Waliullah
/ˌwɑːliːˈʊlɑː/noun
An Islamic honorific meaning a friend, ally, or spiritually devoted servant of God.
Did you know?The Qur’an uses the plural phrase awliyāʾ Allāh, “friends of God,” for spiritually secure believers in Qur’an 10:62; Waliullah later became an honorific and personal name.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*w-l-y
“A root associated with nearness, closeness, alliance, and protection.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
walī
“A close ally, protector, patron, friend, or one spiritually near to another.”
7th Century
Qur’anic Arabic
awliyāʾ Allāh
““Friends or allies of God,” a phrase used for devoted believers.”
Medieval Islamic Arabic
Arabic
walī Allāh
““Friend of God,” an honorific for a person regarded as exceptionally pious or spiritually close to God.”
Medieval–Modern South Asia
Persian/Urdu
Walīullāh
“A personal name and reverential title, especially in Islamic scholarly and Sufi contexts.”
Modern English
English
Waliullah
“A transliterated Islamic name or honorific meaning “Friend of God.””