A Condition of Walayah
The noble qualities of the Prophet (SAW) and his nation are many and from the point that Allah commissioned him [as a Prophet], He appointed him as the determining factor between His Awliya, and His enemies. Therefor no one can be a Wali of Allah until he believes in him, all that he came with and follows him both inwardly and outwardly. Whosoever claims to have love for Allah, closeness and loyalty to Him, yet does not follow the Prophet (SAW) is in reality not from the Awliya of Allah. Indeed whosoever opposes him (SAW) is from the enemies of Allah and the awliya of Shaytan. Allah (SWT) says,
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ
Say (O Prophet): “If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you
[Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:31]
In this verse Allah (SWT) has made it clear that whosoever follows the Messenger, then Allah will Love him but whosoever claims to love Allah, yet does not follow the Messenger (SAW), is not from the Awliya’ of Allah. This is despite the fact that many people deceive themselves into thinking, about themselves or others, that they are the Awliya’ of Allah, even though they are not in reality. For example the Jews and the Christians, they claim that they are the Awliya of Allah and that none shall enter Paradise except those who are with them, indeed they even go as far as claiming to be the children of Allah and His beloved! In reality the Awliya are only the pious and God-fearing.
[Above Sections adapted from Al-Furqan Bayna Awliya Al-Rehman Wa Awliya Al-Shaytan, Ibn Taymiyyah 728H, Tanslated from the original Arabic by Abu Rumaysah, Daar Us-Sunnah Publishers, Birmingham 2005, Page 53 – 59]