وَأَكْرَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَطْوَعُهُمْ وَأَتْبَعُهُمْ لِلْقُرْآنِ
Those most honored with Allah are those most obedient to Him and most faithful in following the Qur’an.
Special walayah is related to greater godliness and obedience.
أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Surely the friends of Allah will have no fear, nor will they grieve. (Yunus 10:62)
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ
Those who believed and were mindful of Allah. (Yunus 10:63)
Obedience and piety elevate the degree of this special relationship.