CHAPTER V

THE SYSTEM OF AL-WALAYAH AND AL-BARAAH

The meaning of al-walayah and al-baraah:

The Arabic words formed from the root (و . ل . ي) give the following meaning:

1. waliya, to be in charge.

2. Al-walayah, guardianship, help, support, protection, association and connectedness.

3. Al-wala, succession

4. Istawla, to get a thing in one's possession

5. Al-waliyah, saddle blanket that comes next to the back of a camel, horse, mule or donkey

6. Tawalla, to turn away.1

The general sense which the first five of these words have in common is propinquity (al-qurb). As it appears in Ibadhi writings the term al-waliyah means:

a ) Obligation to pray to God to bestow His mercy and forgiveness on Muslims. (إيجاب الترحم والاستغفار للمسلين).2

2 ) Love with the heart and praise by the tongue. (الود بالجنان، والثناء باللسان. الحب بالجنان والثناء باللسان).3

c ) Friendship and fraternity. (المودة والمؤاخاة ).4

d ) Religious friendship. (المودة الدينية ).5

e ) Love and harmony. (المودة والمصافاة ).6

f ) Friendship and praying for forgiveness. (المودة والاستغفار ).7

g) Whole-hearted affection for an obedient (Muslim) for being obedient. (الميل بالقلب والجوارح إلى مطيع لطاعته ).8

h) To like for a fellow Muslim what one likes for oneself, in this world and the World to Come. (يحب للمسلم ما يحب لنفسه في الدنيا والآخرة ).9

i ) To stand up for the right of the friend and believe in loving him. (تولي القيام بحق الولي واعتقاد وده .10