Name 77 of 99
الْوَالِي
Al-Wali – The Governor, the Patron
- Transliteration
- Al-Wali
- Meaning
- The Governor, the Patron
- Arabic root
- و ل ي
- Theme
- Sovereignty and kingship
Meaning of Al-Wali
Al-Wali is the One who governs and manages all affairs of creation. Everything is under His administration and nothing happens outside it. Surah ar-Ra'd reminds people that when Allah wills something for them, they have no protector besides Him.
In the Quran the word appears in the form "wal" (patron, protector) about Allah; it is listed as al-Wali in at-Tirmidhi's narration. Not to be confused with Al-Waliyy (55), the Protecting Friend.
Al-Wali in the Quran
The exact form Al-Wali is not used in the Quran, but its meaning is affirmed through a related word from the same root:
Related verse
لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٌۭ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍۢ سُوٓءًۭا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ
For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.
Reflection
Because Allah governs all things, we can face changes in life with calm.
Related names: sovereignty and kingship
Frequently asked questions
What does Al-Wali mean?
Al-Wali (الْوَالِي) means "The Governor, the Patron". Al-Wali is the One who governs and manages all affairs of creation. Everything is under His administration and nothing happens outside it. Surah ar-Ra'd reminds people that when Allah wills something for them, they have no protector besides Him.
Is Al-Wali mentioned in the Quran?
Al-Wali does not appear in exactly this form, but its meaning is affirmed in the Quran through a related word from the same root, for example in Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:11.
The list of 99 names follows the order of the narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3507, without the name “Allah”, and adds Al-Ahad from Sunan Ibn Majah 3861. The hadith that Allah has ninety-nine names is in Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 and Sahih Muslim 2677. Quran text: Tanzil (Uthmani); translation: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930, public domain).