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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Wilayat (Guardianship) Publisher's Preface Publisher's [^1] Preface In the Name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful In our everyday lives we use many such words that we do not fully comprehend. We speak such words; read such words; listen to such words whose source and broad meanings are not clear to us. "Wilayat" is one of those words. It is not a stranger to the Shi'ahs.

It has been used profusely in our religious speeches, books and supplications and still is. But most of the people do not know its meanings. They are unaware of its true and broad sense. Almost all the people think of Wilayat as affection. The term "Wilayat al-Faqih" became known in our society after the Islamic revolution and establishment of the government based on Wilayat al-Faqih in Iran.

However, since not enough work was done on explaining the concept, the political, economic and communal aspects of Wilayat remained hidden and the association with Wilayat stayed limited to reverence for the Wali al-Faqih.

"Wilayat" is a term that carries extremely wide-ranging connotation covering government, sponsorship, attachment, relationship, linkage, intertwining together of two things and a group of people having Wilayat for each other, sticking together as if they are forming a steel wall. This book on the subject of "Wilayat" is a collection of six speeches by Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Khamene’i, the leader of the Islamic revolution.

The speeches were delivered in the month of Ramadan four months before the success of the Islamic revolution at Masjid Imam Hasan Mujtaba in venerated Mashhad. The great leader has explained different meanings of Wilayat in these speeches. He has shed light on different manifestations of Wilayat in the society and has mentioned such meanings of Wilayat that are generally not talked about in our conversations.

Furthermore, while expressing his opinion on the importance of Wilayat, its benefits and its absolute necessity in the Shi'ah and Islamic society, he has declared imperative, efforts to establish a society for Muslims that holds Allah's Wilayat instead of Satan's. We hope that just like our other publications, this book will be well received by the people of knowledge. In the end as always, we look forward to useful opinions, advices, suggestions and donations from the readers.