Can a Fornicator Be a Wali (Friend of Allah)?

Question

Zayd says that it is stated in a hadith that a fornicator cannot attain wilaya (sainthood, closeness to Allah). In which hadith is this found?

Answer

“Wali” means a friend of Allah, one who is close to the Pure Allah; for this, being God-fearing is necessary. One who is caught up in fornication or another grave sin cannot be a wali: [ar]إِنْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ[/ar] “His allies are none but the God-fearing” (Surah al-Anfal, 8:34) — this meaning is established by both the Noble Qur’an and the hadith.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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