can only tell you of ours, but the Prophet (pbuh) gave bayyah to Hazrat Abu Bakr Saddique amongst others who then passed on his knowledge to someone else, our chain goes through Mawlana Rumi and Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jillani and many many others, this process has continued to modern day. If you go to a proper tariqat they will show you the chain of teachers.
Also, like I said, as un-realistic as it sounds, you'll just know. You won't need to see the piece of paper which says who the wali's teacher is and it won't be something ambiguous, rather quite apparent. I guess to clarify I could tell you a story about my friends dad.
He was quite young, at university in England so although he was muslim he knew nothing of Islam, he was searching for 'something' but didn't actually know what he was looking for, then suddenly he began dreaming of these two old men calling him towards them. Obviously this guy was like (o.O) why are these old men calling me and he dreamt the same dream every night for months. One day the old men told him to look behind the fireplace.
He was obviously quite freaked out by it all but got a few friends together to pull the whole fireplace out, behind the 100's of years old fireplace were brand new books explaining Islam and our tariqat in a lot of detail, he checks the author out and goes to find him, lo and behold it's one of the old guys in his dream, and that was that. I've heard of hundreds of stories from very close people, so it's not chinese whispers, it's from people who have actually been through it all, I love stories like that <3
What I'm trying to get to is that as long as you intend to better yourself and intend to become closer to God, He'll send someone your way, you'll probably never need to look for him or verify him. We just all need to try our best at being good people :)
(I just read the 'divinely designated' part) I do think they're 'divinely designated' but they aren't Prophets, so they weren't given this status at birth, each one of us could become a wali, it's just so much hard work that a lot of us wouldn't bother. So although they are designated, it is not a monarchy or anything, anyone can become 'designated' so long as they work for it.
Re: Identifying a Wali
^whats the source of that method? any hadith?
source is a WALI himself.
Re: Identifying a Wali
So...
what i want to know..
how does a person conclude that a certain person is a wali??
like whats the elibility criteria.......and whats the source of that criteria?
Brother, below Ahadeeths contains the answer of your question. Who are the Walis of Allah.
Narrated by Ibn Majah, Imam Ahmad and Imam Bukhari in Adab al Mufrid that
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah exalt his mention) said, the best people among you are those, when you see them, you remeber Allah swt.
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, the Messenger of Allah was asked about Awliya Allah. He said, they are those when you see them you remeber Allah. (Al-Nisai)