Q: How do we as normal human beings know 100% that someone who claims to be pious is actually a pious person? Allah alone knows who His auliyah are so who are we to claim that so and so is a great pious sheikh merely by his outwardly actions in public?
A. It is true that the true piety of a person is known only to Allah, but there are signs that indicate the goodness and piety of a person:
* His outward appearance is in accordance with the Sunnah.
* His actions are according to the Sunnah.
* The other learned and pious people acknowledge his piety, etc.
Note that a truly pious person will never ‘claim’ that he is pious. One who claims piety is not pious at all. True piety inculcates humility and this humility prevents one from making claims of status and rank.
Allah Ta’aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked by: Mufti Siraj Desai