Is it permissible to assert with certainty that a specific individual is a Wali (friend) of Allah, whether living or deceased, even if they are known for their righteousness and piety?

The signs of the Awliya' (friends) of Allah are faith and piety, as Allah the Almighty stated: ﴿Unquestionably, [for] the Awliya' of Allah, there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and were constantly fearing Allah (pious)﴾. It is not possible to definitively designate a specific person as a Wali of Allah because faith and piety are hidden matters of the heart. The actions of anyone who claims Wilaya (sainthood) must be weighed against the Quran and the Sunnah. Whoever’s actions conform to them, it is hoped that he is a Wali of Allah; and whoever’s actions contradict them, then he is not. So, whoever is a believing and pious person is a Wali of Allah. The more his faith and piety increase, the more his Wilaya increases. However, we do not definitively assert this for a specific individual, rather we state it in a general sense.