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 *Shortcut Journeys*

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In Episode one of this article, we have extensively discussed the concept - *"Tawassul or Waseelah"*, the correct Islamic or permissible Tawassul & its examples. In this episode, we will discuss forbidden Tawassul & its examples - as promised, In Sha Allah.

Now,

Tawassul is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- waseelat (Arabic: وسيلة-وسل‎).. *Tawassul and Waseelah* literally means to make a request or supplicate through a means. That's why "Tawassul" in Arabic means seeking to draw close to Allaah (swt).

In fact,

One of the things i have learnt doing over the years is to make Dua immediately after completing any act i have done purposely to please Allah (swt).

👉 From hadeeth:

Ibn Abbas reported: I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), when he said to me, “Young man, I will teach you some words...... *If you ask, ask from Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah*..” 📚Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi‌ 2516

Furthermore,

To make Tawassul to Allah Ta'ala through the rank and position of certain individuals, alive or deceased, in the sight of Almighty Allah. This includes the Prophets [alayhimus salaam], the martyrs and any other pious servant of Allah. For instance: If one says, *'Oh Allah, I beseech you to accept my du'aa due to the status of Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] in Your eyes.'* This form of Tawassul is also permissible according to the vast majority of the Ulama (scholars).

And,

Some scholars even mention a fourth type of Tawassul, where a person requests some living pious servant of Allah to make du'aa for him: This is also unanimously accepted.

Now,

*The prohibited category contains two types:*

1.   Tawassul that is considered a religious innovation, such as making Tawassul by means of the person of the prophets or righteous persons. The evidence for this is that Tawassul is an act of worship and all acts of worship are only done if they are proven by an authentic text , as indicated by the narration on the authority of ‘Uthman Ibn Abi Al-‘Aas (r.a) that a blind man made Tawassul to Allah The Almighty by means of the Prophet (PBUH)  saying, "I invoke You by means of Your Prophet (PBUH)… so make him intercede for me with You".📚[Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah]

This man's saying *"make him intercede for me with You"* proves that the meaning of seeking the Tawassul of the Prophet (PBUH). This is also supported by what ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (r.a) did when they  suffered  draught: he sought the Tawassul of Al-‘Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet to supplicate Allah and it rained with the permission of Allah.📚[Al-Bukhari]. 

Now,

Had it been that - pleading to Allah by means of the *person* of the Prophet (PBUH) been permissible, then they would have made Tawassul by means of the person of the Prophet  (PBUH), after his death as well, as his status and honor during his life remained the same after his death.

2.   Tawassul which is considered an act of Shirk [associating partners with Allah], such as making Tawassul by means of acts of worship (supplicating, vowing, sacrificing) for the sake of other than Allah, then alleging that this is for the purpose of making them (to whom the act was done) get closer to Allah.

Lastly,

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the above permissibilities, is in regard to one who asks Allah Ta'ala for a particular need and in doing so, he or she uses some honourable personality as his Waseela (means) without thinking or believing that the person is being supplicated to or that he will fulfil his or her need. Yes, if one asks directly from the deceased and he believes that the people or Anbiyaa [alayhimus salaam] independently possess the power to provide, then this would be Shirk (polytheism) because he is now ascribing partners to Allah in the quality of 'Providing'.

TO BE CONTINUED