Beneficial articles regarding Tawassul: Article 02

Reference: مقالات نافعة في التوسل – 1/5

In the name of Allāh, the most Merciful, the Bestower of mercy.

The definition of Tawassul.

The linguistic definition: Ibn Fāris said, ‘al-wasīlah, ar-raghbah (desire) and at-talab (seeking out); it is said “wa-sa-la” when a person desires [something]; “al-wāsil” is a person who desires [what is with] Allah, the exalted.

This meaning is found in the poetry of Labīd,

“I see people, not comprehending, the magnitude of their affair … rather every person, possessing piety is to Allāh, Wāsil (i.e. desiring of Him and His reward).”

Ibn al-Athīr said, ‘al-wasīlah is an action of seeking closeness; it is the avenue through which a person reaches something or becomes closer to it. Its plural is “wasāil”. [1]

Al-Wasīlah in the Sharī’ah: The term “wasīlah” is found in the Sharī’ah with two meanings:

First meaning: Seeking closeness to Allah through Imān and righteous actions. Allāh said,

{O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek a means [of nearness] to Him (Wasīlah) and strive in His cause that you may succeed} [05:35]

Ibn Jarīr said, ‘{and seek a wasīlah to Him} i.e. seek closeness to Him through righteous actions which please Him.’

Allah, the Most High, said,

{Those whom they invoke^, [they themselves] seek means of access (wasīlah) to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared} [17:57]

Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajr said, ‘those people who used to worship Jinn, persisted in their worship of them, despite the Jinn being displeased with it because the Jinn accepted Islam and would seek a wasīlah (i.e. closeness through righteous actions) to Allāh.’ [2]

This form of Tawassul is an obligation which Allāh has obligated upon both jinn and mankind, because this is the very essence of Islām i.e. to seek closeness to Allā through Imān in Him and His messenger ﷺ, following what has been revealed,  fulfilling the commandments and abandoning the prohibitions.

Second meaning: It is a status in Jannah which is exclusive to a worshipper from amongst the worshippers of Allāh.

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Āṣ (radiAllāhu ‘anhu) said, he heard the Prophet ﷺ  say,

‘when you hear the Muadhhin, repeat what he said, then send Ṣalāh upon me. Whoever says Ṣalāh upon me once, Allāh sends Ṣalāh upon him ten times. And then ask Allah to grant me the wasīlah. It is status in Jannah which is exclusive to a worshipper from the worshippers of Allāh, and I have hope I am that person. Whoever asks for me to be given al-wasīlah, my Shafā’ah (intercession) will be granted to him).’ [3]

Seeking wasīlah through the Prophet ﷺ according to the practice of the Ṣaḥābah.

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah said, ‘as for seeking Tawassul through the Prophet ﷺ, and the context of its wording with the Ṣaḥhābah, they meant by it making tawassul through his Du’ās (supplications) and his Shafā’ah.’ [4]

Tawassul via Du’a is for a person to connect between his supplication and the supplication of another person who may be a cause for his supplication to be answered – and this is the very topic of this series of articles.

Continue to article 03

Footnotes

[1] an-Nihāyah Vol. 5 P. 184.

[2] al-Fatḥ Vol. 8 P. 397.

[3] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim Vol 1. P. 288.

[4] Qā’idah Jalīlah fī at-tawassul wal wasīlah, P.80.