ou consistently hear this word. You also have heard about wilayat e Ali (as) from different scholars and your parents. Not a single principle of religion can be proven without the presence of wilayat; whether it is tawheed (oneness), adl (justice), nabuwiat (prophet hood), imamate, or qiyamat (day of judgment). The center of the religion is wilayat. One will remain kafir (disbeliever) until he understands what wilayat is. As Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said, "Wilayat is religion."
Because wilayat is of such great importance, we thought we should inform you of a few certain things so that when you become an adult, you will not feel as if you are a stranger with this word.
What is wilayat?
The literal meaning of wilayat is to have full command/authority over another, but this explanation is incomplete.
Wilayat is a combination of three things. If only one of the three is missing, then it is an incomplete wilayat.
1. Knowledge
2. Power
3. Commandment
We will explain what wilayat is by using a very simple example so the true meaning of wilayat will become stuck in the minds of the youth.
A person s job is making pots. Every intellect will agree that first of all he has to have the knowledge of how to make the pots. If he is unaware of the method of how to make pots, then he will never be able to make pots. Here the first condition is fulfilled, and he has full knowledge of how to make pots.
Now this person has knowledge, but he is paralyzed. His hands and legs are non functioning. In this case even though he has knowledge, he cannot do the work because he does not have the power/ability to do so. If he is not paralyzed, then he will be successful in his purpose, and the second condition will be fulfilled. Now he has knowledge as well as power, but still he cannot make pots because he does not have command over the soil used for making pots. When he gains command over the soil for making pots, then all three conditions will be fulfilled, and he will be able to make pots.
We gave this simple example so you would be able to understand the initial aspects of wilayat. If we had given an illogical and very difficult example, then certainly it would be difficult for you to understand. A vast majority of people think wilayat is also a designation or title like nabuwiat (prophet hood) or imamate. This is a major misconception. If wilayat was a designation, Allah would never have called Himself "wali because He is the one who appoints others as prophets and imams. You must believe wilayat is not a designation. It is the highest level of authority and command.
We have given you the basic information regarding wilayat, but the most important thing is that giving life, death, rizq (sustenance), children, health, and help are all under the scope of wilayat. So the essence which is the absolute Wali of Allah (as), whose wilayat is the wilayat of Allah is the creator, the one who gives life, who gives death, who gives rizq (sustenance).
Without this essence no one would be able to recognize Allah. T hat essence is our Moula Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) ibn Abi Talib (as) who is mahzer (manifestation) of all the attributes of Allah. Our Moula (as) is our destination. W e are His Shia. Whatever we ask, we ask it from Him. This is why we read Nade Ali (as) all the time.
