Tawassul (Seeking Means of Nearness to Allah)

Definition

Tawassul (توسل) means seeking a means of nearness (wasilah) to Allah in supplication. It is a topic where understanding the distinctions between permissible and impermissible forms is essential for maintaining correct belief and practice.

Agreed-Upon Permissible Forms

All scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah agree on the permissibility of: Tawassul through Allah's names and attributes: Calling upon Allah using His Beautiful Names, as the Quran commands (7:180). Tawassul through one's own good deeds: The hadith of the three men trapped in the cave, each of whom made dua mentioning a righteous deed, and the rock moved after each supplication (Sahih al-Bukhari 2272). Tawassul through the dua of a living righteous person: Asking a pious living person to make dua for you, as the companions asked the Prophet to pray for rain.

Debated Forms

Scholars differ on tawassul through the status (jah) of the Prophet or righteous people, such as saying 'O Allah, I ask you by the status of your Prophet.' Some scholars, primarily from the Hanbali tradition, consider this impermissible as it has no clear evidence. Others, from various schools, permit it based on certain hadiths and principles of analogy. This is a legitimate scholarly disagreement.

Prohibited Forms

All scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah agree that calling upon the dead, making dua to anyone other than Allah, seeking help from the deceased, and visiting graves to ask the dead for intercession are forms of shirk (polytheism) or means leading to it. The distinction between permissible tawassul and prohibited practices must be clearly understood.