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Islam / Popular religion /
Waliy
Arabic:
walīy
Holy man or woman (waliya) in Islam. Often translated into English with 'Saint'.
There are no organs that decides who is a waliy and who is not. It is always the local community that decides who deserves to be a waliy, and there are enormous differences between their qualities. While some are considered as most admirable, many others are only respected within small group of people.
Other terms in use for holy men is sayyid (which confusingly is also the most common term for the polite 'Mister') and salih which is used to denote a pious man.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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