The Waali has a mandate to rule and to supervise the activities of the various departments within his Wilayah, and this is done on behalf of the Khaleefah. So the Waali enjoys all the powers within his Wilayah except the funds, the judiciary, and the armed forces. He has the Imarah over the people in his Wilayah and is responsible for supervising all matters relating to the Wilayah. However the police would be under his command in terms of the execution only and not in terms of the administration.

This is because the Waali is a deputy of the Khaleefah in the place where He appoints him. He has the same mandatory powers that the Khaleefah has, and He is like the Mu’awin in terms of general supervision (Wilayah ‘Aammah) if his Wilayah were general, i.e. if He was given general supervision in that place. He would have a specific supervisory role, and in matters related to those for which He was appointed, if his Wilayah was specific (Wilayah Khaassah); then in such a case He would have no mandate to examine other matters. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to appoint some people in an unrestricted Wilayah over ruling, others in a general Wilayah (Wilayah ‘Aammah) covering everything, and others to a specific area and with a specific Wilayah. He (saws) sent Mu’az to Yemen and taught Him how to procced. Al-Bayhaqqi, Ahmad and Abu Dawood narrated on the authority of Mu’az that “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to him, when He (pbuh) sent Him to Yemen; ‘How would you rule if a case was presented to you?’ He said; ‘By the Book of Allah.’ He (pbuh) said; ‘What if you do not find it (the verdict) there?’ He replied; ‘I would judge by the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger.’And He (pbuh) said; ‘What if you do not find it there?’ He said; ‘I would exert an opinion (perform Ijtihad), saving no effort.’ Upon this the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) put his hand on my chest and said; ‘Praise be to Allah Who has guided the Messenger of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to what Allah and His Messenger love.’” He (pbuh) also sent Ali bin Abi Talib to Yemen without instructing him, because He was confident about his knowledge and competence. When He (pbuh) appointed Mu’az He assigned the Salah and the Sadaqah to him. He (pbuh) appointed Farwa bin Musayk as an ‘Amil over Murad, Muzhij and Zabeed and He sent with Him Khalid bin Sa’eed in charge of the Sadaqah. All this demonstrates that the Waali has all the mandatory powers of ruling, as is evident by the instructions given to Mu’az and not given to ‘Ali. It also demonstrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) gave some Wulah general Wilayah over the Salah and the Sadaqah, while He gave others a specific Wilayah covering the Salah only, or the Sadaqah only.