G'day Mate :)

[Tay_]

danieldemol, I see what you're trying to say so perhaps a quick clarification may help here.

In the Qu'ran, "Al Quddus" literally means The Holy One and it refers only to Allah. Any absolute attribute belongs to Him alone.

Since we do not have saints in Islam whom we elevate to divine/superhuman status, we reserve titles like His Holiness or The Holy One to God and God alone.

We do not even refer to The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as His Holiness. The Prophet's closest friends, his wives and even The One who sent him called him Messenger of Allah.

Very simple.

No hoo-haa, fireworks or extravagant titles required. He neither asked for them nor were they given.

Whilst a human can be a "holy" person in terms of being devoted to God, attributing Supreme Titles such as His/Her Holiness can easily cause confusion for those not familiar with the Islamic tradition.

We do have the concept of awliya, Shaykh Hamza Karamali mentions:

The word "waliyy" (pl. awliya') means "a friend of God." Allah Most High describes these people in Quran, saying, "Lo! The friends of Allah have no fear, nor do they grieve. [They are] those who have believed and are godfearing." (10:62) In the light of this verse, scholars explain that a "waliyy" is someone who believes in Allah and then acts according to his belief by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions.

A famous classical commentator of the Quran, Imam al-Khazin, made the following remarks about this verse:

"The word "waliyy" is linguistically derived from "wala`", which means closeness and giving victory. A "waliyy" of Allah, then, is someone who draws close to Allah by performing everything that has been made obligatory for him. He is busied by Allah [from everything else] and his heart is drowned in direct experience of the light of Allah's majesty. Whenever he looks [at anything], he sees it as something that points to Allah's omnipotence; whenever he hears [anything], he hears it as something that reminds him of Allah; whenever he speaks, he speaks praises of Allah; whenever he moves, he moves to obey Allah; and whenever he exerts himself, he exerts himself in something that draws him closer to Allah. He never slackens in the remembrance of Allah, and his heart beholds none except Allah. This is a description of the "awliya'" of Allah. Whenever a servant of Allah fits this description, Allah is his friend, gives him victory, and helps him: Allah Most High says [in a verse in Surat al-Baqara], "Allah is the friend of those who believe."" (Tafsir al-Khazin)

Shaykh Gibril Haddad mentions also

"the Holy Qur'an explicitly mentions that the Believers have "levels" (darajaat), and that "He raises" (yarfa`u) some of the Believers above others, and that "above every knowledgeable one there is one more knowledgeable," and that "those whom Allah has particularly graced" are defined as "the Prophets, the Siddiqs, the Shuhada', and the Righteous" in that order, and that some Prophets were exalted above others. So we must all agree that there is a hierarchy of Believers in general, and hierarchies of Awliya and Prophets in particular"

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has different titles. Allah swt praised and elevated the Prophet (peace be upon him) over all others in the Quran and the Companions (may Allah swt be pleased with them all) themselves did so too

[SammerTX]

Thanks Tay but I was specifically addressing the concept of calling others "His/Her Holiness" like certain sects and Christians do thereby elevating them to some kind of untouchable.

Awliya is a separate concept altogether.

[Tay_]

Thanks Tay but I was specifically addressing the concept of calling others "His/Her Holiness" like certain sects and Christians do thereby elevating them to some kind of untouchable.

Awliya is a separate concept altogether.

I see where you are coming from, sure thing, it's all good

[falah]

Is it permissible to say that a particular person is one of the awliya’ (close friends) of Allaah?

Is it permissible to say that a particular person is a wali or close friend of Allaah because of his righteousness and piety, whether he is living or dead, such as saying for example, The scholar so and so is one of the awliya’ of Allaah?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Allaah has mentioned the signs by which His close friends or awliya’ may be known. They are: faith (eemaan) and piety (taqwa). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“No doubt! Verily, the Awliyaa’ of Allaah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.

Those who believed, and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds)”

[Yoonus 10:62-63]

But it is not possible to be certain that a particular individual is one of the awliya’ of Allaah, because achieving true faith and piety are matters of the heart that are hidden, and people cannot find out about them. Hence it is possible to think that someone is likely to be a wali, but it is impossible to be certain.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

All Muslims should measure the deeds of those who are claimed to be awliya’ by that which is in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. If they are in accordance with the Qur’aan and Sunnah, then we hope that he is one of the awliya’ or close friends of Allaah, but if they go against the Qur’aan and Sunnah, then he is not one of the awliya’ of Allaah. Allaah has mentioned in His Book the fair standards by which His awliya’ may be known, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“No doubt! Verily, the Awliyaa’ of Allaah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.

Those who believed, and used to fear Allaah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds)”

[Yoonus 10:62-63]

Whoever is a believer and is pious is a close friend of Allaah, and whoever is not like that is not a close friend of Allaah. If he has some faith and piety then he is a friend of Allaah to some extent.

Nevertheless we cannot be certain about a specific person, but we say in general that everyone who believes and is pious is a friend of Allaah (wali).

Fataawa Muhimmah, p. 83, 84.

And Allaah knows best.

http://islamqa.info/en/ref/32470