The Ruling on Permissible and Prohibited Tawassul

Question:
A Sudanese resident in Jeddah has a set of questions. He begins this message by asking about permissible tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) and prohibited tawassul. He says: What is an example of permissible and prohibited tawassul, Honorable Shaykh? And what is the ruling on tawassul in the Islamic Shari'ah?

Answer:
Tawassul is of two types. One is prohibited: it is tawassul by means of persons or by status. This is prohibited, so do not say, “I ask you by so-and-so,” or “by the status of so-and-so,” or “by the right of so-and-so over you,” for this is not permissible.
This is because it contains two prohibitions. The first prohibition is that you claim that someone has a right that is obligatory upon Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). The second is that this involves certifying the purity of a creation. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: So do not certify the purity of anyone before Allah. This type of seeking nearness to Allah through a means is prohibited, and it involves swearing an oath by Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He). When you say, "I ask You by so-and-so" or "by the right of so-and-so," the rest is an oath, so you are swearing an oath by Allah, swearing by other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic), swearing by Allah by other than Allah. He asks you by so-and-so, so he swears an oath by you by so-and-so or by the right of so-and-so. This is an oath by other than Allah, and it is an oath by Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He). As for the permissible seeking nearness to Allah through a means, it is seeking nearness through the supplication of the righteous who are alive. So you say to a living person present with you, "Call upon Allah for me for healing, call upon Allah for me for provision, or otherwise." This is a permissible matter. And 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) asked al-Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to seek rain for the people, meaning to supplicate for the people for the descent of rain. This is seeking nearness through the supplication of al-Abbas, and it is a permissible seeking nearness with al-Abbas and with others among the righteous servants of Allah. Likewise, seeking nearness through righteous deeds. You seek nearness to Allah with your righteous deeds by saying, as in the noble verse: Our Lord, indeed we heard a caller calling to faith . These are the people of the cave who sought nearness to Allah with their righteous deeds, so Allah relieved them. This is seeking nearness to Allah through his dutifulness to his parents, and this is seeking nearness to Allah through his chastity from unlawful sexual intercourse, and this is seeking nearness to Allah through his trustworthiness and his fulfillment of the rights upon him. So Allah relieved them and opened the door of the cave for them, and they walked out. The hadith in the authentic collections is more indicative that seeking nearness to Allah through righteous deeds is a permissible matter. Likewise, seeking nearness through the state of a person and his weakness, as Ayyub (peace be upon him) said: . Seeking nearness to Allah through His names and attributes. Allah the Exalted said: . Yes.