DAILY FIQH
Question: What is Tawassul? Is it an established practise of Islam?
Answer: Every person is able to call out to Allah and invocate him directly. However, if a person, because of extreme humility or modesty feels: “O Allah I do not have any deeds that are worthy of being presented before you as an intermediary to my supplication. However, there is a certain pious accepted servant of yours, for whom I have love and affection, so on that basis accept my Du’a and supplication.” This in essences is Tawassul i.e.seeking a medium in supplication.
Broadly speaking there are two ways in which an intermediary may be implored:
1) The first type of Tawassul is when an individual asks Allah to accept his Du’a because of his relation or love for a certain pious accepted servant of Allah. The proof for this has been found in the Ahadith.
It has been mentioned in Tirmidhi Shareef, from Uthmaan bin Hunaif Radiyallahu that a blind person came to Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and requested that he supplicate to Allah that Allah cure him. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to him that if you so wish I will make Du’a that you are cured, alternatively, exercise patience and this would be better for you. The blind person preferred that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam make Du’a for his cure. So Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ordered him to make ablution (wudhu) and supplicate and say; “O Allah Ta’ala I beseech you and I turn to you, My Cherisher, through the medium of your Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam who is the Nabi of mercy and compassion.”
This incident is an example of using the Nabi of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as an intermediary in his life time, i.e. as a medium in supplicating to Allah. Furthermore, Allamah Mubarakpuree Rahmatullahi Alaihi has stated: “As with regards to using the pious as a medium in Du’a, the Sahab Radiyallahu used the uncle of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam i.e. Abbass Radiyallallah anhu as a medium when making Du’a to Allah Ta’ala for rain.” Tohfatul Ahwazi Vol.12 Pg.25
2) The second type of Tawassul is when an individual asks a pious accepted person or Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam (in his life time) to supplicate and make Du’a to Allah on the individual’s behalf.
It is established in a Hadeeth of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to Umar Radiyallahu Anhu when he was leaving for Umrah:
يأخي لا تنسنا من دعآئك{ المسند للا مام أحمد}
Translation- O my brother don’t forget us in your Du’a
Similarly, it is narrated that the Ta’bieen that would ask each other to make Du’a for them.
From the quoted traditions it is clear that from the afore mentioned types of Tawassul (adopting a medium) is proven from the tradition of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Notwithstanding the above, when adopting wasilah one’s beliefs should be that only Allah Ta’ala can effect change in this world and answer Du’as and the medium itself can not effect any change.
AND ALLAH KNOWS BEST
Yusuf Moosagie
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