This topic is discussed, in more detail elsewhere, but since it is directly relevant to our topic, we will briefly discuss it here. Awliya Allah: The Friends of Allah-azwj | Hubeali In the Holy Quran, Wali (ولى) [7] , plural Awliya (أَوْلِياء), has been mentioned at multiple places, meaning guardian from or friend of Allah -azwj in a good sense or to its opposite meanings as adherents of Shatan (Iblis) who promotes or follows the evil enamating from devils (Iblis and his children).
As for Awliya Allah ‘أَوْلِيَاءُ اللَّهِ’, they are not among the celebrated saints from Muslims as per the beliefs of Suffi Muslims but these are the Walis Appointed by Allah -azwj , among the successor of the Holy Prophet -saww ! Allah -azwj is Wali – The Guardian, the Prophet -saww is Wali and those with Divine Authority (the Imam -asws ) are the Awliya (the plural of wali) . In matters of social responsibilities, the head of the family (i.e., father) is also referred to as wali .
Therefore, submitting to the Awliya (as nominated by Allah -azwj and introduced to people by a Prophet -as or a Divine Imam -asws ) is the key to success in both worlds. Those who transgress and commit Kufr (disbelief), their awliya are devils, who have misguided them, and consequently they follow them (awliya) in disobedience to Allah -azwj .
For example, Allah -azwj Says (2:257): ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ Allah is the Guardian of those who believe.
He Extracts them from the (multitude of) darkness into the Light; and (as for) those who are committing Kufr, their (awliya) guardians are the Al-Taghut (devils) who extract them from the Light into the (multitude of) darkness; these are the inmates of the Fire; they would be in it eternally [2:257] In a lengthy Hadith, the holy Imam -asws says: ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ لَا تَسْمَعُ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّورِ يَعْنِي مِنْ ظُلُمَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ إِلَى نُورِ التَّوْبَةِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ لِوَلَايَتِهِمْ كُلَّ إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ Then he -asws said: ‘Have you not listened to the Words of Allah -azwj Mighty and Majestic Allah is the Guardian of those who believe.
He Extracts them from the darkness’s into the Light [2:257] ?