Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Tawassul

By: Dr. 'Abd al-Karim Bi-Azar Shirazi

Translated by Sayyid 'Ali Shahbaz

Published by: Message of Thaqalayn

Vol. 5, No. 4, Summer 2000/1421

Table of Contents

[Introduction] 3

Definition of Tawassul 4

a) Tawassul to the Prophet and Saints during their Lifetime 4

b) Tawassul to the Prophet after his Death. 4

1. Opinion on Permissibility. 5

2. Opinion on Aversion. 6

Opinion of Contemporary Hanafi Scholars on Permissibility  7

Tawassul in the View of Prominent Imami 'Ulama' 8

3. Opinion on Non-Permissibility of Tawassul 9

Rejection of Ibn Taymiyyah's Opinion 9

Justification of the Salafiyyah on Non-Permissibility of Tawassul 11

Critique 11

Tamassuk in the Opinion of Abu Hanifah  12

Critique 12

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 18 of Surah al-Jinn  13

Critique 13

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayahs 13-14 of Surah al-Fatir 14

Critique 14

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 194 of Surah al-A'raf 15

Critique 15

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 3 of Surah al-Zumar 16

Critique 16

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 10 of Surah Yunus 17

Critique 17

Non-Permissibility of Tawassul to the Dead  18

Critique 18

Tawassul to the Dead is Addressing the Non-Existent 19

Critique 19

Blocking of Means (Sadd-i Dhara'i') 21

Critique 21

Takfir of Shi’a for Tawassul 21

Extreme Form of Tawassul among the Ahl al-Sunnah  22

Purity of Monotheism in Shi’a Supplications 23

A Glance at the Supplications of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) 24

Conclusion. 25

Notes: 27

[Introduction]

"O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek an approach unto Him..." (Holy Qur'an 5:35)

Over the last few centuries, the Muslims have been wracked by severe discord and hostility over the issue oftawassul (beseeching or supplicating) to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.), the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), the Saints and the Pious, to the extent that those who reject this concept have accused its supporters of shirk or polytheism, while the upholders oftawassul have charged its opponents with enmity and aversion towards the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and his Infallible Household (A.S.). The result has led to increasing bigotry on both sides to the benefit of their common enemies who have increased their domination of Muslim lands. This article is an attempt to examine and critically study the issue oftawassul .

Definition of Tawassul

The lexical meaning oftawassul is 'nearness' or a 'means' through which to reach a certain goal. For instance, when it is said wa wassala ila Allah, it means to perform a certain act for gaining proximity to God. Accordingly wasil here means being 'desirous of God'.[1]

According to the prominent Sunni scholar, Sayyid Muhammad Alusi al-Baghdadi,wasilah is a means of imploring in order to gain nearness to God through good deeds and abstaining from sins. For example when it is said "wasala ila kadha," it means a thing through which nearness is gained.

As is clear from the wordings ofayah 35 of Surah al-Ma'idah, which we quoted at the beginning of the article, "fear Allah" is a commandment to abstain from sin, while "seek an approach unto Him" is an order to perform worship and acts of devotion.[2]

Both Raghib Isfahani and 'Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Tabataba`i opine thatal-wasilah means to reach a certain goal through desire, inclination or willingness, and in factwasilah towards God means observance of His path with knowledge and worship through adherence to the Shari'ah. In other wordswasilah is a means of communication and spiritual link between mankind and God.

According to a narrational-wasilah is a position in paradise, which is reserved for only one person, and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) has asked the ummah to pray that this status be granted to him.[3]

a) Tawassul to the Prophet and Saints during their Lifetime

In the opinion of the founder of the Wahhabi sect, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, and other like-minded 'ulama' of the past, it is permissible to seek help from fellow humans, as during wars and other affairs, if the person or the group who is being asked or entreated has the power and ability to help.[4]

Alusi believes that appealing to people, making them awasilah or means and requesting them to supplicate to God is permissible without the least doubt, provided that the one who is being requested is alive, whether or not the one who is petitioned is superior than the petitioner, since the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) used to say to some of his companions:"O brother do not forget us in your supplications to ALLAH (SWT)."

However, Alusi is of the opinion that if the one who is being petitioned is not alive, it is not permissible to request him for supplication. But Alusi adds that it is permissible to supplicate at the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), since the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) used to stand beside his shrine and supplicate with face towards the Qiblah.

b) Tawassul to the Prophet after his Death

The 'ulama' are divided whether or not it is permissible after the death of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) to make him the means of supplication with such phrases as Allahumma inni asaluka bi-Nabiyyika (O Allah! I beseech You through Your Prophet), or bi-jahi Nabiyyika (by the dignity of Your Prophet), or still bi-Haqqi Nabiyyika (for the sake of Your Prophet). We come across three different opinions in this regard.

1. Opinion on Permissibility

All jurists including Imami, Shafi'i, Maliki, and later-day Hanafi scholars as well as others such as the Hanbalis, are unanimous on the permissibility of this way of supplication, whether it was in the lifetime of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), or whether it is after his passing away.[5]

The Abbasid caliph, Mansur al-Dawaniqi, once asked Malik ibn Anas the founder of the Maliki School of jurisprudence whether he should turn towards the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) or face the Qiblah for supplication? Malik answered him:

“Why do you want to turn away from the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) when he (Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.)) is the wasilah (means) for you and for your father Adam, towards ALLAH (SWT) on the Day of Resurrection. Turn to him (the Prophet) and seek his intercession (shafa'at)”.[ 6]

The Sunni scholar al-Nawawi in describing the manners and etiquette of making pilgrimage to the shrine of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.), writes:

The pilgrim should face the shrine of the Messenger of ALLAH, make him a means (tawassul ) towards reaching God and seek hiswasilah as intercession (shafa'at ), in the same manner as the Bedouin who visited the Prophet's shrine and standing beside it said: Peace unto you O Messenger of ALLAH (SWT), I have heard ALLAH (SWT) has said:...Had they, when they had wronged themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would certainly have found Allah Most-Propitious, Most-Merciful. (Holy Qur'an 4: 64).Therefore, I have come to you for forgiveness of my sins and seeking your intercession with ALLAH (SWT).[7]

Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, defining the manner of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), writes in the book al-Mughni:

Stand beside the tomb of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), and say: I have come to you for forgiveness of my sins and to seek your intercession with ALLAH (SWT).[8]

The Shafi'ite scholar Ghazzali has allotted a special section in his book Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din concerning the manners of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) in order to repent and seek forgiveness from ALLAH (SWT). He writes:

The Prophet should be made the means (wasilah ) and the intercessor (shafi' ), and with face turned towards the tomb, the pilgrim should implore ALLAH (SWT) for the sake and position of the Prophet with the words: "O ALLAH (SWT), indeed You have said, Had they, who had wronged themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would have certainly found Allah Most-Propitious, Most-Merciful (Holy Qur'an 4:64);O ALLAH (SWT), surely we have heard Your words and we obey Your command, by coming to Your Prophet to seek his intercession with You for our sins; how burdensome and heavy (are sins) on our backs! We repent of slipperiness, we confess our wrongs and our faults, accept our repentance for his sake, make Your Prophet intercessor for us, and exalt us for the sake of his position and his rights with You."

Al-Ghazzali adds:

It is recommended the pilgrim should go daily to the Baqi' Cemetery and after saluting the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), make pilgrimage to the tombs of (Imam) Hasan ibn 'Ali, (Imam) 'Ali ibn al-Hussein, (Imam) Muhammad ibn 'Ali and (Imam) Ja'far ibn Muhammad (Allah be pleased with them), and also perform the Salat in the Mosque of Fatemah (Allah be pleased with her) .[9]

2. Opinion on Aversion

The jurist Abu Yusuf relates from his teacher Abu Hanifah that it is not right for anyone to call ALLAH (SWT) except through (the Names and Attributes) ALLAH (SWT), since He says: "And to Allah belong the beautiful Names, so call on Him thereby." (Holy Qur'an 7:180).

Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad Shaybani also feel averse in invoking God by means (tawassul ) of the Prophet and his position, on the assumption that the creatures have no right on the Almighty Creator, and He showers His mercy on whomever He likes.

Ibn 'Abidin, however, says in this regard: True, the creatures have no right whatsoever upon the Creator, but the Creator through His favors has given rights to mankind. On this basis, he relates a hadith concerning the manners of supplication andtawassul :

Allahumma inni asaluka bi-haqqi al-sa'ilina 'alayk (O Allah! I beseech you for the rights that seekers have upon You).[10]

Except for this narration of Ibn 'Abidin, we find no opinion or view from either Abu Hanifah or his friend Abu Yusuf in the books of Hanafi scholars concerningtawassul to God through thewasilah (means) of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.).[11]

Opinion of Contemporary Hanafi Scholars on Permissibility

Here, we will study the legal opinions (fatwa) of contemporary Hanafi scholars on permissibility oftawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.).

Alusi al-Baghdadi quotes Ibn 'Abd al-Salam as saying that it is permissible to invoke ALLAH (SWT) for the sake of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), since Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) is the leader of the children of Adam. Alusi bases his reasoning on the hadith (hasan and sahih) related by both Tirmidhi and Ahmad ibn Hanbal on the authority of 'Uthman bin Hunayf, which says that:

Once when a blind man asked the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) to pray to ALLAH (SWT) to grant him eyesight, he was told to make wudu' and recite the following supplication:“O ALLAH (SWT)! I request you and I have turned to you through Your Prophet, the Prophet of Mercy; O Messenger of ALLAH (SWT)! I have turned to you as a means towards My God for fulfillment of this wish of mine; O ALLAH (SWT)! Accept his (Prophet's) intercession (shafa'at ) for me”.

Alusi thus believes that there is no objection in makingtawassul to God by means of the dignity (jah) and prime position of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), whether it is in his lifetime or after his death, since dignity here refers to an attribute which is one of the attributes of Almighty ALLAH (SWT). Alusi also says thattawassul by means of dignity of a person other than the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) is also permissible, provided that the one who is being considered awasilah has a station and position of dignity in the sight of ALLAH (SWT).[12]

The famous Sunni scholar of India, Shaikh Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri in his book al-Muhannad 'ala al-Mufannid has collected the fatwa or legal opinions of 75 leading Sunni scholars from different parts of the Islamic world on the permissibility oftawassul to the shrine of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.). He writes:

In our opinion and that of our teachers, pilgrimage to the shrine of the Master of Messengers (my soul be sacrificed for him) is the most exalted of proximities, the most important of blessings, and the greatest of means (wasilah ) for attaining lofty ranks. It could be said that it is an enjoinment almost to the degree of obligations, even if it requires the trouble of a journey to perform it and there is no other option other than to make efforts with life and wealth.Tawassul to the Prophets, saints, pious persons, martyrs and the righteous during supplications, whether in their lifetime or after their death, is permissible in the following manner:Allahumma inni atawassalu ilayka bi-fulan an tujiba da'wati wa taqdia hajati (O ALLAH (SWT)! I beseech you by means of so and so a person, accept my supplication and grant my request).[13]

Tawassul in the View of Prominent Imami 'Ulama'

According to such prominent Imami 'ulama' as Shaikh al-Ta'ifah Tusi, Shaikh Amin al-Islam Tabrisi, 'Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Tabataba`i, Imam Sayyid Ruhullah Khomeini and others,wasilah means faith, love and reverence for the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and obedience to him.

'Allamah Tabataba`i writes in his monumental exegesis on the Holy Qur'an that the wordal-wasilah or 'approach' as used in theAyah "and seek an approach unto Him" (5:35) confirms the reality of worship and means turning submissively and supplicating to God, with knowledge and practice serving as the requisite instrument for this connection.[14]

Furthermore, elaborating on the narration found in the Tafsir of 'Ali bin Ibrahim Qummi that theAyah "and seek an approach unto Him" means seeking ALLAH (SWT)'s proximity through the Infallible Imam (A.S.), 'Allamah Tabataba`i, says that this refers to obedience or adhering to the path of the Imam (A.S.) in order to reach ALLAH (SWT).[15]

It is evident that the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and the Infallible Imams (A.S.), who are considered the practical models of divine law and the finest exemplars of morals and etiquette, are thewasilah , since it is through obedience to them and adherence to their path that one can attain proximity to God. Likewise, as stated by prominent Imami or Shi’a jurists, the laws of the Shari'ah are thewasilah , on the basis of adherence to which, proximity of Almighty ALLAH (SWT) is attained. Accordingly, some prominent Imami jurisprudents like Shaikh Hurr al-'Amili, Ayatollah Abu al-Hasan Isfahani and Imam Khomeini have used the titlewasilah for their jurisprudential treatises such as Wasa'il al-Shi’a,Wasilah al-Najat and Tahrir al-Wasilah , respectively.Wasilah al-Najat or the 'Means of Salvation' is the title of over 40 scientific treatises written by Shi’a 'ulama'.[16]

Thus, as ascertained by Imami scholars, the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) is thewasilah towards God for Muslims since he is the best exemplar and is in fact the 'Practical Qur'an'. So also is the Prophet's (S.A.W.A.) infallible progeny (A.S.), who along with the Book of ALLAH (SWT) (Holy Qur'an), is the immortal legacy of the Prophet and continuation of his path as borne out by the Hadith al-Thaqalayn, which is unanimously, confirmed by both Shi’a and Sunni 'ulama'. Muslims, through thewasilah of these two, hold fast to divine laws and strive to attain ALLAH (SWT)'s proximity, since good deeds, obedience and adherence to the Qur'an, the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and his Infallible Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) are the basis ofshafa'at . This is better explained by 'Allamah Tabataba`i in his exegesis:

Persons who lack any ability to attain the required perfection are like the illiterate who wants to become the doyen of scholars merely through recommendation, since he neither has any basic learning nor has he the required connection with the one who could intercede. Or they could be compared to a slave who is disobedient to his master, but without coming out of this state of insubordination and disobedience wants to be forgiven through intercession (shafa'at ). In none of these two cases intercession is beneficial, sinceshafa'at is thewasilah or means for accomplishment of a cause and is not a cause in itself to make him a doyen of scholars in the first

case, and in the second case to avail forgiveness from the master in the state of disobedience.[17]

Therefore, as it has been clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, if a person does not fulfill his obligations and adherence to the path of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and the Infallible Imams (A.S.), he will not be considered worthy ofshafa'at , even if the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) were to intercede on his behalf.

"Alike it is for them whether you seek forgiveness for them or seek not forgiveness for them; Never will God forgive them..." (63:6)

3. Opinion on Non-Permissibility of Tawassul

In the opinion of Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyyah and later Hanbali scholars’tawassul to the person of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) himself is not permissible.Tawassul has three concepts, of which two are deemed correct, and according to Ibn Taymiyyah, whoever rejects these two concepts oftawassul is either an infidel or an apostate.

1)Tawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) to reach God is indicative of faith and love for the Prophet (S.A.W.A.). For example, when it is said Allahumma asaluka bi-Nabiyyika Muhammad (O ALLAH (SWT)! I beseech you for the sake of your Prophet, Muhammad (S.A.W.A.)), it means I seek from You on the basis of the faith and love, which I have for Your Prophet.

TheAyah "and seek an approach unto Him", is a means of approaching ALLAH (SWT) by obedience to Him and His Messenger, as it is said: Whoever obeys the Prophet has indeed obeyed ALLAH (SWT).

This concept oftawassul is permissible in the opinion of all 'ulama'. Ibn Taymiyyah has considered it a pious act and has supported his views by citing reports from certain companions of the Prophets, the first generation of Muslims (tabi'in) and jurists such as Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.[18]

2) The concept oftawassul as supplication or intercession (shafa'at ) of the Prophet, like the supplication of the second caliph, which reads: "O ALLAH (SWT)! Whenever drought afflicted us we madetawassul to You through our Prophet (tawassalna ilayka bi-Nabiyyina), and now we maketawassul to You through the uncle of our Prophet, Send down rain for us."

3) The concept oftawassul as making an oath or invoking ALLAH (SWT) by the right of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.). According to Ibn Taymiyyah this form oftawassul was neither done during the lifetime of the Prophet nor after him by his companions. In this regard contemporary scholars opposed totawassul have quoted Abu Hanifah as saying: Do not say asaluka bi-haqqi anbiya'ika (I invoke You by the right of Your Prophets).[19]

Rejection of Ibn Taymiyyah's Opinion

1. The claim that the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) never supplicated in this manner is the understanding and deduction of Ibn Taymiyyah. How do we know that when the second caliph says "we maketawassul to You through our Prophet" does not mean "for the right of our Prophet (bi-haqqi nabiyyina)", or is not addressed to the Prophet himself? Most Sunni 'ulama' have given the latter meaning and from the wording of the sentence itself the Prophet is being called upon.

2. Suppose none of the companions had madetawassul by the right of any of the divine Prophets, it does not meantawassul is Haram even if some of the companions were to explicitly prohibit such an act. The opinion of the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) is not binding on the Muslim ummah, except perhaps for a few jurisprudents, unless it is related from Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) himself.

Justification of the Salafiyyah on Non-Permissibility of Tawassul

Ibn Taymiyyah in Qa'idah Jalilah, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab in Kashf al-Shubahat and Muhammad Rashid Rida in Tafsir al-Manar, opine that although during the life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.), his companions would address him for their needs, after his death they never approached his tomb for their needs. They even forbade those who intended to supplicate beside the Prophet's (S.A.W.A.) tomb.

Critique

It is interesting to note that a review and analysis of these opinions brings out different historical facts. First of all, the predecessors, whether the companions or the first and second generation of Muslims, never deniedtawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), either during his lifetime or after his passing away. It has been mentioned in the narrations of the Ahl al-Sunnah even the first created man, Adam, implored ALLAH (SWT) for forgiveness throughtawassul to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) with the words:"O ALLAH (SWT)! for the sake of Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) I beseech you to forgive my faults." [20]

Secondly, prominent Sunni scholars such as Bayhaqi and Ibn Abi Shaybah as well as Ahmad bin Zayni Dahlan in his Khulasah al-Kalam, have cited a sahih (authentic) hadith, that during the caliphate of 'Umar ibn Khattab when a severe famine occurred, Bilal bin Harth approached the Prophet's (S.A.W.A.) tomb and said: "O Messenger of Allah (SWT), pray to God to send rains for your ummah, since we are all facing annihilation." The Prophet then appeared in Bilal's dream and gave him the tidings of rains.

Similarly during the caliphate of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, a needy person approached the Caliph and told him of his needs. 'Uthman asked him to make wudu, offer prayer in the mosque and then supplicate in the following manner:

O Lord! through thewasilah of our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.), the Messenger of Mercy, I turn my face to You. O Muhammad (S.A.W.A.)! through yourwasilah I am facing Your Lord and I request you to grant me my wish. The person attained his goal.[21]

Tamassuk in the Opinion of Abu Hanifah

Ibn Taymiyyah says that taking an oath or invoking by virtue of the creatures isharam according to the creed (madhhab) of Abu Hanifah.[22]

Abu Hanifah, the founder of the Hanafi sect, also opines that istidlal (rational proof) and tamassuk (bond, holding fast) are matters of doubt or anxiety because of two aspects. Abu Yusuf quoting his teacher Abu Hanifah says: "It is not right for someone to call upon ALLAH (SWT) through any other means than ALLAH (SWT). He (Abu Hanifah) was averse to saying bi-haqqi fulan (by the right of so and so)".

Critique

First, Abu Hanifah has approached this issue with aversion and a purely personal opinion, as is clear from the inclusion of istidlal and tamassuk in Bab al-Karahah of Abu al-Hasan Qaduri's Sharh Karkhi. Abu Yusuf quoting his teacher Abu Hanifah says:

“It is not right for someone to call upon God through any other means than God. He was averse to saying for the sake of so and so”.

Secondly, a closer look at Abu Hanifah's reasoning reveals that he himself has tried to resort to rational argumentation in this regard when he says: "Since the creatures have no rights on the Creator."[23]

However, Abu Hanifah's analogy falls short of clear proofs, and does not mean the total negation of any right, since God Himself has considered the right of the Prophets and that of the righteous believers as binding upon Him, as is clear from the followingAyah of the Holy Qur'an:

Ultimately We deliver Our Apostles and those who believe, even so it is binding upon Us that We deliver the believers. (10:103)

The Hanafis such as Ibn 'Abidin accept this right, but they say that the creatures have no obligatory right on the Creator.[24]

This viewpoint, even if it is considered general, is confined to the followers of Abu Hanifah and cannot be imposed on all schools of Islam.

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 18 of Surah al-Jinn

Another reason put forward by the Salafiyyah such as Muhammad Rashid Rida on non-permissibility oftawassul to the Prophet after his death is that anywasilah for proximity to God should be a thing which God has determined for mankind such as faith, action and supplication. It was in the middle ages thattawassul to the person of the Prophets and pious men became widespread and they were considered wasa'il ila Allah (means to Allah) by people who would invoke God by their names and would supplicate to them at their tombs for their needs, when supplication is a form of worship as God says in the Holy Qur'an:

"So call you not anyone with Allah." (72:18)

"Surely, those whom you call other than Allah are subservient (to Allah) like unto your own selves..." (7:194)

Critique

In answer to this objection it should be said that every supplication is not a form of worship or even the spirit of worship, since the root of du'a' (supplication) is da'wat, a word which along with its derivatives occurs frequently in the Holy Qur'an. For instance, "...let us call (nad'u) our sons... (3:61)" and "Make you not the addressing (du'a') of the Prophet among you like your addressing one another..." (24:63)

As could be discerned, in most of the 'Ayas the word du'a' means to call or address. Accordingly neither every nida' (call) is du'a' nor every du'a' is 'ibadat (worship). In other words du'a' (supplication) becomes 'ibadat when the rules of worship such as servitude and submissiveness to ALLAH (SWT) are observed with acknowledgement of the over lordship of the Almighty Creator. What connection does this have withtawassul and tabarruk to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and the Infallible Imams (A.S.) and requesting them for help and succor?

Thus, the narrational-du'a' huwa al-'ibadah (supplication is among the acts of worship), does not necessarily mean that every supplication is a form of worship.[25]

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayahs 13-14 of Surah al-Fatir

The Salafiyyah also resort to the followingAyah of the Holy Qur'an as part of their attempt to discouragetawassul :

...And those whom you call upon other than Him, own not (even) a straw. If you call on them they shall hear not your call; and even if they hear they shall answer you not; and on the Day of Judgment they will deny your associating them (with Allah); and none can (ever) inform you as the All-Aware. (35:13,14)

Critique

ThisAyah refers to the polytheists who worship idols instead of the One and Only God and supplicate to these man-made objects in their hour of need. ALLAH (SWT) says here that these idols do not own even a straw, so how can they grant anything to those who worship and prostrate before them? No matter how fervently these idols are called upon, they do not listen since they are inanimate objects, and suppose even if they were to listen, they cannot answer since they do not have the tongues.[26]

As is crystal clear for any discerning person, it has no connection whatsoever concerningtawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and the Infallible Imams (A.S.) or saints.

First and foremost, it is a gross mistake to place those who seektawassul in the same category as the polytheists, since idolaters seek their needs from idols and not from the Almighty Creator. But those who maketawassul beseech ALLAH (SWT) for their needs and regard Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) as awasilah or means for the acceptance of their supplications, since he is the Messenger of ALLAH (SWT). To quote Rashid Rida himself, those who seektawassul are like guests who approach the host for some of their needs, and at times request the members of the household or friends of the hosts who have been appointed to serve the guests, since they consider everything to be the favor of the host.[27]

Secondly, it is a manifest error to equate with idols the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) who has been sent by ALLAH (SWT) as a divine sign and is called Habib-Allah (Friend of God) by all Muslims. Even Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab maintains that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) is alive in his grave and his life in the intermediary world (barzakh) is superior to the life of the martyrs, since he hears the voices of those who send blessings upon him.[28]

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 194 of Surah al-A'raf

The fifth reason that the Salafiyyah such as Ibn Taymiyyah, Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammad Rashid Rida have cited as non-permissibility oftawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) after his death, is the followingAyah of the Holy Qur'an:

"Surely, those whom you call other than Allah are subservient (to Allah) like unto your own selves..." (7:194)

Critique

All exegetes of the Holy Qur'an have unanimously stated that thisAyah refers to the idol-worshippers who associate man-made objects with God in creation and in administering the affairs of the world. In contrast,tawassul is made by those who never regard the Prophets as partners of ALLAH (SWT) in creation and in running world affairs, and neither do they worship the Last Prophet (S.A.W.A.), since every day several times they bear testimony that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) is the servant and Messenger of ALLAH (SWT) (ash-hadu anna Mohammedan 'abduhu wa rasuluh). As the Holy Qur'an says,

Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) has been sent as mercy to the entire creation(21:107) and is a means of acceptance of supplications, so it is natural for us to request him to supplicate and intercede (shafa'at ) with ALLAH (SWT) for us.

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 3 of Surah al-Zumar

The Chief Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh 'Abd al-'Aziz bin Baz, in his exchange of letters with Iran's Ayatollah Muhammad Wa'iz-Zadeh Khurasani, has remarked:

The polytheists also testified to the Oneness of ALLAH (SWT) but as the Holy Qur'an states, they tried to justify their worshipping of idols by saying:"...we worship them not but (in order) that they make us near to God..." (39:3). This is similar to the actions of those who maketawassul to those in the graves in order to seek proximity to ALLAH (SWT).[29]

Critique

'Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Tabataba`i responding to such a reasoning says that according to the books of religions and the testimony of idol-worshippers, hundreds of millions of whom live in India, China and Japan, idolatry is based on the theory that the creation of the universe and even the deities which are worshipped, have as their source the same Almighty God, but since He is beyond comprehension there is no other choice but to worship some of His closest servants such as angels, genies and saints so that they make intercession (shafa'at ) and people may reach the proximity of God through them. In the opinion of the polytheists, angels are like the builder to whom the owner of the house has entrusted the building and hence intercession (shafa'at ) is according to His discretion.

But, adds 'Allamah Tabataba`i, in the Holy Qur'antawassul to the Prophets is in the manner of an intermediary and is not something independent, and for this reason it has not been considered as shirk or polytheism. Similarly, the polytheists have been reproached in the Holy Qur'an not because of seeking intercession (shafa'at ) but because of worshipping other than God.[30]

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 10 of Surah Yunus

Shaikh Bin Baz in his answers to Ayatollah Wa'iz-Zadeh has also cited the followingAyah of the Holy Qur'an as another instance of non-permissibility oftawassul , saying that in his opinion Muslims who upholdtawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) are like idolaters who seek intercession from objects, which are of no use:

"And they worship beside Allah which can neither hurt them nor profit them, and they say: these are our intercessors with Allah..." (10:18)

Critique

First, thisAyah has no connection with Muslims since they do not worship any thing or object except ALLAH (SWT).

Secondly, as said earlier, addressing the Prophet is not meant to worship him but to request him for supplication and intercession.

Thirdly, it is a matter of surprise to compare the Prophet to those whom the Holy Qur'an says "can neither hurt them nor profit them," since the fact cannot be denied that obedience to the Prophet is to the benefit of Muslims and disobedience to him, whether during his lifetime or after his death, is certainly detrimental to them. Similarly, the supplication and intercession of the Prophet for those who are eligible, whether in worldly life or in the Hereafter, is profitable for the Muslims as unanimously confirmed by the 'ulama'.

Fourthly, it is a grave error to equate the belief of the Muslims that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) is the intercessor, with the belief of the polytheists "these (idols) are our intercessors with ALLAH (SWT)," since God has explicitly rejected their claim as lies.

"...those who take guardians besides Him, (say) we worship them not but (in order) that they make us near to Allah; surely Allah will judge between them about what they differ; surely Allah does not guide the one who is a liar and an ingrate." (39:3)

As is clear from the wordings of the Holy Qur'an the polytheists who make such claims are liars. They are not conscious of God, neither do they worship Him or prostrate to Him nor have they any faith in their Unseen Creator:

"And when it is said to them prostrate you in obeisance to the Rahman (the Beneficent God), they say: Who is Rahman? Shall we prostrate in obeisance unto what you bid us? And it (only) adds to their flight (from the truth)." (25:60)

Non-Permissibility of Tawassul to the Dead

Another claim put forward by the Salafiyyah is that, on the basis of evidencestawassul to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) during his lifetime is acceptable but after his death there is lack of evidence to support the view thattawassul was ever made to him.[31]

Critique

The contemporary Sunni scholar Dr. Ramadan Buti of the University of Damascus, rejects this viewpoint of the Wahhabiyyah sect. He saystawassul to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) and things pertaining to him is permissible, whether during his lifetime or after his death, since things or items related to him are not necessarily linked to his lifetime such as tabarruk (sacred relics) ortawassul , as is confirmed by Sahih al-Bukhari, Chapter on the hair of the Prophet.

No Muslim would ever attribute to other than the One and Only God the effect of anything related to the person of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) during his life or after his death. If a person were to hold the opposite view that this effect is independent in itself, he would be considered an infidel. Accordingly, the tabarruk of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) andtawassul to him and to things related to him, does not mean attributing the blessed effect to his personal influence independent of God, but is an indication of the fact that as the Last Divine-Sent Messenger he is the 'Best of Creation' and is the 'Mercy of Allah' for the entire creation. Thereforetawassul to him is a means of gaining proximity to ALLAH (SWT) and His infinite Mercy for mankind. It was in this sense that the companions soughttawassul to the Prophet and things related to him. Likewise, it is recommended to seek intercession (shafa'at ) through the pious persons such as the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.).

Sunni authorities including Shawkani, Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, San'ani and others are unanimous on this issue as was made clear concerning the request for rain. In view of these facts, Dr. Buti calls it a strange confusion by the Wahhabiyyah to make difference between the lifetime of the Prophet and after his death.[32]

To quote Professor Hasan bin 'Ali al-Saqqaf, polytheism (shirk) is polytheism either in this world or in the next, whether or not the person through whom people are seekingtawassul to God, is alive. But, he adds, without the least doubttawassul to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) is supported by the general rules of permissibility, and includes both his lifetime and after his death as well as in the Hereafter.[33]