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 prayers—is permissible and supported by the consensus of scholars. This practice involves using a medium, such as a Prophet, a saint, a righteous deed, or a relic, to approach Allah, as these entities are closer to Him and their supplications are more likely to be accepted. The work maintains that there is no distinction between practicing this through the living or the deceased, nor between using a person or an object, provided that the medium is beloved to Allah. It warns against the error of attempting to use Allah's enemies or things He dislikes as a means, which is considered disrespectful and blasphemous, citing the example of the people of Makkah who sought to use idols as a means of approach.

---

Key topics & takeaways

Definition and Basis

• Definition of Al-Tawassul — it is a device, way, or medium used to reach or get closer to Allah to gain His pleasure ▸page 1.
• Consensus of scholars — the practice is supported by the Al-Sawaad Al-A’zam, the collective body of Muslim scholars, whose consensus is a source of evidence ▸page 1.
• Divine protection — the Prophet stated that Allah will never gather his nation upon misguidance, validating the consensus of the community ▸page 1.
• Qur'anic injunction — believers are commanded to fear Allah and seek means to approach Him (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:35) ▸page 2.
• Historical precedent — the Jews historically requested victory through the Prophet Muhammad before his prophethood was announced, and they were not condemned for this act ▸page 2.
• Intercession for forgiveness — the Qur'an indicates that those who do injustice to their souls may find Allah accepting their repentance if they come to the Prophet and he asks for their forgiveness (Surah an-Nisa 4:64) ▸page 2.

Practice and Evidence

• The blind man's prayer — the Prophet taught a blind man to perform ablution, pray two units of prayer, and supplicate using the Prophet as a means to regain his eyesight ▸page 2.
• Rain through the uncle of the Prophet — during a drought, Umar Ibn Khattab supplicated for rain through the means of Abbas Ibn Abd Al-Muttalib, and rain was granted ▸page 3.
• The drought in Damascus — Mu’awiyah Ibn Ab Sufyan successfully performed Salah of drought by bringing forth Yazeed Ibn Al-Aswad Al-Jarshiy as a means to Allah ▸page 3.
• Adam's repentance — Adam used the Prophet Muhammad as a means to seek forgiveness for eating from the forbidden tree (▸page 3, ▸page 4).
• Imam Malik's guidance — when asked whether to face the Ka'bah or the shrine of the Prophet, Imam Malik advised the Caliph Mansoor to face the Prophet and use him as a means of intercession ▸page 4.
• Imam Shafa'i's practice — in Baghdad, Imam Shafa'i would visit the shrine of Imam Ab Hanifah and use him as a means in the court of Allah ▸page 4.
• The cave dwellers — three men trapped in a cave were freed after supplicating to Allah through the means of their sincere, past good deeds ▸page 5.
• Relics for healing — Um Salamah kept a hair of the Prophet in a glass, which was placed in water to cure the ill ▸page 5.
• Bilal Ibn Al-Haris — during a drought, he visited the grave of the Prophet to plead for rain, after which the Prophet appeared to him in a dream to instruct him to go to Umar ▸page 5.
• Supplication for the deceased — the Prophet supplicated for his mother, Fatimah Bint Asad, by asking Allah to make her grave spacious through the means of himself and the Prophets who preceded him ▸page 6.

Distinctions and Warnings

• Beloved vs. disliked — the validity of the means depends on whether the entity is dear to Allah or His enemy; using enemies or sins as a means is blasphemous ▸page 6.
• The idolaters' error — the people of Makkah were condemned for attempting to use idols as a means, as idols are enemies of Allah ▸page 6.

Words the reader recites

• Supplication taught to the blind man — to be said after performing ablution and two units of prayer ▸page 2

  ﷻ Dua· For a need, through the Prophet

  اللهم إني أسألك وأتوجه إليك بنبيك محمد نبي الرحمة، يا نبي الله إني توجهت بك إلى ربي في حاجتي هذه لتقضى لي، اللهم فشفعه في

  O’ Allah, I ask you and come to you through the means of your Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Prophet of mercy. O’ Prophet of Allah, I come to my Lord through you for this need of mine, fulfill it for me. O’ Allah accept his intercession on behalf of me.