The Meaning of Tawassul and Its Categories: Clarification of the Prescribed Tawassul
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Q35: What is the correct tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) that does not undermine faith, nor contradict it?
A35: Tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) is drawing near to Allah through His obedience, and likewise tawassul through His names and attributes. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:180], and tawassul through the names of Allah is supplicating to Him with them. You say: O Forgiver, forgive me; O Merciful, have mercy on me; O Provider, provide for me; O Generous, be generous to me; and other such supplications. You supplicate to Allah with every one of His names, (Glorified and Exalted is He), and seek nearness to Him through them. Likewise, it is permissible to seek tawassul through righteous deeds. Allah the Exalted said: [Ali 'Imran 3:193],
seeking tawassul to Allah through faith in the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). In the hadith of the three men who were trapped by a falling rock and could not get out, they sought tawassul to Allah through their righteous deeds. One of them sought tawassul to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through his kindness to his parents, another sought tawassul to Allah through his trustworthiness and paying the worker his wage, and the third sought tawassul to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through his chastity from zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) after he had the opportunity for it. So the rock split open and they came out. Likewise, among the prescribed tawassul is seeking tawassul through the supplication of the righteous; for example, you go to a righteous servant and say: So-and-so, supplicate to Allah for me that He may heal me. This is because the Companions, when they faced drought, would seek tawassul through the supplication of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) would send them rain. He would supplicate to Allah for them, and they would be given rain. And after his passing (peace and blessings be upon him), they sought tawassul through the supplication of his uncle al-Abbas, so he supplicated for them, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) sent them rain.
A35: Tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) is drawing near to Allah through His obedience, and likewise tawassul through His names and attributes. Allah the Exalted said:
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَOur Lord, indeed we have heard a caller calling to faith, [saying], 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.
رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِseeking tawassul to Allah through faith in the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). In the hadith of the three men who were trapped by a falling rock and could not get out, they sought tawassul to Allah through their righteous deeds. One of them sought tawassul to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through his kindness to his parents, another sought tawassul to Allah through his trustworthiness and paying the worker his wage, and the third sought tawassul to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through his chastity from zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) after he had the opportunity for it. So the rock split open and they came out. Likewise, among the prescribed tawassul is seeking tawassul through the supplication of the righteous; for example, you go to a righteous servant and say: So-and-so, supplicate to Allah for me that He may heal me. This is because the Companions, when they faced drought, would seek tawassul through the supplication of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) would send them rain. He would supplicate to Allah for them, and they would be given rain. And after his passing (peace and blessings be upon him), they sought tawassul through the supplication of his uncle al-Abbas, so he supplicated for them, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) sent them rain.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.