WALI/WILAYA - EMPOWERING AND ENABLING CONCEPT IN ISLAM

DAY 5 

WALI/WILAYA 

EMPOWERING AND ENABLING CONCEPT IN ISLAM 

What is the common usage of the word wilaya in India?

We have not heard the word as is written here, but we have surely heard the word ‘wali’ in the context of marriage. During nikaah, woman who is getting married needs a wali to formalise the marriage. Although it is not a practice in all states of the country, it is an added institution/person in a marriage, other then the two adults wanting to marry each other and the qazi who solemnizes it. 

The job of a wali in an Indian marriage is to represent the bride. A wali is either the bride’s father, grandfather, brother, paternal uncle or any male relative from the father’s side. The wali or the guardian of the bride who has played an important role in determining the brides marriage and especially so if she is a minor. 

Needless to say the institution of wali undermines the bride’s individuality. Muslim marriage is a solemn contract between two consenting adults. If the groom does not require a wali, why should the bride require it, unless she is not an adult, mature enough to decide for her own marriage. In which case, the marriage need not happen at all as she is not mature enough to understand what marriage is all about. 

Out of the ambit of marriage what is the meaning of wali?

Wali is the singular of awliya which means a master, or an authority, custodian, protector or a friend, supporter, close associate, benefactor. In common use, Wali is also the one who manages, who serves as a guardian or one who is entrusted with the affairs of the state. 

So walî means “someone or something close, nearby, adjacent”.

walî can be a “friend, close associate, relative”, also a “patron” or a “helper”.

walî also means “one having power over a thing or person through legal responsibility”. As an extension of this notion, a “(legal) guardian, tutor”.

Awliya is the plural of wali which means alliance, mutual assistance and mutual reinforcement 

Al-wali is one of the attributes of God meaning one who strengthens, protects and supports. 

How have Islamic Feminists understood wali/awliya? 

Muslim women and even men have been kept away from an egalitarian understanding of the terms. That women and men are equal in the eyes of God and also equal to each other is missing in our madrasa education, various exegesis, commentaries on Islam and within our own homes. Not just in private sphere but even in public sphere, both are equal in their rights and responsibilities. 

From where in the Quran can we take inspiration for understanding wilaya in the modern context?

The verse 9:71 is crystal clear: 

The believers, men and women, are awliya [allies] of one another. They enjoin al-maruf [the good] and forbid al-munkar [the bad], they observe salat and give zakat and obey God and his Prophet. 

At first the reference in the verse is to both, women and men. Second they are exhorted to be awliya of one another. If we take all the three meanings of wali in the above question, it implies that women and men are close to each other, they are friends and helpers of each other or they have power over each other or are guardians of each other. In any case they are equal to each other in fulfilling their responsibility to being good, doing good and forbidding the bad. This exhortation of doing good and avoiding bad comes first. They are to fulfil their responsibilities towards each other first.  Then their responsibilities as a member of the society, i.e. public person. Their spiritual responsibilities of doing namaz, giving zakat or obeying God and the Prophet comes thereafter. This roots the women and men in their daily responsibility of promoting good where ever they are and whatever they are doing. They are to keep away from evil or anything that brings harm to self or others. It is important to note that the equality of sexes is established right in the first sentence itself. 

So, wali/wilaya is actually an empowering and enabling concept, isn't it? 

Yes, it is. Women and men are equally responsible for the development of the society. They have to stand shoulder to shoulder to fulfil their responsibilities as a social being. They are equal human beings and equal citizens. 

Muslim women’s concerns and issues today have to be examined under the scrutiny of this very egalitarian Islamic concept of Wilaya. Islamic feminists have done well to uncover this wonderful verse and shown to the misogynists as well as to the larger world that God willed an equal and just gender relations based on which the edifice of a just and equal world can be build. 

To conclude:

There are egalitarian concepts in Islamic tradition on which we must focus on as Muslim women. They are not just spiritual concepts but have ramifications in our daily life as we say in the previous articles. 

Tawheed – Harmony, oneness, unity, balance between all creation 

Istikhlaf - Shared responsibility on earth of women and men for managing life on earth 

Qiwamah – Commitment to fairness and doing justice 

Wilayah - Enjoining good and forbidding evil 

All 4 must be read together to get a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be a human being and Muslim. 

Reference:

An Egalitarian Reading of the Concepts of Khilafah, Wilayah and Qiwamah, Asma Lambrabet