This article is compiled and adapted from the book Farhat al-Zahraa (The Joy of Fatima) by Sheikh Abu Ali al-Isfahani (translated by Abdul-Zahraa Abdul-Hussain).
The concepts of Tawalli (loving the Ahlulbayt (a.s)) and Tabarri (disassociating from their enemies) are presented as the inseparable twin pillars of faith. A review of divine reports and traditions of the Infallibles reveals that the concept of Wilayah (spiritual guardianship and love) is immediately followed by Bar’ah (disassociation and rejection), meaning that any command to love is closely paired with a command to hate for the sake of Allah (s.w.t).
Understanding how these dual concepts function is essential to grasping the core of spiritual purification and the true meaning of monotheism (Tawhid).
The Divine Standard: Loving and Hating for the Sake of Allah (s.w.t)
The spiritual foundation of Tawalli and Tabarri is grounded in a famous report transmitted on the authority of Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s), who narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said to one of his companions:
“O’ Abdullah, love for the sake of Allah, and hate for the sake of Allah. Follow for the sake of Allah, and be the enemy of someone for the sake of Allah.”
In daily life, relationships often become contingent upon worldly affairs (Dunya), where individuals love or hate each other for transient, material reasons. The Prophet (s.a.w.a) warned against this, highlighting that such connections gain nothing from Allah (s.w.t):
“People’s relationships have only become contingent upon worldly affairs, a lot of them love and hate each other for the sake of these worldly affairs which gain them nothing from Allah.”
True faith requires that both love and aversion be entirely selfless, directed only toward what God loves and what God hates. This dual alignment is the definitive sign of a true doctrine: leaning toward those loved by God, and neglecting and remaining distant from His enemies. This concept is encapsulated in the Quranic verse:
“Worship Allah and avoid Taghut”
Surat al-Nahl, Verse 36
Why Worship is Fruitless Without Both Pillars
If the twin concepts of Tawalli and Tabarri are not deeply engraved in a believer’s mind, their religious practice remains incomplete, as they have not truly entered the path of Oneness (Tawhid) or experienced the real flavor of faith.
Without this baseline alignment of heart, external acts of worship such as fasting and prayer become hollow rituals. A person who performs these actions without an intimate connection to their spiritual essence will derive no benefit from them. To illustrate this vital truth, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said:
You will not achieve the Wilayah of Allah which results in not tasting the flavor of faith, even if one prays and fasts a lot.
This prophetic warning serves as an essential lesson: no matter how extensive a person’s prayers and fasts may be, they remain fruitless and meaningless without these two core essences of belief.
Distinguishing the Wali of Allah (s.w.t) from the Enemy of Allah (s.w.t)
To put this doctrine into practice, a believer must be able to clearly identify who the Wali (guardian/beloved) of Allah (s.w.t) is and who His enemy is. In an exchange, a companion questioned the Prophet (s.a.w.a) on how to navigate this distinction: “How do I know that I have loved and hated for Allah, Exalted and Glorified be he? And who is the Wali of Allah so that I may follow him? And who is the enemy of God so I can be his enemy?”
In response, the Holy Prophet (s.aw.a) pointed directly to Amir al-Momineen, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s), and said:
“Do you see this person?”
The man replied: “Yes.”
The Prophet said: “Follow him, for he is the Wali of Allah. And his enemy, is the enemy of Allah. Follow him, even if he killed your father and children. And be the enemy of his enemy, even if he is your father or children.”
Ilal al-Sharai’, Volume 1, Page 141 – Chapter 119
This primary tradition establishes that the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s), is the ultimate standard of Wilayah. Following and obeying him is equivalent to obeying Allah (s.w.t). This loyalty must be absolute, taking precedence over even the closest biological ties.
By extension, a believer is obligated to disassociate completely from those who set themselves up as his enemies, even if they are close relatives.