Wali

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WALI

Usually translated as "saint," a wali, in Islam, is a holy person, someone who is close to God, wali Allah. A wali may be a very pious person or spiritual master, or someone living or dead who is believed to have the power to intercede with God. Strict schools of Muslim thought do not believe there can be such a thing as a wali, since every Muslim has equal access to God through the Quʾran. Although the practice is not sanctioned by scripture, the tombs of many awliyaʾ (walis, plural) have become popular shrines.

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