The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘اَوْلِيَاءُ اللهِ الَّذِيْنَ اِذَا رُؤُوْا ذُكِرَ اللهُ’ i.e., Awliya are those people who make others remember Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ when others see them. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 1, pp. 214, Hadees 1779)

Regarding this blessed Ayah, mentioning the attributes of Awliya رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی, ‘Allamah Maulana Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Na’eemuddin Muradabadi       رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: The Wali of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the one who attains Divine closeness by performing Faraaid [obligatory acts]. He obeys Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and his heart is blessed with the Ma’rifah of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He sees the evidences of Divine power in everything; he only listens to the Ayahs of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ; he praises Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ whenever he speaks. He makes every movement in obedience to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He does the only thing which is a means of earning him closeness to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He does not feel tired of the Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, and does not see anyone but Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ with the eyes of his heart. These are the attributes of Awliya. When a person reaches this status, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ becomes his Friend and helps him.

Dear Islamic brothers! The blessed Ayahs and Tafaseer show how high status and rank the Awliya رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی have! They have firm faith in Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and are very pious. These beloved bondmen of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ never go against Shari’ah. They always remain busy worshipping and obeying Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is pleased with them and grant them His Ma’rifah [i.e. recognition] and make them aware of secrets. The people of world call them Awliya of Allah. When people mention them, they recite ‘رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه’, praying for the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for the Wali.

Sayyiduna Sawban رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ narrated, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: The bondman continues to seek the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He carries on this struggle until Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says to Sayyiduna Jibraeel: ‘So-and-so bondman of Mine wants to please Me. Be aware that My mercy is upon him.’ Sayyiduna Jibraeel says: The mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is upon so-and-so person. The ‘Arsh-holding angels as well as the angels around them and those on the seventh sky all say the same thing. Then the person is blessed with the mercy on the earth. (Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, pp. 4444, Hadees 3379)