“Lo, the friends of God will have neither fear nor sorrow. They are the ones who cherish faith and are always mindful of God. For them there is the good news for them in the life of this world, as well as (good news for them) in the next— God’s words never change – and that is the triumph supreme!” (Qur’an 10: 62-64)

The wali (pl Awliya) as Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani defines is the one who knows Allah, steadfast in obedience to Him, and is earnest and sincere in worship.”

We read in a hadith Qudsi: “My servant can never come closer to me by doing anything better than the duties I have enjoined upon him. After having fulfilled them, he advances (on the spiritual path) by performing the supererogatory acts of worship until My love is established for him; and when I love him, I become his ears with which he hears, his eyes with which he sees, the hands he grasps with, and the feet he walks with. Then when seeks protection with Me, I will protect him; and when he calls upon Me, I will answer him.” (Al-Bukhari)

Karamah is the special favors or graces (like the answer to prayers as mentioned in the hadith or intimation of certain future events, and so on). However, it is not something a true friend of God would look for; instead, it is a gift from Him when and as He wills. Worshipping Allah or doing supererogatory acts of worship in the hope of receiving Karamah is undesirable. No real wali would do that. So, I would urge you never to look for Karamah while seeking to excel in your worship.

The examples of Karamah among the Prophet’s companions and salaf al-Salih are many: Here are some:

Two of the eminent companions, Usayd b. Hudhayr and Abbad b. Bishr spent conversing with the Prophet, peace be upon him,  in pitch darkness, and while returning home, as they walked one of their staffs lighted up for them to see the path; and when each one of them parted ways, and the staffs they were holding in their hands lighted up until they reached homes.

When during the course of the battle (of Badr), the sword of Ukkashah b. Muhsin broke, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, handed him a piece of wood which turned into a sword in his hands and he fought with it.

Imran b. Husyan, another companion, is known for hearing the greeting of the angels.

Likewise, the pious Caliph Umar while delivering a sermon in the Prophet’s mosque alerted the Muslim army engaged in the battle against the Romans hundreds of miles about the dangers lurking, which they heard thus saving the Muslims from the imminent attack by the enemy army hiding behind the mountain.

Umm Ayman, whom the Prophet, peace be upon him, called as ‘my mother after my mother’ (as is the one who took care of him after his mother’s death) was traveling alone to emigrate to Madinah; on the way she experiencing a torturing thirst, then suddenly bucked was dropped from heaven and she drank her fill from it. She later recalled, ‘after drinking from the bucket’ she never again felt any thirst – even while fasting in the hottest summer months!”

Instances like these are so many as reported from the companions and the pious predecessors.

Almighty Allah knows best.