Fatwa #641020 August 2002South Africa
What proof is there for Awliya, Akhyaar,Abdaal, Abraar, Awtaad , Noqabah and Ghous from Quran/Hadith.
Question
The Sufi book, ?Sirajul Awaarif?, explains the details of groups of Awliya living on earth at any give time: · There are at any given time 4 000 Awliya living on earth. They are not known and recognized by the general public. In fact, amongst them one does not know the other and they themselves are not aware of the validity of their actions and devotion (Ah?maal). All these are hidden from them and the general public. · Three hundred (300) from this group are statesmen involved in the administration of this world. They control all transactions in this Duniya. They are the leaders of all Pious people in the Divine Court of Allah. They are known as Akhyaar. · Amongst these 300, there are 40 who are known as Abdaal · Amongst these 40, seven are Abraar · Amongst these 7, four are Awtaad · Amongst these 4, three are No?qabah · Amongst these 3, one is known as the Ghous or Qutub. He is the most senior of them all and the head and Chairperson of the spiritual assembly
Answer
There are various Ahaadith with regards to the existence of such saints.%0D%0AHowever, the number of these differ according to various narrations. Some of%0D%0Athese narrations are as follows:%0D%0A%0D%0ANabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said, 'Abdaals will%0D%0Abe found in Shaam. They will be forty in number. Whenever one of them passes%0D%0Aaway, he will be replaced by another. It is through them that Allah Ta'ala%0D%0Awill cause it to rain and also grant the Muslims victory over their enemy%0D%0Aand remove a possible punishment.' (Musnad Ahmad)%0D%0A%0D%0ANabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said, 'The Abdaals of%0D%0Amy Ummah shall be forty, of which twenty will be in Shaam and eighteen in%0D%0AIraq. Every time one passes away, another replaces him. When Qiyaamat,%0D%0Aoccurs, all will pass away.' (Ibid)%0D%0A%0D%0AOther narrations say that they are thirty in number. Some narrations say%0D%0Athat there are five hundred such saints of which forty are Abdaals. The%0D%0AAhaadith only speak about Abdaals. Some Ahaadith make mention of Qutub, some%0D%0Aare correct and some are fabricated.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai