﷽ Al-Asmaa ul-Husna : Benefits of reciting Ya Waali (يا والى)

1. Name

الوالى
Al-Waali

2. Meaning

The Governor
The Patron
The Protecting Friend
The Friendly Lord

3. Explanation

The One who is the sole planner, implementer, governor and ruler of all things. The One who is the supportive, helpful master of all things. The One who is the friendly and protective ruler and governor of all of creation.

4. Quran

لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ

For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah . Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. (13:11)

أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (10:62)

إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ

Indeed, my protector is Allah, who has sent down the Book; and He is an ally to the righteous. (7:196)

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُ ۚ وَهُوَ الْوَلِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy. (42:28)

5. Hadith

5.1 Jibreel (عليه السلام) came to visit the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and saw that he was very upset. Jibreel asked Prophet why he was upset and he replied that Hassan and Hussain (عليهم السلام) have been afflicted with evil eye. Jibreel said: it is true that people can be affected by the evil eye. Why did you not give them relief by saying these words? The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked: what are those words? Jibreel (عليه السلام) replied, say the following words:

اللهم ذا السلطان العظيم والمن القديم، ذا الرحمة الكريم، ولي الكلمات التامات والدعوات المستجابات عاف حسن وحسين من أنفس الجن وأعين الإنس

As soon as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) recited this Dua, Hassan and Hussain (عليهم السلام) got up and started playing in front of the Prophet. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: O people! Protect your lives, your wives and your children with this Dua. There is no other Dua for protection better than this Dua.

(Kanzul Ummal 10/108, 28546)

5.2 The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to supplicate

اللهم يا ولي الإسلام وأهله ثبتنا على الإسلام حتى نلقاك به

'O Allah, the Guardian of Islam and its people, keep me firm on Islam (the Day of) meeting.'

(Mujam Al-Awsat 1/197, 661)

5.3 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) who said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, “Verily Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has said:

مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقْد آذَنْتهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْت سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَلَئِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ

‘Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, then I have declared war against him. And My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more loved to Me than the religious duties I have obligated upon him. And My servant continues to draw near to me with nafil (supererogatory) deeds until I Love him. When I Love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, and his sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him; and were he to seek refuge with Me, I would surely grant him refuge.’ ”

(40 Hadith Nawawi 38)

5.4 Abu Abdullah 'Amr bin Al-'Aas (رضي الله عنه) said: I heard Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) saying openly not secretly,

‏إن آل بني فلان ليسوا بأوليائي، إنما وليي الله وصالح المؤمنين، ولكن لهم رحم أبلها ببلالها

"The family of so-and-so (i.e., Abu Talib) are not my supporters. My supporter is Allah and the righteous believing people. But they (that family) have kinship (Rahm) with whom I will maintain good the ties of kinship".

(Riyad as-Salihin Book 1, Hadith 330)

5.5 Narrated Ma'qil (رضي الله عنه): Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

مَا مِنْ وَالٍ يَلِي رَعِيَّةً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَيَمُوتُ وَهْوَ غَاشٌّ لَهُمْ، إِلاَّ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ

"If any ruler having the authority to rule Muslim subjects dies while he is deceiving them, Allah will forbid Paradise for him."

(Sahih al-Bukhari 7151)

5.6 'Aishah (رضي الله عنها) reported: I heard the the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) supplicating in my house:

اللهم من ولى من أمر أمتى شيئاً فشق عليهم، فاشقق عليه ومن ولى من أمر أمتى شيئاً، فرفق بهم، فارفق به

"O Allah! Treat harshly those who rule over my Ummah with harshness, and treat gently those who rule over my Ummah with gentleness."

(Riyad as-Salihin Book 1, Hadith 655)

5.7 It was narrated from 'Aishah (رضي الله عنها) that : the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ لَمْ يُنْكِحْهَا الْوَلِيُّ فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهَا فَلَهَا مَهْرُهَا بِمَا أَصَابَ مِنْهَا فَإِنِ اشْتَجَرُوا فَالسُّلْطَانُ وَلِيُّ مَنْ لاَ وَلِيَّ لَهُ

“Any woman whose marriage is not arranged by her guardian, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid. If (the man) has had intercourse with her, then the Mahr belongs to her in return for his intimacy with her. And if there is any dispute then the ruler is the guardian of the one who does not have a guardian.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 3, Book 9, Hadith 1879)

5.8 ‘A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

اَللَّهُمَّ مَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا, فَشَقَّ عَلَيْهِ, فَاشْقُقْ عَلَيْهِ

“O Allah, cause distress to him who has any charge over my people and causes them distress.”

(Bulugh al-Maram Book 16, Hadith 1533)

5.9 It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

لَيْسَ لِلْوَلِيِّ مَعَ الثَّيِّبِ أَمْرٌ وَالْيَتِيمَةُ تُسْتَأْمَرُ فَصَمْتُهَا إِقْرَارُهَا

"The guardian has no right (to force) the previously married woman (into a marriage). And an orphan girl should be consulted, and her silence is her approval."

(Sunan an-Nasa'i 3263)

5.10 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه): Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

مَنْ وَلِيَ اَلْقَضَاءَ فَقَدْ ذُبِحَ بِغَيْرِ سِكِّينٍ

"He who has been appointed a Qadi (judge) has been slaughtered without a knife."

(Bulugh al-Maram 1398)

5.11 It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) that : a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and said: "My mother has died, and she had made a vow to fast, but she died before she could fulfill it. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

لِيَصُمْ عَنْهَا الْوَلِيُّ

'Let her guardian fast on her behalf ."

(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 3, Book 11, Hadith 2133)

5.12 Sahl ibn Sa'd (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ هَكَذَا، وَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى

"I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that," indicating his forefinger and middle finger.

(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 135)

5.13 It was narrated that Abu Dharr (رضي الله عنه) said: "The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to me:

يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي لاَ تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلاَ تَوَلَّيَنَّ عَلَى مَالِ يَتِيمٍ

'O Abu Dharr, I think that you are weak, and I like for you what I like for myself. Do not accept a position of Amir over two people, and do not agree to be the guardian of an orphan's property'."

(Sunan an-Nasa'i 3667)

5.14 Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

خَيْرُ بَيْتٍ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ يَتِيمٌ يُحْسَنُ إِلَيْهِ، وَشَرُّ بَيْتٍ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ يَتِيمٌ يُسَاءُ إِلَيْهِ، أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ كَهَاتَيْنِ يُشِيرُ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ‏

"The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated. The worst house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are ill treated. I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that," indicating his two fingers.

(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 137)

5.15 Narrated `Aisha (رضي الله عنها): The following Verse:

وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ

"If a guardian is well-off, let him claim no remuneration (i.e. wages), but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable." (4:6)

قَالَتْ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي وَالِي الْيَتِيمِ أَنْ يُصِيبَ مِنْ مَالِهِ إِذَا كَانَ مُحْتَاجًا بِقَدْرِ مَالِهِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ

was revealed in connection with the guardian of an orphan, and it means that if he is poor he can have for himself (from the orphan's wealth) what is just and reasonable according to the orphan's share of the inheritance.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 2765)

5.16 Narrated `Urwa bin Az-Zubair (رضي الله عنه): That he had asked `Aisha (رضي الله عنها) about the meaning of the Statement of Allah:

ۖ وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ فَانكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ مَثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ

"If you fear that you shall not Be able to deal justly With the orphan girls, then Marry (Other) women of your choice Two or three or four." (4:3)

She said, "O my nephew!

هِيَ الْيَتِيمَةُ تَكُونُ فِي حَجْرِ وَلِيِّهَا تُشَارِكُهُ فِي مَالِهِ، فَيُعْجِبُهُ مَالُهَا وَجَمَالُهَا، فَيُرِيدُ وَلِيُّهَا أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَهَا بِغَيْرِ أَنْ يُقْسِطَ فِي صَدَاقِهَا، فَيُعْطِيهَا مِثْلَ مَا يُعْطِيهَا غَيْرُهُ، فَنُهُوا أَنْ يَنْكِحُوهُنَّ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُقْسِطُوا لَهُنَّ وَيَبْلُغُوا بِهِنَّ أَعْلَى سُنَّتِهِنَّ مِنَ الصَّدَاقِ، وَأُمِرُوا أَنْ يَنْكِحُوا مَا طَابَ لَهُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ سِوَاهُنَّ

This is about the orphan girl who lives with her guardian and shares his property. Her wealth and beauty may tempt him to marry her without giving her an adequate Mahr (bridal-money) which might have been given by another suitor. So, such guardians were forbidden to marry such orphan girls unless they treated them justly and gave them the most suitable Mahr; otherwise they were ordered to marry any other woman."

`Aisha (رضي الله عنها) further said, "After that verse the people again asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) (about the marriage with orphan 'girls), so Allah revealed the following verses:

وَيَسْتَفْتُونَكَ فِي النِّسَاءِ ۖ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِيهِنَّ وَمَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ فِي يَتَامَى النِّسَاءِ اللَّاتِي لَا تُؤْتُونَهُنَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُنَّ وَتَرْغَبُونَ أَن تَنكِحُوهُنَّ

'They ask your instruction concerning the women. Say: Allah Instructs you about them and about what is Recited unto you In the Book, concerning The orphan girls to whom You give not the prescribed portions and yet whom you Desire to marry them.." (4:127)

What is meant by Allah's Saying: 'And about what is Recited unto you' is the former verse which goes: 'If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice' (4:3).

`Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said, "Allah's saying in the other verse: 'Yet whom you desire to marry' (4:127) means

يَعْنِي هِيَ رَغْبَةُ أَحَدِكُمْ لِيَتِيمَتِهِ الَّتِي تَكُونُ فِي حَجْرِهِ، حِينَ تَكُونُ قَلِيلَةَ الْمَالِ وَالْجَمَالِ، فَنُهُوا أَنْ يَنْكِحُوا مَا رَغِبُوا فِي مَالِهَا وَجَمَالِهَا مِنْ يَتَامَى النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ بِالْقِسْطِ مِنْ، أَجْلِ رَغْبَتِهِمْ عَنْهُنَّ‏

the desire of the guardian to marry an orphan girl under his supervision when she has not much property or beauty (in which case he should treat her justly). The guardians were forbidden to marry their orphan girls possessing property and beauty without being just to them, as they generally refrain from marrying them (when they are neither beautiful nor wealthy)."

(Sahih al-Bukhari 2494)

6. Duas

اللهم إني أسألك باسمك: يا واحد، يا واجد، يا ولي، يا والي، يا وفي، يا وافي، يا واقي، يا وكيل، يا ودود، يا واد، يا واهب، يا وهاب، يا وارث، يا وتر يا واسع الرحمة، يا واصل النعم، يا واضع الآصار ، يا وثيق العهد، يا وحي الإجابة، يا واعدا بالجنة، يا واضح السبيل. أن تصلي على محمد وآله، وأفعل بي وبجميع المؤمنين ما أنت أهله، يا أرحم الراحمين

(مجلة تراثنا - ج ٢٠ - الصفحة ٢٢١)

اللهم يا والي نعمتي وملاذي عند كربتي، أجعل ما أخافه وأحذره برداً وسلاماً عليَّ كما جعلت النار برداً وسلاماً على إبراهيم

(أدعية دينية)

اللهم يا والي صل على النبي الغالي

عد ما هب ريح وضب وبالي

بي جاه يا كريم أصلح بها أحوالي

(قصائد من شعراء المهدية -ص 134)

7. Benefits of invoking (Ya Allahu) Ya Waaliu frequently