wali

Honorific title in Islam, given to a saint or wise and holy person, especially to the Sufi masters. It is also used in Shiite teaching to indicate close companionship with Muhammad, as in the case of Ali, his son-in-law. Muhammad, speaking to God, said ‘O lord, You are my friend and protector, Wali, and Ali is also my wali, may you support he who supports him and destroy he who stands against him’. Some Islamic groups, such as the Wahabis, reject the notion of sainthood as a contradiction of tawhid, or the Oneness of God.