61%
Confidence
Belief overview
Awliya and divine friendship
Certain servants of God are seen as friends of God and examples of spiritual closeness.
3
Supportive
1
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: The notion of awliya refers to friends or those close to God, persons recognized for holiness, faithfulness, and spiritual intensity.
How the tradition understands it: In Sufism, the saints function as examples of virtue, moral intercession, and the continuity of the spiritual life of the community. Holiness is not equivalent to divinity, but to a special closeness to God.
Textual basis and context: The Qur'an mentions the awliya of God, and hadith qudsi about the wali have been widely used to structure this belief. Sufi hagiography expanded the theme enormously.
Debates and variations: There are controversies about miracles, intercession, veneration, and the language used around the saints, especially in reformist contexts.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Futuh al-Ghayb by Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani
A collection of exhortations associated with a master venerated in many orders.
Reference: 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Futuh al-Ghayb.
Content: The work emphasizes repentance, trust in God, struggle against the ego, and spiritual submission.
Use in debate: It is representative of the devotional authority attributed to great Sufi masters in various traditions.
Qudsi hadith on the wali in Sahih al-Bukhari
A report about divine closeness to the beloved servant.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, qudsi hadith about the wali.
Content: The text describes how the servant draws near to God through obligatory and supererogatory acts until he becomes loved by Him.
Use in debate: It is one of the most important bases for the Sufi theology of sainthood and spiritual nearness.
Qur'an 10:62-64
A verse about the friends of God and their spiritual security.
Reference: Qur'an, surah 10, verses 62-64.
Content: The text affirms that the friends of God will have no fear or sorrow and describes them as pious believers.
Use in debate: It is the most cited Qur'anic basis for the doctrine of the awliya.
Contrary
Iqtida al-Sirat al-Mustaqim by Ibn Taymiyya
A text critical of certain devotions linked to graves, dates, and popular practices.
Reference: Ibn Taymiyya, Iqtida al-Sirat al-Mustaqim.
Content: The work criticizes imitations and devotional practices understood as excessive, including certain customs linked to graves and festivities.
Use in debate: It is frequently invoked in critiques of ziyara and the search for baraka when these seem to exceed the limits accepted by its authors.