Wali
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Wali (Arabic والي, plural Awliya' أولياء, Persian/Turkish pronunciation Vali), is an Arabic word, meaning master (or boss or owner), trusted one, or friend.
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[edit] Sufism term
It is short for Waliullah or friend of God. Here Wali means friend. Usually these people are members of Sufi (mystic) communities who are considered to have a special relationship with Allah.
[edit] Shi'a term
It is short for Waliullah as well. Again it means friend. However the word Waliullah refers to Ali, son-in-law of Muhammad; Fatima, daughter of the Prophet. Shi'as corroborate this with the following Quranic Verse, pertaining to the incident widely narrated in both Sunni and Shia narrations (ahadith) where Ali while in prostration gave his ring in charity to a begger without raising his head from his prayer.
Only Allah is your Wali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow. (Shakir). Here Wali means Master/Owner/Guardian.
[edit] Wahhabi/Salafi
The Wahhabies/Salafies quote the following verse to denounce any meaning other than Master/Owner/Guardian. إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ [Qur'an 5:55]
Only Allah is your Wali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow. (Shakir). Here Wali means Master/Owner/Guardian.
[edit] Marriage
In the Islamic law of marriage, the wali is a woman's closest adult male relative, who has authority and responsibility with respect to her marrying; in this context, wali can be translated "marriage guardian".
[edit] Ottoman Empire term
"Wali" was also the title in Ottoman Empire of the most common type of Turkish governor, in charge of a common type of province called vilayet after him, often a military officer such as a pasha; see Subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire.
[edit] Omani Sultanate term
The Omani sultanate, or after the split Zanzibar sultanate, appointed a Wali in the East African coastal entity Mombasa (now in Kenya; at other times Portuguese or British colony or native sultanate), but there the title was transformed in Kiswahili to Liwali.
[edit] Moroccan term
Since 1997 regionalisation reform, a Wali is the governor of one of the sixteen regions of Morocco.
[edit] Indonesian Term
Wali Sanga are known as the nine saints who introduced Islam into Java
