Discussion of the statement of Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him) that tawassul is among the issues of the branches.
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The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : ... The words of the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him), Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, in some of his letters to certain people. He mentioned that when this issue was raised and stirred up against him, he said, "And it is not the case that the discussion between us and these people, and our disagreement with them, is over the issue of tawassul through the essence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his status. Rather, the discussion is over other matters, and he mentioned issues that are major shirk (associating partners with Allah). He said: "And this is only among the issues of the branches". That is what he said. As for the majority of his other letters, and those of his followers and descendants, the most I have seen of them—and I have followed up this issue in their books, except for what may have escaped me—is that they said it is a bid'ah (religious innovation).
The Shaykh : Do you permit?
The questioner : Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : We do not move on to another issue until we pause briefly on the issue of tawassul.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : This is the statement I quoted from Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Do you accept it in its absolute generality?
The questioner : What?
The Shaykh : The issue of tawassul
The questioner : That it is a bid'ah (religious innovation)
The Shaykh : That it is among the branches
The questioner : I do not see that this is among the issues of the branches, and it is not considered...
The Shaykh : So did the Shaykh hit the mark or did he err?
The questioner : I brought this up. I see that his statement on this is not correct, but I brought it up as an example to refute a doubt. That is, is there exaggeration, or shall I say, it may be understood from this that there is laxity, and there is no exaggeration, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, no laxity is understood from this. It is possible that he addressed a type of tawassul. If he addressed a type of tawassul, then he is correct. But he turned a blind eye to the other type, which is kufr (disbelief) and shirk (associating partners with Allah). Why did he mention this one and not the other? Here, one intervenes with any da'wah (calling) policy. Da'wah policy does not give the caller this idea, or the shepherd this idea. So standing by this phrase and using it as evidence that he is lax is not valid. The evidence you are citing is not valid. Yes, let us suffice with that.
The student: Yes.
Another student: Slow down the time.
The Shaykh : Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You.
The questioner : ... The words of the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him), Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, in some of his letters to certain people. He mentioned that when this issue was raised and stirred up against him, he said, "And it is not the case that the discussion between us and these people, and our disagreement with them, is over the issue of tawassul through the essence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his status. Rather, the discussion is over other matters, and he mentioned issues that are major shirk (associating partners with Allah). He said: "And this is only among the issues of the branches". That is what he said. As for the majority of his other letters, and those of his followers and descendants, the most I have seen of them—and I have followed up this issue in their books, except for what may have escaped me—is that they said it is a bid'ah (religious innovation).
The Shaykh : Do you permit?
The questioner : Please go ahead.
The Shaykh : We do not move on to another issue until we pause briefly on the issue of tawassul.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : This is the statement I quoted from Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : Do you accept it in its absolute generality?
The questioner : What?
The Shaykh : The issue of tawassul
The questioner : That it is a bid'ah (religious innovation)
The Shaykh : That it is among the branches
The questioner : I do not see that this is among the issues of the branches, and it is not considered...
The Shaykh : So did the Shaykh hit the mark or did he err?
The questioner : I brought this up. I see that his statement on this is not correct, but I brought it up as an example to refute a doubt. That is, is there exaggeration, or shall I say, it may be understood from this that there is laxity, and there is no exaggeration, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, no laxity is understood from this. It is possible that he addressed a type of tawassul. If he addressed a type of tawassul, then he is correct. But he turned a blind eye to the other type, which is kufr (disbelief) and shirk (associating partners with Allah). Why did he mention this one and not the other? Here, one intervenes with any da'wah (calling) policy. Da'wah policy does not give the caller this idea, or the shepherd this idea. So standing by this phrase and using it as evidence that he is lax is not valid. The evidence you are citing is not valid. Yes, let us suffice with that.
The student: Yes.
Another student: Slow down the time.
The Shaykh : Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You.