An investigation into the meanings...

An investigation into the meanings, however, shows that it originally means “guardian”, “one who has preference over others”, and “possessor of free will”. a) Ibn Manzur’s Lisan al–Arab says the following: “ Wali means an orphan’s guardian who manages the orphan’s affairs, and provides him or her. The wali (guardian) of a woman is the one who supervises her marriage contact.

It has been reported that if a woman gets married without the permission of her muwalli , her marriage contract will be nil and void.

Yet another report contains the word “ her wali ” rather than her muwalli , which means someone who has full authority”.[^5] b) Fayoomi says in his al–Misbah al–Muneer ,[^6] “the word wali, pronounced in the same way as fa–eel فعيل, has the meaning of agent, as in the holy Qur’anic verse “ Allah is the guardian of those who believe **” (2:257)** c) Ibn Faris has said, “The person who is delegated to manage someone’s affairs is his or her wali .

This word is sometimes used to mean the one who sets a slave free, the freed slave, the cousin, the helper, or the friend”. From what this great lexicographer says, it can be understood that such meanings as “helper” and “friend” are not the real meanings of wali , but sometimes it can be used figuratively.

To define wali , dictionaries[^7] usually the following example: “The one who manages someone’s affairs is his wali, (guardian).” It can thus be understood that wali conventionally means “one who has free will and authority”; this is confirmed by the Qur’anic verses mentioned below:[^8] A Few Basic Points to Notice A) Dictionaries usually give the various meaning of a word.

﴾ Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet **”**, (33:56) Has not been mentioned explicitly. These scholars maintain that the word angles in the Qur’anic statement is a predicate.