Performance of Prayer And Supplication Near Graves Of The Holy Personalities
Among the matters which has been discussed and debated in the books of Wahhabis is the issue of performing prayer and recitation of du'a near the graves of the holy personalities and the matter of lighting candles over their graves.
The founder of this school of thought says in the treatise of Ziyarat al-qubur as such:
لم يذكر أحد من أئمة السلف أن الصلاة عند القبور وي مشاهدها مستحبة ولا أن الصلاة والدعاء هُناك افضل بل
إتفقوا كلهم على أن الصلاة في المساجد والبُيوت افضل منها عند قبور الأولياء والصالحين
“No one from the past leaders has said that salat near the graves is mustahab (recommended) or that salat and du'a at these places are more superior to other places. Instead all of them are of the same view that salat in mosques and houses are more useful than reciting them near the graves of the awliya and virtous people.”
Moreover, in a reply attributed to the scholars of Medina we read as such:
أما التوجه إلى حجرة النبي (صلى الله عليه وأله) عند الدعاء فالاولى منعه كما هو معروف من معتبرات كُتب
المذاهب ولأن افضل الجهات ، جهة القبلة
.
“At the time of supplication, it is better to stop from concentrating over the grave of the Holy Prophet (s) and what is well-known in the reliable books is its prohibition. Moreover the best direction is the direction of qibla.”
This matter, over the passage of time has reached the level of shirk (polytheism) from the level of prohibition and at present they consider such an action to be shirk and its performer a mushrik (polytheist).
We remind you that anyone who performs salat for and worships the one in the grave or takes his grave as a qibla will undoubtedly be called a mushrik.
But no Muslim from anywhere in the world performs such an action near the grave of the Holy Prophet (s) and the awliya. They neither worship them nor take their graves as qibla.
Therefore the idea of shirk is no more than an imagination. The motive of Muslims in performing salat and du'a near the graves of the awliya is the very intention of tabarruk to the place where the beloved one of Allah has been buried.
They imagine that since such a place beholds a special dignity due to the burial of the beloved one of Allah, their actions will consequently be having a great reward.
Now it is necessary to discuss whether a place enjoys sanctification due to the burial of some virtuous and pious person or not?
If such a judgment is proved through the Qur’an and sunnah, then naturally performing salat and du'a near the graves of the divine leaders will be considered as commendable acts. And, even in other case, we cannot declare it to be prohibited and haram. Instead, like all the other places, performing salat and reciting du'a in those places too will be permitted and lawful even though it may not be considered admirable.
In this section we shall now focus our discussion on whether the burial places and graves of the Prophets and awliya are possessing special superiority and dignity or not and whether any proof exists in the Qur’an and sunnah about this matter or not?
This reality can be known by paying attention to the following verses:
1. About the grave of ‘Ashaab-e-Ka'ahf’ the group of monotheist gave their views as such:
لنتخذن عليهم مسجداً
“……For we will certainly raise a masjid over them. (Kahf 18:21)”
Their aim in considering the graves as mosques was nothing but to perform their religious obligations or, so to speak, their prayer and du'a over there.
They imagined that this place possessed a special dignity keeping in mind the fact that it contained the dead bodies of the beloved servants of Allah. They thought of seeking tabarruk from the superiority of that place and hence a greater reward.
Qur’an narrates this matter from the group of monotheists and does not say anything more. If this action was unlawful, vain and useless, then Qur’an would have never remained silent. It would have certainly found fault with it and not kept silent which is naturally the sign of approval.
2. The Holy Qur’an commands the people visiting the House of Allah to recite salat at Maqam Ibrahim i. e. the place where Ibrahim (‘a) was standing.
Thus it says:
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
“And appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim. (Baqarah 2:125)”
If you place this verse before anyone they will not understand anything from it except that this place has achieved superiority and dignity due to the standing of Ibrahim (‘a) over this spot and perhaps his worshipping of Allah in that place. Due to the auspiciousness and dignity this spot possesses, the Holy Qur’an orders the Muslims to recite salat at that spot and seek ‘tabarruk’.
When the Qiyam (standing) of Ibrahim (‘a) in one place gives holiness and dignity to such a place then, does not the burial of the bodies of martyrs and virtuous people become the source of dignity and excellence and does not prayers in such a place possess a greater value and dua's get better answered?
Is it true that this verse has been revealed only in the case of Ibrahim and we cannot derive a general judgement from it!?
Dawaniqi entered into a debate with Imam Malik (the founder of Maleki School of thought) in the mosque of the Holy Prophet (s) and said: “Should we stand facing the qibla at the time of du'a or should we face the grave of the Holy Prophet (s)?” Malik replied: “Why should you turn away from the Holy Prophet (s) while he is your channel and your father, i.e. Adam's ('a) channel?! Instead turn towards the grave of the Holy Prophet (s) and take him as your intercessor and request him to intercede on your behalf.
This conversation and discussion shows that du'a near the grave of the Holy Prophet (s) was having no problem and difficulty and the question of Mansur to the leader of Medina was about the preference of one (act) over the other and Imam Malik replied that paying attention to the grave is like paying attention to the qibla.
3. Reference to the incident of mi'raj will make this fact more evident since it has come in the traditions of mi'raj that the Holy Prophet (s) recited salat in places like Taiyyaba, Mount Sinai and Bethlehem.
Jibra'eel came to him and said: ‘O Prophet! do you know the place where you recited salat? You have performed your prayer at the birth place of 'Isa’ (Jesus).
From this tradition we come to know that performing salat in places that have been in contact with the body of a Prophet have great significance and tabarruk to this particular place was because of Hazrat Isa's birth in that place and nothing else.
4. ‘Hajar’ and ‘Ismail’, due to their patience in the path of Allah and their forbearance for being away from home, reached to such position that the places where they used to walk became the places of worship (i.e. the places between Safa and Marwa)
The following is the saying of the student of Ibn Taymiyya.
“If really the places of strides of these two persons who, because of their patience and forbearance in the path of Allah became so much Holy that the Muslims have been ordered to worship God in these places, then why the grave of the Holy Prophet (s) who has exhibited the greatest of patience and steadfastness on the path of rectifying the society cannot be considered as Holy and sacred and why salat and du'a cannot be recited near such a place?”
5. If truly performing salat near the grave is unlawful, then how Umm al-Mu'minin (Ayesha) during her remaining life time performed salat and worshipped in her chamber where the Holy Prophet (s) was buried.
The meaning of the Holy Prophet's tradition: (“God has cursed the Jews and the Christians for considering the graves of their Prophets as mosques”
) which the Islamic traditionists narrate and which the Wahhabis utilise for proving the prohibition of salat near the graves of awliya is because they were prostrating over the grave of their Prophets or that they were taking their graves as qibla both of which were unlawful. If the meaning of the tradition is what they say then why Ayesha, narrator of the tradition, performed salat in her chamber for approximately fifty years.
6. If the burial place of the Holy Prophet (s) is not having any special significance, then why the two Shaykhs insisted that they should be buried in that place?
Why al-Hasan ibn 'Ali (‘a) mentioned in his will that his Holy body should be buried near his great grandfather and if not possible due to his enemies, he should be buried in the cemetery of Baqi!?
And what relation this tradition has with the actions of the Muslims who perform salat for the sake of God, facing the qibla near the grave of the Holy Prophet (s) and their motive is only to derive virtue from that place!
The daughter of the Holy Prophet (s) whose happiness as per the decree of traditions of Sihah is the happiness of her God and Messenger and her anger is the anger of her God and Messenger used to visit every Friday the grave of her Uncle Hamza and perform salat and mourn in that place. Here is the text of history:
كانت فاطمة رضى الله عنها تزور عمَها حمزة كل جُمعة فتُصلي وتبكي عنده
These reasons jointly show us the path of the Muslims who were always reciting salat and supplications in places where the beloved ones of Allah and the self-sacrificers on the path of truth had been buried and gives the message that salat and supplication in such places enjoy more honour and superiority and the motive is only to seek tabarruk from that sacred place.
* * *
Let us suppose that there is no proof from Qur’an and traditions that such a place possesses distinction and performing salat and du'a in such a place is honourable. But why prayer in such a place should be considered as prohibited? Why such a place should not be included in the general principles of Islam which considers all the places on earth to be the places of worshipping God
so that the Muslims are able to perform prayer near the graves of the beloved ones of Allah!?
Previously, we had mentioned to you about the motive of the traditions which says that the Jews and Christians have taken the graves of their Prophets as mosques and never such a tradition includes those who perform salat and du'a facing the qibla for the sake of God.
The matter of lighting candles and so on over the graves of the beloved ones of God which the Wahhabis strictly prohibit is not an important matter since their references is the same tradition of Sunan al-Nasa'i who narrates from Ibn Abbas that the Holy Prophet (s) has cursed the women visiting the graves and those who turn the graves into mosques and light the candles.
This tradition is applicable in the event that lighting candles etc. is having no benefits other than wastage of money or imitating some countries of the world.
However if the aim of lighting candle etc. is to recite Qur’an and du'a or perform salat and other legal things, then certainly it will not create any problem. Instead lighting candles etc. in such places and that too for such holy purposes will be the proof to:
تعاونُوا على البرِّ والتقوى
“…….And help one another in goodness and piety. (Maida 5:2)”
Under these circumstances why should it be considered haram and forbidden?
Incidentally a group of commentators of traditions have specified the same fact,
Al-Sindi mentions in the margins of Sunan al-Nasa'i:
والنهى عنه لإنه تضييع مالٍ بلا نفع
“Prohibition for lighting of candles was only because such an action leads to wastage of wealth.”
Tawassul (Recourse) To The Awliya Allah
Tawassul to the beloved ones of Allah is a matter which is in vogue amongst the Muslims of the world and from the day the Islamic Shariat was conveyed through the Holy Prophet (s) its legality was also declared by the way of Islamic traditions.
It was only in the 8th century A.H. that tawassul was rejected by Ibn Taymiyya and two centuries later Muhammad ibn ’Abd al-Wahhab intensified this objection. Tavassul was introduced to be unlawful and heresy and occasionally was labelled as worshipping the awliya And it is needless to mention that worshipping other than God amounts to polytheism and is forbidden.
We shall later on have a separate discussion regarding the meaning of worship ('ibada) and we shall remind you that tawassul to the divine leaders on the one hand will be counted as worship and polytheism and on the other hand will be considered as desirable and mustahab having no sign of worship. However, we shall not discuss them here. What is important to know is that tawassul to the awliya Allah is done in two ways:
1. Tawassul to themselves. For example we say:
اللهم إني أتوسل إليك بنبيك محمد (صلى الله عليه وأله) ان تقي حاجتي
“O Lord I take recourse to your Messenger Muhammad (s) in order that you fulfil my wish.”
2. Tawassul to their position and reverence before Allah and their rights.
Like we say:
اللهم إني أتوسل إليك بجاه محمد (صلى الله عليه وأله) وحُرمته وحقِّه ان تقضي حاجتي
“O Lord I take their position and their respect which they have before Thee as the means for my need to be fulfilled by Thee.”
From the viewpoint of the Wahhabis, both these types are declared to be forbidden whereas the Islamic traditions and the practice of the Muslims bear witness contrary to the views of the Wahhabis and recommend tawassul of both these types.
At first, we shall mention the Islamic traditions one by one and then state the practice of the Muslims. By paying attention to both these reasonings, the matter of heresy and unlawfulness will automatically cease to exist.
But, whether tawassul to divine leaders amounts to their worship or not will be discussed in the section of ‘meaning of worship’ and that section will be the most insightful part of our discussion.
Traditions
There are many traditions mentioned in the traditional and historical books which bear testimony to the correctness and verity of the matter of tawassul to the divine leaders themselves and their position. Here, we mention a part of those traditions:
First Tradition - Tradition of ‘Uthman ibn Hunayf
إن رجلاً ضريراً اتى إلى النبي (صلى الله عليه وأله) فقال ادعُ الله ان يُعافينى فقال إن شئت دعوت وإن شئت صبرت
وهو خير قال فادعه ، فامره أن يتوضأ فيُحسن وضوه ويُصلّي ركعتين ويدعو بهذا الدعاء: اللهم إني أسالك ،
وأتوجه بك إلى ربي في حاجتي لتقضي ، اللهم شفعه في. قال ابن حنيف فوالله ما تفرقا وطال بنا الحديث حتى دخل
علينا كان لم يكُن به ضُرّ
.
“A blind person approached the Holy Prophet (s) and said: ‘Request Allah to cure me.’ The Holy Prophet (s) replied: ‘If you wish so I will pray for you but be patient for that is much better.’ The blind man asked the Holy Prophet (s) to pray for him. The Holy Prophet (s) ordered him to take proper Wuzu and then recite two Raka't (units) of salat and this ‘Dua’: O’ Lord! I request from Thee; I pay attention to Thee through (the channel) of your prophet Muhammad, Your blessed prophet.
O Muhammad, I turn to my Lord for the fulfilment of my need through you so that my need is answered.
O Lord, accept his intercession for me….”
A Word about the Reference of this Tradition
The Authenticity And Verity Of The Reference Needs No Word From Us. Even The Leader Of The Wahhabis I.E. Ibn Taymiyya Has Declared Its Reference To Be Correct And Has Said That By Abu Ja'far Whose Name Has Come In The Sanad Of The Tradition Is Mean Abu Ja'far Al-Khutami And He Is A Reliable Man.
Al-Rifa'i, a contemporary Wahhabi writer who strives to cast down the credibility of the traditions on tawassul, says with regard to this tradition as such:
لا شك إن هذا الحديث صحيح ومشهور وقد ثبت فيه بلا شك
“Undoubtedly this tradition is correct and well-known."
In the book of al-Tawassul, Rafa'ee says: “This tradition has been mentioned by al-Nasa'i, al-Bayhaqi, al-Tabarani, al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim in his al-Mustadrak and two recent writers have inserted the sentenceاللهم شفعني فيه
instead ofوشفعه فيه 13
Zayni Dahlan writes in Khulasat al-kalam that: “This tradition has been narrated - with reliable chains of narration - by al-Bukhari, Ibn Maja, al-Hakim in his al-Mustadrak and Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in his al-Jami.”
The writer narrates this tradition from the following references:
1. Sunan Ibn Maja, vol 1 page 441 from the publications of Dar Ihya al-kutub al-'arabiyya, (ed. by Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi), tradition no. 1385.
Ibn Maja narrates from Abu Ishaq:
هذا حديث صحيح
‘This tradition is correct.’
Thereafter he adds:
"al-Tirmidhi has narrated this tradition in the book of Abwaab-ul-Adeeya and said
هذا حديث حق صحيح غريب
‘This tradition is truly correct and Gharib.’
2. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal vol. 4 page 138. He has narrated this tradition in three ways from the Musnad of ‘Uthman ibn Hunayf printed from al-Maktab al-Islami, Mu'assassa Dar Sadir, Beirut.
3. al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim vol. 1 page 313 printed from Hyderabad. After narrating the tradition he says:
هذا حديث صحيح على شرك الشيخين ولم يُخرجاه
“This tradition is correct according to the criteria set by the shaykhayn and they have not narrated it.”
4. Al-Jami' al-Saghir written by al-Suyuti narrated from al-Tirmidhi and Mustadrak al-Hakim page 59.
5. Talkhis al-Mustadrak written by al-Dhahabi (died in 748) which is printed below al-Mustadrak.
6. Al-Taj al-Jami' vol. 1 page 286. This book is the collection of the traditions of the five books of Sihah except Ibn Maja.
Therefore it is needless to speak and discuss about the reference of this tradition.
You hand over this tradition to someone who is acquainted with Arabic language and a person whose mind is completely free from the controversies of the Wahhabis in the matter of tawassul and ask him what the Holy Prophet (s) has commanded him in the du'a which he taught the blind man and how he guided him as to how one's ‘Duas’ are easily answered! He will immediately reply: “The Holy Prophet (s) has taught him to consider the blessed Prophet as a channel and to seek tawassul from him and ask God to fulfil his wish. This matter can easily be understood from the following sentences:
. A “O Lord, I ask Thee and turn towards Thee through the channel of your Prophet.”
اللهم إني اسئلك وأتوجه إليك بنبيك
The wordنبيك
is pertaining to the previous two wordsاسئلك
andاتوجه إليك
In clearer terms, he asks from God through the channel of ‘Nabi’ and also turns to God through him. Moreover by ‘Nabi’ is meant Nabi himself and not the ‘Dua’ of Nabi; to imagine that it means the du'a of Nabi is deficient of any reason.
Anyone who predetermines the word of du'a has no reason other than pre-judgement since, the one who commends such a word and does not think Tawassul to people to be correct forcibly strives to predetermine the word of ‘Dua’ so that nobody opposes his idea and eventually he may say: “It means tawassul to the ‘Dua’ of the Prophet (s) and not the Prophet himself and tawassul to the ‘Dua’ of someone is proper.
محمد نبي الرحمة
In order to clarify that asking God for the Sake of the Prophet and paying attention to Him through His channel is the right purpose, the word ofنبيك
is mentioned along with the sentenceمحمد نبي الرحمة
which clarifies the fact much better and makes the meaning more apparent.
(C) The sentenceيا محمد اني أتوجه بك إلى ربي
shows that he (i.e. the blind man) is referring to Prophet Muhammad himself and not his du'a.
(D) The sentenceوشفعه فيّ
means O God make him as my intercessor and accept his intercession towards me. In all of these sentences what is said and explained is the very personality of the Holy Prophet (s) and his great position and there is no talk of the du'a of the Holy Prophet.
With this explanation all the five objections which the Wahhabi writer al-Rifa'i has mentioned in the book al-Tawassul ila haqiqat al-tawassul is done away with and we have brought the details of the objections and their reply in our book, al-Tawassul. Interested readers can refer to them on pages 147 to 153.
Second Tradition: Tawassul to The (Right) Of Questioner
'Atiyya al-'Awfi narrates from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Holy Prophet (s) said: “Anyone who leaves his house for salat and recites in this state the following du'a, he will meet the mercy of Allah and one thousand angels will seek forgiveness for him.”
اللهم إني أسئلك بحق السائلين عليك وأسئلك بحق ممشاي هذا فإني لم اخرُج اشراً ولا بطراً ولا رياء ولا سُمعة
وخرجت إتقاء سخطك وابتغاء مرضاتك فاسئلك ان تعيذني من النار وان تغفر لي ذنوبي إنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت
.
“O God I ask Thee by the right of the questioners and by the honour of the steps which I take in Thy direction, I have not left the house for the purpose of disobedience or recreation or hypocrisy. I have left for keeping away from Thy anger and achieving Thy satisfaction. I ask Thee to keep me away from the Fire and forgive my sins for nobody forgives the sins except Thee.”
This tradition clearly bears testimony to the fact that man, while asking God for his need to be fulfilled can take the position and status of a pious person as his channel and the reasoning of this tradition brings to light our objective.
Third Tradition: Tawassul to the Right of Holy Prophet (s)
After disobedience of Allah, Adam (‘a) in the light of the words which were manifested from God, repented as Qur’an says:
فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ
إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Then adam received (some) words from his lord, so He turned to him mercifully; surely He is oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. (Baqarah 2:37)”
Regarding the interpretation ofكلمات
(words) which has come down in this verse, a group of commentators and traditionists, by relying on the following tradition are having a view, which by paying attention to its text will become clear for us.
Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu'jam al-saghir, al-Hakim Naysaburi in al-Mustadrak, Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani and al-Bayhaqi in the book of Dala'il al-nubuwwa, Ibn 'Asakir al-Shami in his al-Ta'rikh, al-Suyuti in al-Durr al-Manthur and al-Alusi in Ruh al-Ma'ani
have narrated from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab that the Holy Prophet (s) has said:
لما اذنب ادم الذي اذنبه رفع رأسه إلى السماء فقال اسئلك بحق محمد إلا غفرت لي فأوحى الله إليه ومن مُحمد؟
فقال تبارك اسمك ، لما خلقت رفعت رأسى إلى غرشك فإذا فيه مكتوب لا إله إلا الله ومحمد رسول الله فقلت إنه
ليس أحد اعظم عندك قدراً: ممن جعلت اسمه مع اسمك فاوحى إليه إنه اخر النبيين من ذريتك ولولا هو لما خلقتك
.
When Adam committed the sin he raised his head towards the sky and said (O God) I ask Thee by the right of Muhammad that You forgive me. God revealed to him: “Who is Muhammad?”
Adam replied: When You created me, I raised my head towards the ‘Arsh’ (Throne) and I saw that on it was written “There is no God except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I said to myself that Muhammad must be His greatest creature that Allah has kept His name besides his own name. At this moment, it was revealed to him that Muhammad was the last of the Prophets from his Progeny and if it was not for Muhammad, God would have not created him.
Our View about this Tradition:
1. In the Holy Qur’an the word of (words) is applied to personalities contrary to what is common amongst us. For example:
أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ
“That Allah gives you the good news of Yahya verifying a Word from Allah, (Aal-Imran 3:39)”
يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ
“O Maryam, surely Allah gives you good news with a Word from him (of one) whose name is the Messiah, Isa son of Maryam. (Aal-Imran 3:45)”
إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ
“The Messiah, Isa son of Maryam is only an Apostle of Allah and His Word, (Nisa 4:171)”
قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ
“Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord. (Kahf 18:109)”
وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ
"With seven more seas to increase it, the words of Allah would not come to an end. (Luqman 31:27)”
Considering that the word ofكلمات
has come in the verse under our discussion, we can say that byكلمات
is meant the same noble personalities to whom tawassul is sought and in the aforesaid tradition, only the name of Muhammad is mentioned from amongst the names of those personalities. Therefore, in Shia traditions, this reality is narrated in two ways. Sometimesكلمات
is interpreted as a name of these holy personalities and sometimes it refers to their sparkling light. Here is both the interpretations:
إن أدم راى مكتوباً على العرش اسماء معظمة مكرمة فسأل عنها فقيل له هذه اسماء اجل الخلق منزلة عند الله
تعالى والأسماء محمد وعليّ وفاطمة والحسن والحسين ، فتوسَّل ادم عليه السلام إلى ربه في قبول توبته ورفع
منزلته
Adam saw the names which were written in ‘arsh (throne) and did tawassul to them. It was told to him that these names were the most honourable creatures of Allah and they were Muhammad, 'Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan and al-Husayn. Adam repented by doing tawassul to them.
Another Shia tradition mentions that Adam saw the sparkling light of these five personalities. For knowing this tradition, please refer to Tafsir al-burhan.
2. By referring to the historical and traditional books it becomes clear that tawassul of Adam ('a) to the Holy Prophet (s) was one famous and well-known matter. As, Imam Malik told Mansur al-Dawanaqi in the shrine of the Holy Prophet (s) as such:
هو وسيلتك ووسيلة ابيك أدم
“He (Holy Prophet) is your channel and your father, Adam's channel.”
The Islamic poets have put this reality into a form of verse:
به قد اجاب الله ادم دعا ونجى في بطن السفينة نوح
قوم بهم عفرت خطيئة ادم وهم الوسيلة والنجوم الطُلع
“On account of him, Allah accepted the ‘Dua’ of Adam and saved Noah inside the ship. They are such people through whom Adam's sin was pardoned and they are those who are the channels to Allah and the sparkling stars.”
Fourth Tradition: Tawassul of Prophet (s) by the Right of Prophet (s) and by the Rights of Previous Prophets
لما ماتت فاطمة بنت أسد ، دخل عليها رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وأله) فجلس عند رأسها ، فقال رحمك الله يا أمي
بعد أمي ثم دعا رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وأله) اسمامة بن زيد ، وابا أيُوب الأنصارى وعمر بن الخطاب وغُلاماً
اسود ، يحفرون ، فحفروا قبرها ، فلما بلغوا الحد ، حفر رسول الله بيده واخرج تُرابه ، فلما فرغ دخل رسول الله
(
صلى الله عليه وأله) فاضطجع فيه ، ثم قال: الله الذي يُحيى ويُميت وهو حيُّ لا يموت إغفر لأمي فاطمة بنت اسد
ووسّع عليها مدخلها بحق نبيك الدين من قلبي
“When Fatima, daughter of Asad passed away and the Holy Prophet (s) was informed about her death he came and sat beside her and said:
‘O my mother after my mother, may God have mercy upon you. Then he asked Usama, Abu Ayyub, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab and a black slave to prepare one grave. When the grave was ready the Holy Prophet (s) made a niche in the side of the grave and buried her with his own hands and then recited this ‘Dua’:
'O Allah the One who gives Life and Death: the One who is All-Living and never dies, Have mercy on Fatima daughter of Asad and make her abode vast by the right of your Prophet and the Prophets who came before me.’”
The writer of Khulasat al-kalam says:
رواه الطبراني في الكبير والأوسط وابن حبان والحاكم وصحّحوه
“This tradition is narrated by al-Tabarani (in his al-Mu'jam), Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim and they have confirmed its authenticity.”
Sayyid Ahmad ibn Zayni Dihlan writes in the book al-Durar al-saniyya fi al-radd 'ala al-wahhabiyya as such:
روى ابن أبي شيبة عن جابر مثل ذلك ، وكذا روى مثله ابن عبد البر عن ابن عباس ، ورواه ابو نعيم في حلية
الأولياء عن أنس ، ذكل ذلك كُله الحافظ جلال الدين السُيوطي في الجامع الكبير
.
The famous traditionist Ibn Abi Shayba has narrated this tradition from Jabir. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr and Abu Nu'aym too have narrated this tradition from Ibn 'Abbas and Anas respectively. Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti has brought all these matters in al-Jami' al-kabir.
The writer narrates this tradition in the afore-mentioned form from two books that some of them contain the supplication related to our discussion while others do not.
1. Hilyat al-'awliya (Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani, vol. 3 page 121.
2. Wafa' al-wafa' (al-Samhud) vol. 3 page 899.
Fifth Tradition: Tawassul to Prophet (s) Himself
Some of the Islamic traditionists have narrated that an Arab accompanied with some villagers approached the Holy Prophet (s) and said:
لقد اتيناك وما لنا بعير يط لنا ولا صبيُ يعظ
,
“We have come to you while we are neither having a camel with us to groan nor a child to sleep.”
Thereafter he recited these poems
أتيناك والعذراء تُمى لبانُها وقد شُغلت أم الصبيّ عن الطفل
ولا شئ مما تأكل الناس عندنا سوى الحنظل العامي والعلهز الفسل
وليس لنا إلا إليك فرارُنا واين فرار الناس إلا إلى الرُسل
We have come to you while blood drops from the bosom of the horses; the mother has been restrained from her baby. We are not having anything with ourselves for people to eat except for bitter leaves which they eat in the year of famine and some bad food from wool and blood. We are having no alternative but to seek shelter in you, and in whom can people seek shelter except the Prophets.
Then,
فقال رسول الله يجرر حتى صعد المنبر ، فرفغ يديه: اللهم إسقنا غيثاً مُغيثاً...فما ردّ النبي يديه حتى ألقت
السماء...ثم قال لله درابي طالب لو كان حياً لقرَّت عيناه ، من يُنشدنا قوله؟ فقال عليُ بن أبي طالب ، وقال وكأنك
تُريد يا رسول الله قوله
:
وابيض يُستسقى الغمام بوجهه ثمال اليتامى للأرامل
يطوف به الهُلاك من أل هائم فهم عنده في نعمة وفواضل
The Holy Prophet (s) said:
فأنشد عليّ ابياناً من القصيدة والرسول يستغفر لأبي طالب على المنبر ، ثم قام رجل من كنانة وأنشد
.
لك الحمد والحمد ممن شكر سُقينا بوجه النبي المطر
“‘Yes, my objective was the same as you have recited.’ Then Ali (‘a) read a portion of his elegy and the Holy Prophet (s) asked blessings for Abu Talib on top of the pulpit.’
After this a man from the tribe of Bani Kanane stood up and recited some lines where the first line meant as follows: “All the praise is for You. O Allah; praise from Your worthy slaves. By resorting to the Holy Prophet (s), we have become satiated by the rainfall.”
Numerous references have been narrated for this portion but the writer has narrated from the following documents:
a. 'Umdat al-qari fi sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 7 page 31 written by Badr al-Din Mahmud bin Ahmad al-'Ayni (died in the year 855) printed by Idara al-taba'a al-muniriyya.
b. Sharh Nahjul-Balagha by Ibn Abi al-Hadid, vol. 14 page 80.
c. al-Sira al-Halabiyya by 'Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, vol. 3 page 263.
d. al-Hujja 'ala al-dhahib ila takfir Abi Talib, written by Shams al-Din Abi 'Ali Fakhar bin Ma'ad (died in the year 630), printed in Najaf, 'Alawi press, page 79.
e. Sira Zayni Dihlan in the margin of al-Sira al-Halabiyya, vol. 1 page 81.
Sixth Tradition: Tawassul to the Self of Prophet (s)
إن سواد بن قارب رضي الله ، انشد لرسول الله قصيدته اليئ فيها التوسل ويقول
:
وأشهد أن الله لا رب غيره وأنك مأمون على كل غائب
وأنك أدنى المرسلين وسيلة إلى الله يابن الأكرمين الأطائب
فمُرنا بما يأتيك يا خير مُرسل وإن كان فيما فيه شيب الذوائب
وكن لي شفيعاً يوم لا ذو شفاعة بمُغنٍ قتيلاً عن سواد بن قارب
“I bear witness that there is no God except Allah. You (O Prophet) are trustworthy upon every hidden thing from the senses. From amongst the Prophets you are the most nearest channel towards Allah. O the son of the honourable and noble! you command us whatever you receive. O, the most righteous Apostle! Although acting upon your commands causes the hair on the head to turn white, you be my intercessor on the Day when the intercession of the intercessors will be useless for Sawad bin Qaa'reb even to the extent of string of dates.”
Till here we were able to mention some of the traditions of tawassul which have come in the historical and traditional books of Ahl al-Sunnah.
However in the traditions of Shi’a leaders, the matter of tawassul to holy personalities is so clear and obvious that it can be witnessed in most of their ‘Duas’ (supplications).
Should we learn Islamic teachings and instructions from Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad ibn ’Abd al-Wahhab or acquire them from the Household of the Messengership and the progeny of the Holy Prophet (s) who by the order of Hadith al-Thaqalayn, are (The Lesser Weight) and witness to Qur’an. Amongst the numerous ‘Duas’ that have come in al-Sahifa al-'Alawiyya
or in du'a 'Arafa or in al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, we shall content ourselves with only one of them which is most suitable in connection with the previous tradition.
Seventh Tradition: The Leader of the martyrs says in du'a 'Arafa
اللهم إنا نتوجه إليك في هذه العشية التي فرضتها وعظمتها بمُحمد نبيك ورسولك وخيرتك من خلقك
“O Lord at such a moment that You have made it obligatory and honourable upon me, I turn towards You by Muhammad, Your Prophet, Your Messenger and Your best of those created by You.”
Practise of the Muslims Regarding Tawassul
The practise of the Muslims during the time of the Holy Prophet (s) and also after him was that they were always seeking ‘tabarruk’ to the awliya Allah themselves as well as to their position and status. Now we shall mention some of them here:
(1). Ibn al-'Athir 'Izz al-Din 'Ali bin Muhammad bin Muhammad bin 'Abd al-Karim al-Jazari (died in 630 AH) writes in the book Usd al-ghaba fi ma'rifat al-sahaba as such:
واستسقى عمر بن الخطاب بالعباس عام الرمادة لما إشتد القحط فسقاهم الله تعالى به واخصبت الأرض فقال عمر
هذا
:
والله الوسيلة إلى الله والمكان منه وقال حسان
:
سال الإمام وق نتابع جدبنا فسقى الغمام بغرة العباس
عمّ النبي وصنو والده الذي ورث النبي بذالك دون الناس
أحيا الإله به البلاد فأصبحت مخضرة الأجناب بعد اليأس
ولما سُقى الناس طفقوا يتمسحون بالعباس ويقولون هنيئاً لك ساقي الحرمين
“In the year when famine reached its peak, ‘Umar requested for rain through the channel of Abbas. God satiated them through him and every place became green. Thereafter ‘Umar faced the people and said: ‘I swear by Allah that al-‘Abbas is our channel towards Allah and he is having a high station before Allah.’
Hassan ibn Thabit recited a poem in his honour and said: ‘When famine had severely engulfed the entire area, the Leader requested for rain.’
Thereafter the clouds in the sky, through the brightness of al-‘Abbas satiated the people. Al-‘Abbas who is the Uncle of the Prophet (s) and alike the father of the Prophet (s) has inherited such a position and status from him. Almighty Allah enlivened the places through him and every spot began to be filled with greenery after despair and disappointment. When it rained, people everywhere started seeking tabarruk by touching the body of al-‘Abbas and they said: Bravo O Saqi (cupbearer) of the two holy sanctuaries.”
Observation of the period of history, an example of which has also been mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari, shows that one of the means of tawassul was through the honourable personalities who were embodiment of nearness (to God) and meritorious and possessed virtues that make them suitable for tawassul. What an elegant manner to express this is to say:
هذا والله الوسيلة إلى الله والمكان منه
‘This is by God a means for seeking nearness to God and at His House.’
(2). Al-Qastallani (died in the year 923 AH), who was a contemporary to Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, writes in his book al-Mawahib al-ladunniyya bil-manha al-muhammadiyyah fil seerat al-nabawiyyah that has been printed in Egypt that:
إن عمر لنا استسقى بالعباس قال يا أيها الناس إن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وأله) كان يرى للعباس ما يرى الولد
للولد فاقتدوا به في عمه واتخذوه وسيلة إلى الله تعالى ففيه التصريح بالتوسل وبهذا يبطُل قول من منع التوسُل
مُطلقاً بالإحياء والأموات وقول من منع ذلك بغير النبي
.
“When ‘Umar requested for rain through Abbas he said: 'O people! The Holy Prophet (s) used to look at Abbas from a father's angle. You follow him and take him as your channel towards Allah.'" This action nullifies the notion and thought of those who have completely prohibited tawassul or have prohibited it for personalities other than Holy Prophet (s).”
(3). When Mansur asked the grand Mufti of Medina, Malik bin Anas, whether he should face the qibla and recite du'a or face the Holy Prophet (s), the latter replied:
لِم تصرف وجهك عنه وهو وسيلتك ووسيلة أبيك أدم (عليه السلام) إلى الله يوم القيامة بل استقبله واستشفع به
فيشفعك الله قال الله تعالى ولو أنهم إذ طلموا أنفسهم
.
“Why do you turn your face away from him? He is your means and your father, Adam's channel on the Day of Judgement. You resort to him and take him as your intercessor as Almighty Allah accepts his intercession. Allah declares (in Quran) that if those who do injustice upon themselves..."
(4). Ibn Hajar al-Haythami in the book of al-Sawa'iq al-muhriqa (which al-Qadi Nurullah al-Shustari refuted under the title of al-Sawarim al-muhriqa) has narrated the following two couplets:
إن النبي دريعتي هم إليه وسيلتي
ارجوا بهم أعطى غداً بيدى اليمين صحيفتي
“The Household of the Holy Prophet (s) is my channel towards Allah and it is through their means that I have hope that my book of deeds will be given in my right hand."
By taking into consideration these testimonies and words, one can claim that the Holy Prophet (s) and the outstanding personalities are one kind of channel which Qur’an has ordered for that as:
يا أيها الذين أمنوا اتقوا الله وابتغوا إليه الوسيلة
“O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means of nearness to Him. (Maida 5:35)”
Andوسيلة
(Channel) is not confined to observance of the wajib (obligatory) and haram (prohibited) acts. Instead, even the mustahab (recommended) acts such as tawassul to Prophets is aوسيلة
(channel) too. Can we find fault with so many scholars in understanding the meaning ofوسيلة
while they are the authorities in (passing) judgement and the protectors of traditions and are reckoned to be the Islamic scholars!
Those who do not give importance to these kinds of specifications and testimonies and think of their justification and interpretation are those who because of their prejudice do not intend to reap the benefits of these testimonies and evidences. For presenting an example of their prejudice and discrimination, we bring here a matter which al-Bukhari has narrated about this historical event and hence see with the vision of reality, how the curtain of prejudice has brought about deviation and chaos in this matter. We have replied to them in the book of al-Tawassul page 135 to 140.
(5) al-Bukhari narrates in his al-Sahih as such:
إن عمر بن الخطاب كان إذ قُحطوا إستسقى بالعباس بن عبد المُطلب رضي الله عنه ، وقال اللهم كُنا نتوسل إليك
بنبينا فتُسقينا وإنا نتوسل إليك بعمّ نبيينا فاسقنا قال فيُسقون
.
“During the period of famine, ‘Umar bin al-Khattab would take resort to al-'Abbas bin 'Abd al-Muttalib and say: ‘O God! previously we were taking resort to Your Prophet and You were sending Your mercy on us; Now we take resort to Your Prophet's uncle send Your mercy on us.' At this moment it started to rain and everything got satiated.”
There is nothing to be said about the authenticity and consensus regarding this tradition. Even al-Rifa'i who, under various pretexts, rejects the reliable traditions on tawassul has admitted the authenticity of this tradition and says:
إن هذا الحديث صحيحُ... فإن صحَّ هذا الجواز شرعاً فنحن مِن
أسبق الناس إلى الأخذ به والعمل بمُقتضاه
“Certainly this tradition is correct….If the purpose of the tradition is a proof upon the correctness of tawassul to people then we are the first people to take the step to accept that purpose and act upon it.”
By paying attention to the sentences of the Caliph himself which he narrates to al-'Abbas about tawassul and especially when he swears by Allah
هذا والله الوسيلة إلى الله والمكان منه
“This is by God a means for seeking nearness to God and at His House.”
It becomes clear that the reality of tawassul in this case is tawassul to the self or to the position and status of al-'Abbas before God.
In this regard, Muhammad bin Nu'man al-Maliki (died in the year 683 AH) narrates in his book Misbah al-zalam fi al-mustaghithin bi khayr al-'anam the manner of tawassul of ‘Umar to al-'Abbas as such:
اللهم إنا نستقيك بعمِّ نبيك (صلى الله عليه وأله) ونستشفع إليك بشيبته فسُقوا وفي ذلك يقول عباس بن عتبة بن
أبي لهب: بعمِّي سقى الله الحجاز وأهله عشية يستسقي بشيبته عمر
"O God we ask for rain through the channel of thy Prophet's uncle and we take his authority and previous record in Islam as our intercessor. At this moment, the mercy of Allah showered upon everyone. 'Abbas ibn 'Utba ibn Abi Lahab recited a poem in this regard and said: 'By the blessings of my Uncle, the land of Hijaz and its inhabitants got satiated. And at sunset, ‘Umar did tawassul to his (Al-Abbas’s) virtuousness.'"
In the same way, Hassan bin Thabit too recited a poem regarding this matter:
فسقى الغمام بغُرة العباس
“The cloud satiated (everything) due to the sparkling face of Abbas.”
Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani says in the book of Fath al-bari fi sharh Sahih al-Bukhari:
Al-Abbas in his du'a said:
وقد توجه القوم بي إليك لمكاني من نبيك
“The people resorted to me because of the bond of relationship which I have with Thy Prophet.”
As the respected readers have observed, there is no place of doubt that the aim was tawassul to the position and status of Abbas and we are aware that from ancient times there is a saying that:
تعليق الحُكم بالوصف مشعر بالعلية
“Anytime, a judgement is derived from a topic, its content will be a testimony against the topic (and) a testimony upon the proof of judgement.”
That is to say, if the Holy Qur’an says:
وعلى المولود له رزقهن
“…Securing the necessities of life for the women is a matter concerning those whose wives bear children for them… (Baqarah 2:233)”
It is a judgement due to expression of the reason of judgement and since women bring children for the men, their expenses in daily life should naturally be met by the men.
If we say: A learned man and a scholar should be respected, it is because of his knowledge and wisdom.
Therefore, if ‘Umar saysإنا نتوسل إليك بعمِّ نبيّك
he wishes to indicate the reason for doing tawassul to al-'Abbas. In other words, from among so many people, why should we do tawassul to him? As al-'Abbas himself said:
لمكاني من نبيك
“Because of my status in relation to your Prophet.”
Taking into consideration these reasonings, we can decisively say that the Muslims in the beginning of Islam were doing ‘tawassul’ to the righteous and virtuous personalities.
(6) Poem of Safiyya in grief of the Holy Prophet (s):
Safiyya, daughter of Abd al-Muttalib and aunt of the Holy Prophet (s) recited a poem in grief of the Holy Prophet (s). Two of its lines are:
ألا يا رسول الله أنت رجاؤنا وكُنت بنا براً ولم تك جافياً
وكنت بنا براً رؤوفاً نبينا ليبكِ عليك القوم من كان باكيا
“O Prophet of God you are our hope. You were a righteous person and never did you oppress anyone. You were good and kind to us; O our Prophet, amongst your nation whosoever (claims to be) in grief should shed tears for you.”
This part of the poem which was presented in the presence of the companinons of the Holy Prophet (s) and which has been narrated by the historians informs us of the following points:
Firstly, conversation with the spirits or so to speak, the address to the Holy Prophet (s) after his demise was an action which was permitted and was a common practice. As she said:ألا يا رسول الله
which is against the views of the Wahhabis, this kind of conversation is neither polytheism nor useless.
Secondly, by the decree of the sentenceأنت رجاؤنا
the Holy Prophet (s) was the hope of the Islamic society in all the conditions. Even after his demise, his relation with us is not disconnected. Here we shall mention some of the valuable writings of the great Sunni authors regarding ‘Tawassul’ towards the Holy Prophet (s). Referring to these books will clarify for the Islamic scholars the position of this matter and will manifest the fact that the matter of Tawassul, contrary to the views of the Wahhabis, was a practice in vogue amongst the Muslims.
(1) Ibn al-Jawzi (died in 597) has written a book by the name of al-Wafa bi 'ahwal al-Mustafa', and has earmarked one chapter for tawassul to the Holy Prophet (s) and another chapter for ‘seeking shifa from his grave’.
(2) Shamsuddin Muhammad bin Nu'man al-Maliki (died in the year 673 AH) has written a book by the name of Misbah al-zalaam fi al-mustaghithin bi khayr al-'anam and Sayyid Nur al-Din al-Samhudi has narrated a lot from him in his book Wafa' al-wafa' in the chapter of ‘Tawassul to the Holy Prophet (s)’.
(3) Ibn Dawud al-Maliki al-Shadhili has brought in his book al-Bayan wa al-'ikhtisar the tawassul of scholars and pious people to the Holy Prophet (s) in difficulties and hardships.
(4) Taqi al-Din al-Subki (died in the year 756 AH) has analysed this matter in his book Shifa al-siqam pages 120 to 133.
(5) Sayyid Nur al-Din al-Samhudi (died in the year 911 AH) has discussed this matter and brought testimonies to it in his book Wafa al-wafa' , vol. 2, pages 413 to 419.
(6) Abu al-'Abbas al-Qastallani (died in the year 932 AH) in his book al-Mawahib al-ladunniyya.
(7) Abu 'Abdulla al-Zurqani al-Maliki (died in the year 1122 AH) in his book Sharh al-Mawahib al-ladunniyya vol. 8 page 317.
(8) al-Khalidi al-Baghdadi (died in the year 1299 AH) author of Sulh al-'Ikhwan. Apart from this, he has written a risala (treatise) in reply to Sayyid Mahmud al-'Alusi Baghdadi about tawassul to the Holy Prophet (s) and has been printed in the year 1306 AH.
(9) al-'Adawi al-Hamzawi (died in the year 1303 AH) has discussed about tawassul in the book of Kanz al-matalib, page 198.
(10) al-'Azami al-Shafi'i al-Quda'i', author of Furqan al-Qur'an. This book has been printed along with the book al-'Asma wa al-sifat of al-Bayhaqi in 140 pages.
By referring to these books some of which have presented the facts and most prominent amongst them being Sulh al-'Ikhwan and Furqan al-Qur'an, one can know what was the practise of the Muslims in every period concerning tawassul to the Holy Prophet (s) and will reveal the exaggerations of Ibn Taymiyya and followers of his deviated ideology of Wahabism.
In the end, we shall once more remind you of what Qur’an says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful. (Mai'da 5:35)”
This verse in general orders to seek tawassul but what exactly is tawassul is not mentioned in this very verse.
There is no doubt that performing the religious duties is a channel (for tawassul) but it is not confined to this meaning only. Instead by paying attention to the short history of tawassul to the awliya Allah, it will become clear that this action itself is one of the channels. Moreover, this matter will fully become clear by referring to the conversation of Imam Malik with Mansur and also the incident of the second Caliph requesting for rain by doing tawassul to al-'Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet (s).
Notes
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Author: Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani
