I Walayah with God, i.e. obeying God's orders and avoiding what He has forbidden. On the other hand there is the walayah of God with the believers, explained as His guidance, support, and protection for them.27 This was the issue on which the theological question arose, as to whether God's (walayah), with the Believers or His baraah, from the Infidels is immutable for His knowledge of their deeds is absolute.28

II Walayah with all Muslims in general, Mankind, Jinn, forbears and their posterity, up to the Day of Judgement, with no particular person in mind. This includes all the believers of peoples of the past ages, the believers of the present and the future, whether Mankind or Jinn.29

III Walayah with those preserved from sin, (masumun). This must be directed to the Angels, Prophets, Apostles of God, and to other 'awliya' of God, mentioned in the Quran by name or description,30 as also those who were commended by the Apostle of God.31 The following are the 'preserved from sin' mentioned in the Quran, commended by God, Who granted them Paradise.

a) All Prophets and Apostles of God in general, but especially Adam and Muhammad as combining the offices of Prophet and Apostle.32

b) The Priests and Monks mentioned in the following verses of the Quran; " ... .And thou surely find the nearest of them in love to the believers are those who say, 'We are Christians;' that, because some of them are priests and monks, and they wax not proud, and when they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, thou seest their eyes overflow with tears because of the truth they recognise. They say, 'Our Lord, we believe; so do thou write us down among the witnesses. Why should not we believe in God and the truth that has come to us, and be eager that our Lord should admit us with the righteous people?' And God rewards them for what they say with gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling forever, that is the recompense of the good-doers."33

c) The people of the Cave, (The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus); for being mentioned in the following verse, " ... When the youths took refuge in the Cave saying, 'Our Lord, give us mercy from thee, and furnish us with rectitude in our affair."34 And, "We will relate to thee their tidings truly. They were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. And We strengthened their hearts, when they stood up and said, 'Our Lord is the Lord of heavens and earth; we will not call upon any God, apart from Him.'"35

iv) The people of the Trench, (أصحاب الأخدود), about whom the Quran speaks in the surah of al-Buruj, verses 4-11.