Tawassul: Islamic vs. bid'ah
Q: aslamu
aleyka
Ya sheikh, I have question regarding the tawasul, I was telling
someone that seeking tawasul at graves and asking the person who
died to make dua to Allah it's wrong, he told me what is wrong with
if I asked pious person during his life to make Dua and when he
died I asked him to make dua what wrong with it. So I want you to
clarify to me how to answer the brother, what kind Tawasul is
allowed and which one not allowed since a lot people have been
misguided in this Area?
A:
Tawassul in Arabic means seeking to draw close. Allaah says in the
Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning): "…[they] desire means of
access to their Lord…" [al-Isra' 17:57], {يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ
الْوَسِيلَةَ}, Transliteration: Yabtaghūna 'Ilá
Rabbihimu Al-Wasīlata, i.e., means of drawing close to Him. There
are two types of Tawassul, correct Islamic tawassul and forbidden
tawassul.
Correct Islamic tawassul:
This means seeking to draw close to Allaah through acts of worship
which He loves and which please Him; these may be waajib
(obligatory) or mustahabb (encouraged), and may take the form of
words, actions or beliefs. Some types are as follows:
Seeking to draw close to Allaah by means of His names and
attributes. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And (all)
the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them,
and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious
speech against) His names. They will be requited for what they used
to do." [al-A'raaf 7:180], {وَلِلَّهِ
الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ
يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا
يَعْمَلُونَ}, Transliteration: Wa Lillahi Al-'Asmā'u
Al-Ĥusná Fād`ūhu Bihā Wa Dharū Al-Ladhīna Yulĥidūna Fī
'Asmā'ihi Sayujzawna Mā Kānū Ya`malūna. So when a person makes
du'aa' to Allaah, he begins by calling on Allaah with the name that
is most apt, such as "al-Rahmaan" (the Most Merciful) when seeking
mercy and al-Ghafoor (the All-Forgiving) when asking for
forgiveness, and so on.
Seeking to draw close to Allaah by means of faith and Tawheed.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Our Lord! We believe
in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger, so write
us down among those who bear witness (to the truth)." [Aal 'Imraan
3:53], {رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا
أَنزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ
الشَّاهِدِينَ}, Transliteration: Rabbanā 'Āmannā Bimā
'Anzalta Wa Attaba`nā Ar-Rasūla Fāktubnā Ma`a Ash-Shāhidīna.
Seeking to draw close to Allaah through righteous deeds, whereby a
person asks Allaah by virtue of the best deeds that he has done,
such as salaah, fasting, reading Qur'aan, avoiding haraam things,
and so on. An example of this is the saheeh hadeeth narrated in the
Saheehayn about the three people who entered a cave, and a rock
fell and blocked their way out. They asked Allaah by virtue of
their best deeds (to save them). A person may also ask Allaah by
virtue of his total dependency upon Him, as Allaah mentions in the
Qur'aan (interpretation of the meaning): "[Ayyoob said:] 'Verily,
distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of those who
show mercy.' [al-Anbiya' 21:83], {وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي
مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ},
Transliteration: Wa 'Ayyūba 'Idh Nādá Rabbahu 'Annī
Massanī Ađ-Đurru Wa 'Anta 'Arĥamu Ar-Rāĥimīna; or by admitting his
own wrongdoing and his need for Allaah, as Yoonus is described as
saying (interpretation of the meaning): " 'None has the right to be
worshipped except You (O Allaah). Glorified (and exalted) are You.
Truly I have been of the wrong-doers.'" [al-Anbiya' 21:87], {لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ
إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ}, Transliteration: Lā 'Ilāha
'Illā 'Anta Subĥānaka 'Innī Kuntu Mina Až-Žālimīna.
The rulings on Islamically correct tawassul vary according to its
type. Some types are waajib, such as seeking to draw close to
Allaah through His names and attributes and through Tawheed
(believing in His absolute Oneness), and some are mustahabb, such
as seeking to draw close to Him by virtue of all kinds of righteous
deeds.
Tawassul that is bid'ah and therefore forbidden:
This is the attempt to draw close to Allaah by means of things that
He does not like and that do not please Him, whether they be words,
deeds or beliefs. One example of this is trying to draw close to
Allaah by calling on the dead or people who are absent, asking them
for help, and so on. This is a form of major shirk (shirk akbar),
which goes against Tawheed and means that a person is no longer
considered to be a Muslim. Calling upon Allaah, whether it is for a
purpose such as asking Him to grant some benefit or to ward off
some harm, or as an act of worship to express humility and
submission before Him, can only be addressed directly to Allaah. If
du'aa's or prayers are addressed to anything or anyone else, this
is shirk. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And your
Lord said: 'Invoke Me (and ask Me for anything), I will respond to
your invocation. Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e., do not
invoke Me and do not believe in My Oneness], they will surely enter
Hell in humiliation!" [Ghaafir 40:60], {وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ
لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي
سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ}, Transliteration: Wa
Qāla Rabbukum Ad`ūnī 'Astajib Lakum 'Inna Al-Ladhīna Yastakbirūna
`An `Ibādatī Sayadkhulūna Jahannama Dākhirīna. In this aayah,
Allaah explains the punishment of those who arrogantly refuse to
call on Allaah, whether they call on someone other than Allaah or
they do not call on Him at all, out of pride and self-admiration,
even if they do not call on anyone else.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Invoke your Lord with
humility and in secret…" [al-A'raaf 7:55], {ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا
وَخُفْيَةً}, Transliteration: Ad`ū Rabbakum Tađarru`āan Wa
Khufyatan. Allaah commands His slaves to call on Him and not anyone
else.
Allaah says of the people of Hell (interpretation of the meaning):
"[They say:] 'By Allaah, we were truly in a manifest error when we
held you (false gods) as equals (in worship) with the Lord of the
Worlds." [al-Shu'ara' 26:97-98], {تَاللَّهِ إِن كُنَّا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
﴿٩٧﴾ إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ
الْعَالَمِينَ}, Transliteration: Ta-Allāhi 'In Kunnā Lafī
Đalālin Mubīnin, 'Idh Nusawwīkum Birabbi Al-`Ālamīna.
Anything that results in equating something other than Allaah with
Allaah in worship or acts of obedience is shirk, the crime of
associating partners with Him. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): "And who is more astray than one who calls (invokes)
besides Allaah, such as will not answer him until the Day of
Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls
(invocations) to them? And when mankind are gathered (one the Day
of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become enemies for them
and will deny their worshipping." [al-Ahqaaf 46:5-6], {وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ
اللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَهُمْ
عَن دُعَائِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ ﴿٥﴾ وَإِذَا حُشِرَ
النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاءً وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ
كَافِرِينَ}, Transliteration: Wa Man 'Ađallu Mimman Yad`ū
Min Dūni Allāhi Man Lā Yastajību Lahu 'Ilá Yawmi
Al-Qiyāmati Wa Hum `An Du`ā'ihim Ghāfilūna, Wa 'Idhā Ĥushira
An-Nāsu Kānū Lahum 'A`dā'an Wa Kānū Bi`ibādatihim Kāfirīna.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And whoever invokes
(or worships) besides Allaah, any other god, of whom he has no
proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely,
al-kaafiroon (the disbelievers in Allaah and in the Oneness of
Allaah) will not be successful." [al-Mu'minoon 23:117], {وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ
لَا بُرْهَانَ لَهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ ۚ
إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ}, Transliteration: Wa Man
Yad`u Ma`a Allāhi 'Ilahāan 'Ākhara Lā Burhāna Lahu Bihi Fa'innamā
Ĥisābuhu `Inda Rabbihi 'Innahu Lā Yufliĥu Al-Kāfirūna.
Allaah states that anyone who calls on anything other than him is
taking that thing as a god, as He says (interpretation of the
meaning): "…And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him,
own not even a qitmeer (the thin membrane over a date-stone). If
you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in
case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to
you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your
worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad), like Him
Who is the All-Knower (of everything)." [Faatir 35:13-14], {وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا
يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ ﴿١٣﴾ إِن
تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا
اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ
بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ},
Transliteration: Dhalikumu Allāhu Rabbukum Lahu Al-Mulku Wa
Al-Ladhīna Tad`ūna Min Dūnihi Mā Yamlikūna Min Qiţmīrin, 'In
Tad`ūhum Lā Yasma`ū Du`ā'akum Wa Law Sami`ū Mā Astajābū Lakum Wa
Yawma Al-Qiyāmati Yakfurūna Bishirkikum Wa Lā Yunabbi'uka Mithlu
Khabīrin.
In this aayah, Allaah explains that He is the only One Who deserves
to be called upon, because He, and no one else, is the Sovereign
who is directing everything. Those things that are worshipped
cannot hear du'aa's, let alone respond to the one who invokes them,
and even if they were able to hear, they cannot respond, because
they do not have the power to either benefit or harm.
The mushrik Arabs whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) was sent to call were disbelievers because of this
shirk. They would call upon Allaah sincerely at times of
difficulty, but they became disbelievers at times of ease and
plenty, when they would call on others besides Him. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meanings):
"And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allaah, making their
Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land,
behold, they give a share of their worship to others."
[al-'Ankaboot 29:65], {فَإِذَا
رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ},
Transliteration: Fa'idhā Rakibū Fī Al-Fulki Da`aw Allāha Mukhlişīna
Lahu Ad-Dīna Falammā Najjāhum 'Ilá Al-Barri 'Idhā Hum
Yushrikūna.
"And when harm touches you upon the sea, those that you call upon
besides Him vanish from you excpet Him (Allaah Alone). But when He
brings you safely to land, you turn away (from Him)…" [al-Isra'
17:67], {وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ
فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا
نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ}, Transliteration: Wa
'Idhā Massakumu Ađ-Đurru Fī Al-Baĥri Đalla Man Tad`ūna 'Illā 'Īyāhu
Falammā Najjākum 'Ilá Al-Barri 'A`rađtum.
"… till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a
favourable wind, and they are glad therein, then comes a stormy
wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that
they are encircled therein, they invoke Allaah, making their Faith
pure for Him Alone…" [Yoonus 10:22], {هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ
وَالْبَحْرِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم
بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا بِهَا جَاءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ
وَجَاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ
بِهِمْ ۙ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ},
Transliteration: Huwa Al-Ladhī Yusayyirukum Fī Al-Barri Wa Al-Baĥri
Ĥattá 'Idhā Kuntum Fī Al-Fulki Wa Jarayna Bihim Birīĥin
Ţayyibatin Wa Fariĥū Bihā Jā'at/hā Rīĥun `Āşifun Wa Jā'ahumu
Al-Mawju Min Kulli Makānin Wa Žannū 'Annahum 'Uĥīţa Bihim Da`aw
Allāha Mukhlişīna Lahu Ad-Dīna.
The shirk of some people nowadays goes even further than the shirk
of people in the past, because they direct some acts of worship to
something other than Allaah, calling upon them and asking them for
help even at times of distress; laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa
Billaah (there is no strength and no help except in Allaah). We ask
Allaah to keep us safe and sound.
To sum up our response to what your friend mentioned: asking the
dead for anything is shirk, and asking the living for anything that
no one except Allaah is able to do, is also shirk. And Allaah knows
best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
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