The Arabic word WLY and al-wali wa al-mawali

Submitted by dhimmi no more (United States), Jun 22, 2008 at 17:52

Hi Lactantius

The Arabic word WLY (this is the rasm and also the root) and the plural is Awliya' means: "helper, supporter, benefactor, sponsor, FRIEND, close associate, relative, patron, protector, legal guardian, tutor" See Hans Wehr dictionary page 1100B

In the Qur'an the word awliya' means:

1. Friend

2. Protector

3. Sponsor

4. And patron

Now if we turn to real history it seems that the Arabs that invaded the Middle East starting in 633CE realized early on that the Qur'an really says that islam is the religion of the Arabs only as per Q14:4. Now those non Arabs that wanted to join the Arabs in looting their own people and wanted to convert to islam were told that they must convert to the race of the arabs by becoming mawali of the Arab awliya' and this wali or friend, protector, sponsor and patron will sponsor the mawla and this mawla becomes an Arab and then and only then can such mawla convert to islam. For good reading about al-wali wa al-mawali see Crone's "Slaves on horses" and Berkey's "The formation of Islam"

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