Al-Wālī
The Governor, The Patron
Root و ل ي (w-l-y). Lane notes that waliyahu meant being in charge and managing, while al-Rāghib describes walāʾ as a nearness without barriers, borrowed for support and protection. Waliyy refers to a protector or ally. Mawlā means patron and appears in Qur'an 8:40. Wilāya, indicating authority or protection, is found in Qur'an 18:44. Although Al-Wālī is not used in the Qur'an as a name for Allah, the word wāl appears once, in 13:11: ‘they have no protector (wāl) besides Him’, denying any protector other than Allah.
The root
و ل يw-l-y
Nearness and charge. Lane gives waliyahu as being in charge of a thing and managing it (wilāya, authority); al-Rāghib explains walāʾ as nearness with nothing between, borrowed for support and protection.
- وَلِيّwaliyyprotector, ally
- مَوْلَىmawlāpatron (8:40)
- وِلَايَةwilāyaauthority, protection (18:44)
Pronunciation
الْوَالِي
al-WAA-lee