Al-Waliyy
The Protecting Friend, The Ally
Root و ل ي (w-l-y). Al-Rāghib describes walāʾ as nearness and alliance, where two things are adjacent without anything between them, including closeness in kinship, faith, friendship, and support. Lane gives waliyahu as being in charge of and managing something. Related terms include mawlā, meaning patron or protector, found in Qur'an 8:40; wilāya, meaning protection or alliance, in Qur'an 18:44; and awlā, meaning closer or more entitled, in Qur'an 33:6. In the Qur'an, Al-Waliyy appears in the context: ‘And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.’ (42:28)
The root
و ل يw-l-y
Nearness and alliance. Al-Rāghib explains walāʾ as two things being adjacent with nothing between them, borrowed for closeness in kinship, faith, friendship and support. Lane gives waliyahu as being in charge of and managing a thing.
- مَوْلَىmawlāpatron, protector (8:40)
- وِلَايَةwilāyaprotection, alliance (18:44)
- أَوْلَىawlācloser, more entitled (33:6)
Pronunciation
الْوَلِيُّ
al-wa-LIYY
In the Qur'an
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا وَيَنْشُرُ 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 · Sahih International