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14
Mar
2017

Waseela and the Misunderstandings

14th March 2017

Waseela and the Misunderstandings

It is very sad and unfortunate that many people have misinterpreted and misunderstood the Shari' method and value of Waseela. The Dangers of getting it wrong will be catastrophic!

My aim here is to keep it very simple and differentiate between that which is Halal and that which is Shirk and I pray to Allah that He gives us the ability to see the difference and protect our Iman.

It's not something new, instead it's very old, older than Islam and when done incorrectly, it becomes a Pagan act.

Islam came to wipe out Paganism, it came to wipe out Polythiesm, i.e. Shirk, associating partners with Allah. Islam came with Tawheed, The first Pillar of Islam!

So for anyone to get this wrong, knowingly or unknowingly will destroy their Akhira.

One may ask, "Why unknowingly?" well, because the answers are right in front of us and all we need to do is educate ourselves.

Allah tells us very clearly and we repeat it a minimum of 20 times to 32/48 or more everyday! (depending on how we offer our Salah).

 You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Surah Fatiha Verse 5

One may argue that they don't understand Arabic, well, neither do majority of the Muslims today, but we have the translation available in almost every language!

So what's the problem? The problem is many people are misunderstanding Waseela and are in fact practising Istighatha (yet another term)

For example, one makes a claim that our Prophet (SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam) taught us our Deen and showed us the straight path, therefore we should make Dua to him (SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam) to guide us back on the straight path and NOT to ask Allah, just like the way we have a Maths teacher, if we  have a problem or need guidance in Maths, we ask the Maths teacher directly for help since we can't go back to the Headteacher of the school.

Yes a very bad example, but unfortunately, that is how Waseela (and Tawassul) are being understood - something I witnessed first-hand unfortuantely, however, I believe what I witnessed was a mere misunderstanding and a slip of a tongue inshaAllah.

So lets get to know what Waseela, Tawassul and Istighatha are and what position they hold in Islam.

 

What is Waseela and Tawassul?

Waseela can be defined as the "means" to achieve something.  In other words, a method, manner or way.  In the context of du'a, it is employing a means by which we ask Allah swt for something by His stated love of the Prophet SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam. 
 
We are ONLY asking Allah, because of His love for the best of His creation. 
 
We are NOT placing the Prophet SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam as an intermediary! 
 
We are NOT asking the Prophet SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam to help have our du'a accepted. 
 
We are NOT asking for him to make du'a to Allah swt for us.
 
We are NOT supposed to ask ANYONE other than Allah swt so we cannot eliminate Allah swt from the equation.  We should not have the need to ask Allah swt VIA anyone.  Even when we ask someone who is alive to make du'a for us, we are not asking them for anything other than that they make du'a TO Allah swt FOR us. 
 
To illustrate this (PLEASE note this is fictitious and not meant to represent anyone either intentionally or mistakenly) let's assume somebody wants something from their dear friend or family member called Adam.  Adam has a special depth of love for his daughter Zainab.  So this person asks Adam for something "for the sake of his love for his daughter Zainab".  Does this mean that he is asking Zainab?  Does this mean that Zainab is an intermediary?  Of course not.  The waseela here is the method of asking NOT Zainab herself! 
 
Let me emphasise:  Zainab is not an intermediary; we are not asking Zainab; rather the waseela is the actual action or the "means / method employed in asking Adam" by naming his beloved Zainab. 
 

So how do we go about it and how can I go wrong?

Permissible Waseela's in a nutshell followed by more detail

1) To make dua to Allah Ta’ala and to ask Allah to fulfill ones needs through/with the waseela of a Nabi or a Wali (friend of Allah). Nabi alaihis salaam taught a Sahabi to make dua through him (Nabi alaihis salaam). Refer to Tirmizi Shareef vol. 2 pg. 197 and Mishkaat pg. 219.

2) Umar radiyaalahu anhu at the time of drought use to make dua and take the waseela of Abbaas radiyaalahu anhu, the paternal uncle of Nabi alaihis salaam. Refer to Mishkaat pg. 132 and also Bukhaari.

3) To use the waseela of ones good deeds is also Jaaiz as mentioned in the Hadith of the ‘Ghaar’ (cave), when the 3 men were locked in a cave by a rock which blocked the entrance. Each one of the 3 men through the waseela of one of his good deeds implores Allah to remove the rock and accordingly Allah removed the rock. Refer to Riyaadus Saaliheen by Imaam Nawawi.

Proof on the validity of Waseela and Tawassul:

Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek a means (waseela) to him” (Surah al-Ma’ida, V: 35)

The word “Waseela” (a means of approach) in its general indication includes Tawassul (using intermediaries in supplication to Allah) by persons, and through actions.

Correct Islamic tawassul:

This means seeking to draw close to Allah 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 Allah by means of His names and attributes. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, 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]. 

So when a person makes du’aa’ to Allah, he begins by calling on Allah 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 Allah by means of faith and Tawheed. Allah 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]

Seeking to draw close to Allah through righteous deeds, whereby a person asks Allah by virtue of the best deeds that he has done, such as salaah, fasting, reading Quran, 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 Allah by virtue of his total dependency upon Him, as Allah mentions in the Quran (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]; 

or by admitting his own wrongdoing and his need for Allah, as Yoonus is described as saying (interpretation of the meaning): 

“ ‘None has the right to be worshipped except You (O Allah). Glorified (and exalted) are You. Truly I have been of the wrong-doers.’” [al-Anbiya’ 21:87]

 

The rulings on Islamically correct tawassul vary according to its type. Some types are Waajib, such as seeking to draw close to Allah 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.

So What's the Problem then?

Istighathah: Seeking aid from other than Allah

Intercession that is bid’ah and Istighatha that is Shirk and, that is the problem and therefore forbidden:

Lets go into a bit of detail of ISTIGHATHA and hope to see what the major difference is and why what I mentioned above about asking the Prophet directly for help is Shirk, let alone any pious dead or alive person

Impermissible Waseela's (aka ISTIGHATHA)

1) To ask anyone or thing to fulfill ones needs besides Allah Ta’ala.

The above mentioned permissibility is in regard to one who asks Allah for a particular need and in doing so, he uses some honourable personality as his Waseela (means) without thinking or believing that the person is being supplicated to or that he will fulfil his need. Yes, if one asks directly from the deceased and he believes that the Anbiyaa [alayhimus salaam] and the pious [rahimahumullah] independently possess the power to provide, then this would be Shirk (polytheism) because he is now ascribing partners to Allah in the quality of 'Providing', or the quality of "The All Hearing" This is what is known as Istigatha

This is the attempt to draw close to Allah 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 Allah by calling on the dead or people who are absent, ASKING THEM FOR HELP, and so on. This is a form of Shirk, which goes agianst Tawheed and means that a person is no longer considered to be a Muslim. Calling uopn Allah, whether it is for a purposesuch 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 Allah. If Dua's or prayers are addressed to anyting or anyone else, this is Shirk. 

Allah says:

 “Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret…” [al-A’raaf 7:55]. 

Allah commands His slaves to call on Him and not anyone else.

Allah says of the people of Hell: 

“[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’ 26:96-97]

Anything that results in equating something other than Allah with Allah in worship or acts of obedience is shirk, the crime of associating partners with Him. Allah says:

 “And who is more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allah, 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]

 

To Conclude

Tawassul or Waseela (to seek a medium) is proven from Qur’an and Hadith. Allah Ta’ala says,

‘O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek Waseela to Him.’ (Surah al-Ma’ida, V: 35)


Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) sought rain during drought through the Waseela of the Prophet’s Uncle (SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam). However, due to people trespassing the limits of Waseela and there is fear of committing Shirk, it is advisable to abstain from Tawassul. Any permissible act which may lead to Shirk also becomes prohibited

Since making Dua is an act of Worship - We CANNOT ask anyone other than Allah for help!

Sayyiduna 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The most excellent worship is du'a." (Al-Mustadrak, p.491 – classified as authentic by Al-Hakim and Al-Dhahabi)

For those who wish to be cautious and not cross the boundaries, it is wise to abstain from such acts and for those who wish the use a pious person as their Waseela, why opt for a deceased Saint, Peer, Bawa or any other Prophet when we have The Greatest Man to walk the face of the Earth, Muhammad (Sallallahu'alaihi Wasallam) himself. But do it correctly as mentioned above. Don't ask Directly believing that He (Sallallahu'alaihi Wasallam) will fulfill your Dua's! Or use your good deeds and present them as way of getting closer to Allah like the people mentioned in Surah Kahaf.

The practice of istighathah – which is to call for such help from the creation, which is beyond their natural means – would be impermissible and a possible cause of shirk. 

 

DOING IT THE WRONG WAY WILL LEAD PEOPLE TO BECOME MUSHRIKS AS WE SEE TODAY Click here and ask yourself if you have misunderstood Waseela and if you are practicing Istighatha http://www.muftisays.com/blog/abu+mohammed/578_18-11-2010/who%27s-been-fooled.html

 

Sources:

Barelwi - 

http://www.alahazrat.net/islam/waseela.php

 

Deobandi - 

http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/16157 

http://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/29061

http://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/12193

http://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/8548 

https://www.central-mosque.com/index.php/Aqeedah/istighathah-seeking-aid-from-other-than-allah-is-impermissible.html

https://www.central-mosque.com/index.php/Beliefs/tawassul-and-its-position-in-islam.html

https://www.tafseer-raheemi.com/what-is-waseela-and-tawassul-is-it-allowed/

 

Salafi - 

https://islamqa.info/en/979

https://islamqa.info/en/3297

https://islamqa.info/en/100105 For Tabarruk :)

 

Can the dead hear us? Can the Prophet PBUH hear us? Mufti Menk
Youtube Video
 
Seek Waseela through Allah's creation? - Mufti Menk
Youtube Video
 
Mufti Ismail Menk addresses Tawassul
Youtube Video
posted by abu mohammed on 14th March 2017 - 3 comments

3 Comments

Believer wrote on 14 Mar 2017
So basically in layman terms, Waseela is like using a bargaining chip and placing that in front Allah and then asking Allah for help just because He likes the offer been put forward?
Blogger's Reply:
Yes kind of. But what is being put forward must be permitted, like your good deeds or using the Prophet as a means to get heard. And not believing that the good deeds or the Prophet answered the call, as Allah is the provider of all things, the all hearing. But this never means that we cannot ask Allah directly or that Allah is far from us, Allah is closer to us than our jugular vein!
 
Your Brother in Islam wrote on 15 Mar 2017
Waseela can be defined as the "means" to achieve something. In other words, a method, manner or way. In the context of du'a, it is employing a means by which we ask Allah swt for something by His stated love of the Prophet SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam.

We are ONLY asking Allah, because of His love for the best of His creation.

We are NOT placing the Prophet SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam as an intermediary!

We are NOT asking the Prophet SalALLAHu 'alayhi wasallam to help have our du'a accepted.

We are NOT asking for him to make du'a to Allah swt for us.

We are NOT supposed to ask ANYONE other than Allah swt so we cannot eliminate Allah swt from the equation. We should not have the need to ask Allah swt VIA anyone. Even when we ask someone who is alive to make du'a for us, we are not asking them for anything other than that they make du'a TO Allah swt FOR us.

To illustrate this (PLEASE note this is fictitious and not meant to represent anyone either intentionally or mistakenly) let's assume somebody wants something from their dear friend or family member called Adam. Adam has a special depth of love for his daughter Zainab. So this person asks Adam for something "for the sake of his love for his daughter Zainab". Does this mean that he is asking Zainab? Does this mean that Zainab is an intermediary? Of course not. The waseela here is the method of asking NOT Zainab herself!

Let me emphasise: Zainab is not an intermediary; we are not asking Zainab; rather the waseela is the actual action or the "means / method employed in asking Adam" by naming his beloved Zainab.
Blogger's Reply:
Excellent, JazakAllah for this excellent explanation. I'll add it to the post and even use the Salutations the way you have. May Allah SWT reward you immensely.
 
Taqdeer by a means wrote on 16 Mar 2017
We are living in the world of means. [Asbaab]. We are required to adopt means to fulfil our needs. If one sits back and does not adopt means, then the failure is definitely attributed to one’s negligence. When one adopts means, he should not trust in his means, as the means are not effective in themselves. Our belief is Allah is muassire haqeeqi [the real causer of effects]. To place ones trust in ones means is against our belief. Once a person adopts all the necessary means in achieving anything, he should place his trust in Allah and Taqdeer. Whatever happens after that, whether ones objective is fulfilled or not, it is the decision of Allah. If one’s objective is not fulfilled, he will still be rewarded for adopting means and submitting to Allah and Taqdeer. The greatest act of worship is to submit to Taqdeer and be happy with the decree of Allah. If this attitude is entrenched in an individual, he will have no grief and regrets for anything.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

From a q&a from Africa
 
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