The word ‘vela' literally means being contiguous, near and to approach. ‘Vilayet' which comes from the same origin means to help and ‘velayet' is to undertake a duty, being a commander , administration and authority. Because of that father is the ‘veli' of the child. The person who protects the legitimate rights of the people that dwells in the same city is named as ‘vali' . The governor of a city is the ‘veli' for all people of that city.
In Islamic literature as a phrase , ‘vela' is to know Allah The Most High, The Prophet and the believers who have faith in them as companion , friend, confidant and a competent that they may entrust their business. The person to whom this authority is given named as ‘veli' . The plural form of the word ‘veli' is ‘evliya'.
Another word that comes from the root of ‘vela' is ‘mevla'. Literally it is close to the words of ‘vela' and ‘velayet'. But ‘mevla' has been used in different senses. Among them friend, master, freed slave, helper and the one who does goodness, are more common.
“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease verily Allah doth see all that they do.”
“If they refuse be sure that Allah is your protector the best to protect and the best to help.” (1)
“And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be a witness for you and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer give regular Charity and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to protect and the Best to help! (2)
If the Muslims follow disbelievers and obey them in respect of religion they turn them to their own religion. But the most beautiful helper for Muslims is Allah The Most High. (3)
Being a ‘veli'-guardian- necessitates having rights and authority over the person that one becomes a guardian. This exists in the nature of guardianship. But this is not a pressure and domination on the person but an authority to work for that person and doing him the necessary help. As the Guardian of believers, Allah The Most High leads them to the right way and takes them off from darkness to Light , He sent Messengers and Holy Book to them , He helps them, supports, looks them after , forgives and surrounds the believers with His Compassion in all respects.
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(1) Chapter Enfâl, 8/39-40.
(2) Chapter Haj, 22/78.
(3) Âl-i Imrân, 3/149-150.
Allah is not The Guardian -veli- of Some People
Allah The Most High is The Guardian ‘Veli' in absolute sense, The Friend and Helper. But this has some conditions. According to the information given in the Noble Quran, some of the born servants loses the guardianship of Allah. Because of their false choices, rebellion against their own Creator and evil deeds, they can not attain this Divine Friendship.
• Allah The Most High is not the Guardian of the ones who are in depravity. Some of the people insist on depravity in spite of the Messengers that Allah sent to them and their True call. Allah leaves them with their own corruption. There will be no other guardian for them . (1)
• Allah is not the Guardian-veli- of the haughty ones who become proud in performing the duty of being a born servant - of haughty rebels- .(2)
• Allah The Most High is not the Friend and Helper of the ones who do badness, harm others (3)
• The infidels who deny the Truth and Religion came from Allah lose the Friendship of Allah of and such people are cursed. (4)
• After coming of a knowledge that distinguish false form Truth , a True Call, people who obey their desires, carnal passions can not find any other friend and guardian other than Allah . (5)
• After the favor of faith, Allah is not the Friend of the hypocrites who again turn to denial and behave two faced in religion. They can not find any helper in the earth for themselves. (6)
• Allah is not The Guardian of the ones who turn a way from True Religion by denial or by attributing partners to Allah, and who do not rule with the commands that Allah sent and who do injustice in the world .Cruel ones are the only helper of each other. (7)
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(1) Chapter Shûrâ, 42/44.
(2) Chapter Nisâ, 4/173.
(3) Chapter Nisâ, 4/123.
(4) Chapter Fetih, 48/22, Ahzâb Sûra , 33/64-65.
(5) Chapter Bakara, 27120, Ra'd Sûra , 13/37.
(6) Chapter Tevbe, 9/74.
(7) Chapter Shûrâ, 42/8
Some of the People Are not Guardian-Veli- of Muslims
Muslim can not have some people as friend and guardian. Because Allah sets the limits of guardianship that should exist between the Muslims and other people, and He informs who may give a help or harm to Muslims.
• The Noble Quran prohibits Muslim to have Jews and Christians who make war against Islam and who bear a grudge against Muslims as friend , guardian, confidant:
“Thou seest many of them turning in friendship to the unbelievers. Evil indeed are (the works) which their souls have sent forward before them (with the result) that Allah's wrath is on them and in torment will they abide.”
“If only they had believed in Allah in the Apostle and in what hath been revealed to him never would they have taken them for friends and protectors but most of them are rebellious wrong-doers.”
“Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say: "We are Christians:" because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world and they are not arrogant.” (1)
“O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.” (2)
There is no doubt that this prohibition of guardianship for Muslims, is not in the sense of not to form economic, political and social relations with the members of other religions and it doesn't mean to be closed society. With the condition of performing the mutual rights and responsibilities all relations naturally will be continued.
• Muslims can not have as friend. And guardian the ones who are described as infidel in The Noble Quran by neglecting their own co-religionists. (3) Even the people who prefer infidelity to faith are their own parents' believers can not have them as guardians. (4)
“O ye who believe! take not for friends unbelievers rather than believers: do ye wish to offer Allah an open proof against yourselves?” (5)
3- The Noble Quran also prohibits having Satan as friend. Doubtlessly the people who have Satan as friend and helper would suffer great harm. (6)
• The polytheists who have the idols which have no use and harm for people as guardian are in a great mistake. (7)
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• Chapter Mâide, 5/80-82.
• Chapter Mâide, 5/51.
• Chapter Âl-i Imrân, 3/28.
(4) Chapter Tevbe, 9/23.
(5) Chapter Nisâ, 4/144.
(6) Chapter Nisâ, 4/119.
• Chapter Ra'd, 13/16.
• The gods, totems that are invented for worship, or the rebellious ones who see themselves as god who apply their own rules instead of the commands send by Allah can not be seen as friend, guardian. The Noble Quran declares as follows:
“Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the Evil Ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire to dwell therein (for ever).” (1)
6- With the communities who attract The Wrath of Allah to themselves, a relation of guardianship is not formed. Because they went astray with the great faults they did and deserved The Wrath of Lord. It is not thinkable for Muslims to have them as guardian. (2)
7- Believers can not be the guardians of the polytheists who are enemy of Allah The Most High and of His Religion as they are the enemies of Muslims. The believers who seek for the good pleasure of Allah The Most High can not see the people who have deviated from The Truth as guardians. (3)
8-The hypocrites who act two-faced in religion, can not be the guardians for Muslims. While the believers see the harmful actions of hypocrites, knowing that they attain interest by deceiving them , they can not have them as friend. Muslims cannot entrust the authority for administration of society to such people. (4)
In Islamic system of administration, the other name for ‘ ulul emr ' - ruler, master- is ‘veliyyul emr' -guardian of affairs- . This phrase is very meaningful. The holders of authority who undertake the trust of worldly and religious affairs of believer means to have their guardianship. It is obvious that this right of guardianship can only be attained by applying the Commands of Allah who is the Real Guardian. To the ones who do not believe and who do not go in the direction of the beliefs of Muslims the guardianship of doing those businesses can not be given.
This also should be remembered that, not to have the people other than Muslims as guardian and friend is never a bad treatment, breaking of rights and continuous fight. To the contrary our religion commands us to treat well to all people. But the tie of guardianship is the one which is formed by faith. Muslims can live together with disbelievers but they should not trust their business and have them as confidant and guardian.
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(1) Chapter Bakara, 2/257.
(2) Chapter Mumtehine, 60/13.
(3) Chapter Mumtehine, 60/1-2.
(4) Chapter Nisâ, 4/88-91.