At-Tawassul/Waseelah-means to seek Allah’s help

Allah has forbidden us to call upon anyone along with Him 

 …call not upon any one along with Allah 72/18

 Because they have no power 

 O people! a parable is set forth, therefore listen to it: surely those whom you call upon besides Allah cannot create fly, though they should all gather for it, and should the fly snatch away anything from them, they could not take it back from i weak are the invoker and the invoked.22/73

 They cannot answer our calls 

 If you call on them they shall not hear your call, and even if they could hear they shall not answer you; and on the resurrection day they will deny your associating them (with Allah); and none can inform you like the One Who is Aware.35/14

 They are human beings like us, meant to serve Allah

 Surely those whom you call on besides Allah are in a state of (IBAD) servents like yourselves; therefore call on them, then let them answer you if you are truthful.7/194

 They cannot help us, they cannot help even themselves

 And those whom you call upon besides Him are not able to help you, nor can they help themselves.7/197

 Even the one who is nearest to Allah is in hope of Allah’s mercy

 Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord, - even those who are nearest: they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath: for the Wrath of thy Lord is something to take heed of.17/57

 Even the Prophet (P.B.U.H) of Allah fear from Allah’s penalty, if he disobeys

 Say: "I would, if I disobeyed my Lord, indeed have fear of the penalty of a Mighty Day. 6/15, 39/13

  Allah has ordered us to call upon, only Him 

 Say: Call upon Allah or call upon, the Beneficent Allah; whichever you call upon, He has the best names;…17/110

 Allah listens to the prayers of His servants

 When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.2/186

 Allah is sufficient

 If indeed you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? They would most certainly say: Allah. Say: Have you then considered that what you call upon besides Allah, would they, if Allah desire to afflict me with harm, be the removers of His harm, or (would they), if Allah desire to show me mercy, be the withholders of His mercy? Say: Allah is sufficient for me; on Him do the reliant rely.39/38
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I am quoting below the valuable excerpts from a booklet entitled “At- Tawassul (Using a Means to Seek Allah’s Help)” by Abdul Malik Mujahid, General Manager Darussalam:

     “Actually the topic of Tawassul (using a means to seek Allah’s help) is one of the most controversial issues among Muslim nation that has not been understood in its due perspective, and which proved hostility and hatred among different groups.

  ..I regret to say that only a few number of Muslims adhere and follow the way of Salaf regarding this subject while a lot of them deviated from the right way into the pool of innovations and superstitions.

  ...The scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah who follow the Quran, the Sunnah and the understanding of the Companions, agree that Tawassul is allowed in Islam as is evident in various relevant texts of the Quran and Sunnah. However, some Muslims were unable to understand the correct method of Tawassul legislated by the Quran, the Sunnah and the understanding of the Salaf... They also used weak and fabricated Hadeeths as evidence, and even worse, explained the Verses and Hadeeths regarding the legal Tawassul in an incorrect way to conform to their incorrect understanding.

  Waseelah linguistically means the means and methods used to draw closer to someone or something...In Islamic terminology, the Waseelah involves drawing close to Allah by obeying Him and His Prophet SAW and performing good deeds so that one acquires the high grades with Allah.

  There are three sides to Tawassul. The first is that the Waseelah is directed to Allah, the All-Generous, Most Beneficent. The second is that there is a person who is performing Tawassul, and he is a weak, needy servant and who seeks fulfillment of his needs and requirements. The third is the method of Tawassul which includes the Waseelah, that is, the good deed that one performs for the sake of Allah.

  For the Waseelah to bear its fruit and gain acceptance and closeness to Allah, it must conform to the following conditions:

  First, the person who is performing Tawassul to Allah must be a righteous person himself who seeks Allah Alone with his deeds. Second, the deed that is being used for Tawassu to Allah must be a good deed that Allah has allowed for His slaves. Third, the righteous deed must be performed in the manner and time frame that the Islamic Law and the Prophetic Sunnah have allowed and legislated, without addition, deletion or distortion. Therefore the deeds of the non-believers cannot be used for Waseelah, and such is the case with using an innovation in the religion for Waseelah, because all innovations in the religion are rejected and considered evil work incited by Satan.

  Types of Tawassul:

  The scholars have divided Tawassul into types, allowed and disallowed Tawassul.

  ALLOWED TAWASSUL:

     ..First: Tawassul to Allah using the His Most Beautiful Names and Perfect Attributes.

  “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them” [7:180]

  This Verse means to call upon Allah by His Names and Attributes, thus indicating the legality in Islam of Tawassul to Allah by His Names and Attributes.

     ...Second, Tawassul to Allah by a righteous deed that one has performed for the sake of Allah.

  Muslims are allowed to seek the means of approach to Allah by saying, “O Allah! I ask You by my faith in You, love of You and faith and obedience to Your Prophet SAW that You relieve me from this hardship.”

  Hence, Muslims are allowed to mention the good deeds that they performed in sincerity to Allah as a Waseelah, such as faith in Allah, prayer, fasting, Jihaad, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah in Thikr, and so forth among the various righteous deeds, while avoiding the prohibitions. The evidence of this type of Tawassul is what Allah said: 

  “Those who say: ‘Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire.” [3:16]

  ...Third, Tawassul to Allah by a righteous person’s supplication to Him on one’s behalf is legal in Islam.

  This is when a Muslim suffers from an affliction adhe, knowing that he has fallen into shortcomings in regards to Allah’s Rights, seeks a strong means of approach to Allah. Hence he goes to a righteous Muslim whom he thinks fears Allah, and who has knowledge in the Quran and Sunnah, so that he may invoke Allah on his behalf or remove that affliction. This type of Tawassul is also permissible in Islam, for Allah said:

  “Our Lord! Forgive us ad our brethren who have proceeded us in faith” [59:10];

  “A Muslim’s invocation (to Allah) for his absent brother is accepted. [Muslim]

  THESE THREE FORMS OF TAWASSUL COMPRISE THE ALLOWED TYPES OF TAWASSUL, WHILE THE OTHER TYPES THAT PEOPLE USE ARE IMPERMISSIBLE.

 IMPERMISSIBLE TAWASSUL:

     There are innovated types of Tawassul that involve seeking the means of approach to Allah with what displeases Allah of creed, acts and statements...Therefore by indulging in this impermissible Tawassul, the person loses the chance to remove the affliction.

  ...First, Tawassul to Allah by the Jaah (status) of some people with Allah is impermissible.

  Some people ask Allah by the Jaah that some of His creations have with Him, such as saying, “I ask you by the status of Your Prophet with You.” Or, “I ask You by the right of so-and-so has on You.”

  This is an innovated type of Tawassul never known in Islam before...Moreover, this type of invented Tawassul might lead to major Shirk if one thinks that Allah needs an intermediary between Him and the slaves...no matter how honorable with Allah, can ever avert His anger. Also, no matter how honorable the angels, Prophets or righteous people are with Allah, Allah is never asked by their honor with Him, for He is the All-Mighty, Free of all needs and intermediaries.

  THIS IS WHY THE COMPANIONS DID NOT INVKE ALLAH BY THE PROPHET SAW AFTER HIS DEATH, AND INSTEAD ASKED AL-ABBAS (RA) HIS UNCLE, TO INVOKE ALLAH ON THEIR BEHALF.

  Furthermore, this type of Tawassul is similar to what the Mushrikoon used to say about their idols, “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah” [39:3]

  Furthermore know that if someone invokes Allah by the Jaah of anyone believing that this person has any power over this matter, such as bringing good or removing evil, then he will have fallen into major Shirk that nullifies Islam.
  
  Second, invoking the righteous people, dead or alive, for help is also impermissible....Some people would invoke the absent or dead righteous people by saying, “O my Master! Help me and ask Allah for this and that for me. I seek your help.”

  Also vowing to the dead persons is an act of worship that is being directed at other than Allah...“If Allah gives me such and such things, I vow to present so and so to you.”

  ... “If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad SAW) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of each and every thing). [35:14]

     ...Third, going around (i.e., Tawaaf) and remaining in the vicinity (i.e., I’tikaaf) of the graves of the righteous people and sacrificing for them are all impermissible practices...Strangely enough, many Muslims practice these innovated types of Tawassul instead of using the allowed types in their supplications....that Allah never legislated nor did His Messenger SAW use them, nor His Companions and the rest of the Salaf.

     Taqleed is the major reason for this error. The Muqallid is he who imitates another person without proof to support what the imitated person says.

  The scholars of the Salaf and the respected Imams disallowed Taqleed for Muslims. Also, Taqleed causes division in the Muslim Ummah, because unity between them is only assured by referring to the Quran and Sunnah for judgements concerning all verdicts and all disputes. THIS IS WHY THE COMPANIONS DID NOT PERFORM TAQLEED OF ANYONE AMONG THEM, NOR DID THE FOUR IMAMS CALL PEOPLE TO IMITATE EVERYTHING THEY SAID. RATHER ALL OF THEM ABANDONED THEIR OWN OPINIONS WHEN THEY KNEW THAT A HADEETH OF THE MESSENGER SAW CONTRADICTED WHAT THEY SAID.

     “O YOU WHO BELIEVE ! FEAR ALLAH AND SEEK THE WASEELAH TO HIM” [5:35]


  Juhi Suhel
  “And of His signs is this: The heavens and the earth stand fast by His command, and afterward, when He calleth you, lo! From the earth ye will emerge.” [Quran: 30:25]