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"Wilayat," derived from wila', means power, authority or a right of certain kind. In Shí'a theology, "wilayat" is the authority invested in the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt as representatives of Almighty Allah on this earth.
According to the late Murtaza Mutahhari, wilayat has four dimensions:
The right of love and devotion (wila'-e muhabbat): This right places the Muslims under the obligation of loving the Ahlul Bayt.
The authority in spiritual guidance (wila'-e imamat): This reflects the