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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books On The Khilafah Of ‘Ali Over Abu Bakr Hadith Al-Wilayah, What Does Wali Mean? ========================================== The word wali has a range of different meanings.

Hans Wehr lists its various definitions: Helper, supporter, benefactor, sponsor; friend, close associate; relative; patron, protector; legal guardian, curator, tutor; a man close to God, holy man, saint (in the popular religion of Islam); master , proprietor, possessor, owner.[^1] Usually, its exact definition in any given situation is dictated by its context. ‘Allamah al-Albani (d.

1420 H) records that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa alihi , said: ما تريدون من علي؟ ما تريدون من علي؟ ما تريدون من علي؟ إن عليا مني وأنا منه وهو ولي كل مؤمن بعدي .(صحيح) “What do you want from ‘Ali? What do you want from ‘Ali? Verily, ‘Ali is from me and I am from him, and he is the wali of every believer after me.” ( Sahih )[^2] But, despite weirdly denouncing the authenticity of this hadith , which is graded sahih above by ‘Allamah al-Albani, Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (d.

728 H) also attacks the word wali in it: و كذلك قوله هو ولي كل مؤمن بعدي كذب على رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم بل هو في حياته و بعد مماته ولي كل مؤمن و كل مؤمن وليه في المحيا و الممات فالولاية التي هي ضد العداوة لا تختص بزمان وأما الولاية التي هي الإمارة فيقال فيها والي كل مؤمن بعدي And similarly his statement “he is the wali of every believer after me”, it is a lie upon the Messenger of Allah.

Rather he (the Prophet), during his life and after his death, was the wali of every believer, and every believer is his wali in life and death. The walayah which means the opposite of enmity (i.e. friendship) is not restricted by time. As for the wilayah that means authority, then it is said concerning it: wali of every believer after me.[^3] In other words, wali (ولي) only means “friend”. It cannot refer to anyone with authority. Rather, the only related word that means “master” is wali (والي).

So, if the Messenger of Allah had intended ‘Ali, ‘alaihi al-salam , to be the ruler of the Muslims after him (as the Shi’ah assert), he would have used the second word, and not the first.