Al-Tawassul

The practice of al-tawassul—defined as requesting Allah through the means of someone or something dear to Him to gain His pleasure or the acceptance of one’s needs—is considered permissible by the unanimous consensus of the al-sawaad al-a’zam (the great majority of Muslim scholars) ▸page 1. This work teaches that because the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, stated that his nation would never gather upon misguidance, this consensus serves as a valid source of Islamic evidence. The text distinguishes between valid tawassul through the righteous and the beloved of Allah, and invalid practices, such as those of the Meccan polytheists who sought means through idols, which are considered disrespectful and blasphemous ▸page 6.

The work maintains that there is no distinction between practicing tawassul through the living or the deceased, nor between using a person or a relic as a means, provided that the object or person is beloved to Allah ▸page 4. It asserts that the companions of the Prophet, ﷺ, frequently practiced this, and that the Prophet, ﷺ, never prohibited them from doing so ▸page 2. The text further notes that the four major Imams of jurisprudence recognized the validity of this practice, citing historical accounts of their own actions and rulings regarding it ▸page 3.

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Key topics & takeaways

Definition and evidence

• Meaning of al-tawassul — the term refers to using a device, way, or medium to reach or get closer to another to gain their pleasure, specifically requesting Allah through the means of someone closer to Him than oneself ▸page 1.
• Quranic basis — the practice is supported by the command to "seek means to approach Him" (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:35) and the account of the Jews seeking victory through the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, before his prophethood ▸page 2.
• Forgiveness through the Prophet — the Quran instructs believers to come to the Prophet, ﷺ, when they have committed injustice against their souls so that he may ask for their forgiveness, which leads to Allah accepting their repentance ▸page 2.
• Prophetic status — the Prophet, ﷺ, is described as the distributor of the provisions that Allah provides ▸page 2.
• Hadith Qudsi — the text cites a divine hadith stating that Allah becomes the hearing, sight, and strength of His friend who gains closeness through voluntary worship, and that He grants the requests of such friends (▸page 1, ▸page 2).

Practice and historical examples

• The blind man's supplication — the Prophet, ﷺ, taught a blind man to perform ablution, pray two units of prayer, and then ask Allah through the means of the Prophet, ﷺ, to restore his sight (▸page 2, ▸page 3).
• Rain through the Prophet's uncle — during a drought, Umar ibn al-Khattab, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, supplicated to Allah for rain through the means of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, and the people received rain ▸page 3.
• Rain through the righteous — Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, successfully sought rain by bringing forth Yazeed ibn al-Aswad al-Jarshiy to supplicate, identifying him as one of the best among the people ▸page 3.
• Adam's tawassul — Imam Abu Hanifah, رَحِمَهُ اللهُ, recorded that Prophet Adam, عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, sought forgiveness for his mistake by using the name of the Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, which he had seen written on the throne of Allah (▸page 3, ▸page 4).
• Imam Malik's guidance — when asked whether to face the Ka'bah or the shrine of the Prophet, ﷺ, Imam Malik, رَحِمَهُ اللهُ, advised facing the Prophet, ﷺ, as he is the means to reach Allah ▸page 4.
• Imam Shafi'i's practice — Imam Shafi'i, رَحِمَهُ اللهُ, would visit the shrine of Imam Abu Hanifah, رَحِمَهُ اللهُ, to greet him and use him as a means in the court of Allah ▸page 4.
• Tawassul through good deeds — the story of the three men trapped in a cave, who were released after supplicating through their sincere good deeds, is cited as evidence for using actions as a means (▸page 4, ▸page 5).
• Relics for healing — Umm Salamah, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, used a blessed hair of the Prophet, ﷺ, in water to cure the ill ▸page 5.
• Visiting the grave — Bilal ibn al-Haris, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, visited the grave of the Prophet, ﷺ, during a drought to ask him to plead for rain for the nation ▸page 5.
• Supplication for the deceased — the Prophet, ﷺ, supplicated for Fatimah bint Asad, رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, by asking Allah to make her grave spacious through the means of himself and the prophets who came before him ▸page 6.

Distinctions and warnings

• Enemies of Allah — the work warns that practicing tawassul through those who are enemies of Allah or through things He dislikes is blasphemous and disrespectful ▸page 6.
• Idolatry — the practice of the Meccans using idols as a means is condemned because idols are enemies of Allah ▸page 6.
• Sincerity — the effectiveness of tawassul is linked to the status of the one being used as a means being dear to Allah (▸page 4, ▸page 6).