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{{Islam}} {{Islam}}
⚫ '''Tawassul''' is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- wasilah ({{lang-ar|وسيلة-وسل}}). The ''wasilah'' is a means by which a person,goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved.<ref name="Julian">{{cite journal |author=Julian, Millie |title=Supplicating,Naming,offering:Tawassul in West Java | journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Studies |volume=39 |issue=1| pages=107–122 |year=2008 |doi =10.1017/S0022463408000052 }}</ref> However, according to ] (d. 711/1311) quoted in Lisān al-'Arab, ''Tawassul'' comes from a verbal noun, wasilah, which means "a station with King, a rank, or act of devotion.
==Interpretations and Ritual==
'''Tawassul''' is an invocation which is commonly used in ] at ] and some other Islamic observances. It is formed of two rituals; Firstly the persons considered to be mediators (''wasilah'') between the supplicant and Allah are named, Secondly an offering is made for their benefit. The people who perform the ''tawassul'' hold contrasting understandings of what can be attained through it. Tawassul is also adapted for diverse settings, however the elements of the ritual remain the same.<ref name="Julian" /><br />Many Islamic scholars cite the Qur'anic verse
⚫ <blockquote>O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means (wasilah) of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful</blockquote>
as referring to the wasilah or the mediator.


According to Raghib Isfahan and Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i ''al-wasilah'' means reaching a certain goal through desire, inclination and willingness, and wasilah towards ] means observance of His path with knowledge and worship through adherence to the ].<ref name="Shirazi">{{cite book|last=Shirazi|first=Abd al-Karim|title=Tawassul-Seeking a way unto Allah|year=2000|publisher=Ahlul Bayt World Assembly|url=http://www.al-islam.org/message-thaqalayn/vol5-n4-2000/tawassul-seeking-way-unto-allah-dr-abd-al-karim-shirazi}}</ref> <br />However according to ] the wasilah is a thing that is used to obtain closeness and favour of ].<ref name="Julian" /><br />Some of the religious scholars have interpreted ''wasilah'' mentioned in the Quranic verse as faith and good deeds while others have explained the word as the prophets, the righteous and favourites of ].<ref name="Muhammad">{{cite book|last=Tahir-ul-Qadri|first=Muhammad|title=Islamic Concept of Intermediation (Tawassul)|year=2001|publisher=Minhaj-ul-Quran Publication,Lahore| pages=42–44| isbn= 978-9693208825}}</ref> According to them the verse reveals that a person seeking means of approach to ] will have in the first instance a believer and Muttaqeen (a person who fear ]). Thus ''wasilah'' does not amount to associating partners with ] but rather reaffirms oneness of ].<ref name="Muhammad" />
⚫ '''Tawassul''' is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- wasilat ({{lang-ar|وسيلة-وسل}}). The ''wasilah'' is a means by which a person,goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved.<ref name="Julian">{{cite journal |author=Julian, Millie |title=Supplicating,Naming,offering:Tawassul in West Java | journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Studies |volume=39 |issue=1| pages=107–122 |year=2008 |doi =10.1017/S0022463408000052 }}</ref> In another version of the meaning of tawassul in another text: Tawassul is an Arabic word that comes from a verbal noun, wasilah, which according to Ibn Manzur (d. 711/1311) in Lisān al-'Arab means "a station with King, a rank, or act of devotion.<ref name="Yusuf">{{cite book|last=Hamza|first=Yusuf|title=The Prayer of the oppressed|year=2014|publisher=eBooks2go|isbn=9781618130204}}</ref>
In other words, it refers to a position of power due to one's proximity to the king or sovereign.<ref name="Yusuf" /> While the ''tawassul'' or ''tawassulan'' is the use of wasilah for this purpose.<ref name="Julian" /> In religious contexts,the ''tawassul'' is the use of a wasilah to arrive at or obtain favour of ].<ref name="Julian" />

We can find various examples of ''tawassul'' in the Books of ].One good example is found in well-known ] of the young men trapped in a cave whose mouth was covered by a stone: Each of them prays to ] by mentioning some acts that he did for God's sake, in hopes that it might cause his prayer to be accepted.<ref name="Yusuf" /> This is a good example of doing ''tawassul'' with one's good action.

==Origin==
The most frequently cited of those verses of the ] in which the word ''wasilah'' appears is:

⚫ ''O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) ] and seek means (wasilah) of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful'' (Q5:35)

The meaning of the term ''wasilah'' in the above verse according to Albani is a thing that is used to obtain closeness and favour of ].<ref name="Julian" /> According to some classical commentators, including the great ] exegetes, such as al-Qushayri (d. 465/1074) explain the use of ''al-wasilah'' in this verse to mean avoiding what is prohibited,fulfiling what is enjoined on us, and drawing near to ] through good actions.<ref name="Yusuf" /> Both Raghib Isfahan and Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i opine that ''al-wasilah'' means to reach a certain goal through desire, inclination and willingness, and in fact wasilah towards ] means observance of His path with knowledge and worship through adherence to the ].<ref name="Shirazi">{{cite book|last=Shirazi|first=Abd al-Karim|title=Tawassul-Seeking a way unto Allah|year=2000|publisher=Ahlul Bayt World Assembly|url=http://www.al-islam.org/message-thaqalayn/vol5-n4-2000/tawassul-seeking-way-unto-allah-dr-abd-al-karim-shirazi}}</ref> In another verse of the ] that confirmed legality of tawassul (intercession) states:
{{blockquote|We sent not the Messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come to the Messenger and asked Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had (also) asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful.|Al-Qur'an, Surah an-Nisa, 4:64<ref name="ahlus-sunna.com">http://www.ahlus-sunna.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=116</ref>}}

It can be deduced from the verse above that intercession (tawassul) is only with the "permission" of ].<ref name=tomorrow></ref> Also, the practice of seeking intercession began during the time of prophet ].<ref>Al Rifai Al Salafi At Tawassol Ila Haqiqat al Tawassul P:158. الرفاعي المعاصر: التوصل إلى حقيقة التوسل</ref> An oft-cited ] in support of this is one narrated from ] regarding a blind man who Muslims believe was healed through the process.

The Hadith is as follows:
{{Quote|A blind man came to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and said: "I've been afflicted in my eyesight, so pray to Allah for me". The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: "Go perform ablution (Wudu), perform two Rak’at Salat and then say: "O Allah! I ask you and turn to you through my Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. O Muhammad! I seek your intercession with my lord for the return of my eyesight, that it may be fulfilled. O Allah! Grant him intercession for me". The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) then said: "and if there is some other need, do the same"|Recorded by ], ], ], ] and others, with a sound chain of narrators.<ref>
| Not accessible, 8 May 2013</ref>}}

==Tawassul in light of Quran==
In the section, we shall examine some verses of the holy ] that justify and approve tawassul. The first verse we shall consider is the verse 35 of chapter 5 of the holy ]:

″O believers! Fear Allah and seek means (of approach to) His (presence and to His nearness and accessibility) and strive in His way so that you may prosper"{{efn|}}

The above verse lay emphasis on four things:

* Faith
* Piety (])
* Search for means of approach
* Struggle for ]'s sake

According to the verse, the third regulation after faith in God and piety is " seeking means (of approach to) His (presence and to His nearness and accessibility)". Some of the religious scholars have interpreted ''wasilah'' (the means of approach) mentioned in the Quranic verse as faith and good deeds while others, who are majority have explained the word as the prophets, the righteous and favourites of ].<ref name="Muhammad">{{cite book|last=Tahir-ul-Qadri|first=Muhammad|title=Islamic Concept of Intermediation (Tawassul)|year=2001|publisher=Minhaj-ul-Quran Publication,Lahore| pages=42–44| isbn= 978-9693208825}}</ref>
Also, the verse reveals that a person seeking means of approach to ] will have in the first instance a believer and Muttaqeen (a person who fear ]). Thus ''wasilah'' does not amount to associating patner with ] but rather reaffirms the oneness of ].<ref name="Muhammad" />
==Tawassul in the light of Sunna==

{{Empty section|date=December 2015}}

==Sunni perspective==

===Views of Islamic Jurists===
All jurists comprising ],], ], ] and ] are unanimous on the permissibility of tawassul whether during the lifetime of the prophet or after his demise.<ref name="Zurqani">{{cite book|last=al-Zurqani|first=Muhammad|title=Sharh al-Mawahib al-ladunniyah|publisher=Dar al-Ma'rifa|place=Beirut|pages=304–305}}</ref><ref name="Juzayy">{{cite book|last=Ibn Juzayy|first=Muhammad|title=Al-Qawanin al-Fiqhiyyah|year=1926|publisher=Matbaat al-Nahda|page=148}}</ref>
] traditionally have believed that seeking intercession is lawful:
Imam Baihaqi in Shu’ayb ul Iman endorsed the view of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, Imam Shafi in Imâm Shâfi`î, Dîwân, Ibn Hajar ‘Asqalani in Al-Isabah, Mullah Ali Qari in Sharh ash-Shifa, Imam Ibn Kathir in Ibn Kathir, Imam an-Nawawi in Majmu, Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti in Dur al-Manthur, Imam Qurtubi in Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Qadhi Shawkani in Tuhfa tul Dhakireen have explained and supported Tawassul.<ref name="ahlus-sunna.com"/> Syrian Islamic scholars Salih al-Nu`man, Abu Sulayman Suhayl al-Zabibi, and Mustafa ibn Ahmad al-Hasan al-Shatti al-Hanbali al-Athari al-Dimashqi have similarly released ]s in support of the practice.<ref></ref>

===Ibn Taymiya view===
The ] considers it unlawful to make Tawassul through those that are no longer alive — including prophets and saints. The Saudi-based ] holds the view that Tawassul through dead persons, virtuous or not, leads to '']'' (polytheism).<ref>| FatwaIslam.com</ref>

==Shia perspective==
===Shia Ulama views===
⚫ Seeking Intercession (tawassul) is accepted and even advised in ]. Shia Scholars refer to Quranic verses such as , and and justify its permissibility. During the tawassul prayer Shia Muslims call on the names of the prophet Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt and use them as their intercessors/intermediaries to God.<ref name="Donaldson">{{cite book|last=Donaldson|first=Dwight M.|title=The Shi'ite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak|year=1933|pp=339–358|publisher=BURLEIGH PRESS}}</ref>

==Quranist view==
According to ] there are three types of verses concerning intercession. The first type of which totally rejects intercession,{{efn|}}{{efn|}}{{efn|}}{{efn|}}<ref name= "Tabataba'i"/> while the second type reserves it for God only.{{efn|}}{{efn|}}{{efn|}}<ref name= "Tabataba'i"/> The third type however state that others too may intercede with God's permission.{{efn|}}{{efn|}}{{efn|}}{{efn|}}{{efn|}}<ref name= "Tabataba'i"/>

Tabatabaie says it is a famous style of ] that it first rejects any virtue or perfection for anyone other than God; then it confirms the same virtue for others depending on His permission and pleasure.<ref name= "Tabataba'i"/> To prove his view, Tabataba'i puts forward the following similar verse in which first (in the first verse) Quran says only God knows unseen, then (in the second verse) Quran confirms it for others too: ''And with Him are the keys of the unseen, does not know it any except He''.{{efn|}} ''o He does not reveal His secrets to any, except to him whom He chooses of an apostle''.{{efn|}}<ref name= "Tabataba'i">{{cite book|last1=Tabataba'i|first1=Muhammad Husayn|title=al-Mīzãn; An Exegesis of the Qur’ãn|date=1983|others=Translated by Sayid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi|authorlink= Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i| publisher=World Organization for Islamic Services|location=Beirut,|pages=264–293}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist|2}}


⚫ According to ], seeking Intercession (tawassul) is accepted and even advised. Shia Scholars refer to Quranic verses such as , and to justify its permissibility. During the tawassul prayer Shi'ites call on the names of the prophet ] and the ] and use them as their intercessors to God.<ref name="Donaldson">{{cite book|last=Donaldson|first=Dwight M.|title=The Shi'ite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak|year=1933|pp=339–358|publisher=BURLEIGH PRESS}}</ref>
==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}} {{Reflist|30em}}
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Revision as of 05:29, 31 December 2015

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Tawassul is an Arabic word originated from wa-sa-la- wasilah (Template:Lang-ar). The wasilah is a means by which a person,goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. However, according to Ibn Manzur (d. 711/1311) quoted in Lisān al-'Arab, Tawassul comes from a verbal noun, wasilah, which means "a station with King, a rank, or act of devotion.

Interpretations and Ritual

Tawassul is an invocation which is commonly used in west Java at grave visiting rituals and some other Islamic observances. It is formed of two rituals; Firstly the persons considered to be mediators (wasilah) between the supplicant and Allah are named, Secondly an offering is made for their benefit. The people who perform the tawassul hold contrasting understandings of what can be attained through it. Tawassul is also adapted for diverse settings, however the elements of the ritual remain the same.
Many Islamic scholars cite the Qur'anic verse

O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means (wasilah) of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful

as referring to the wasilah or the mediator.

According to Raghib Isfahan and Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i al-wasilah means reaching a certain goal through desire, inclination and willingness, and wasilah towards God means observance of His path with knowledge and worship through adherence to the Sharia.
However according to Albani the wasilah is a thing that is used to obtain closeness and favour of Allah.
Some of the religious scholars have interpreted wasilah mentioned in the Quranic verse as faith and good deeds while others have explained the word as the prophets, the righteous and favourites of Allah. According to them the verse reveals that a person seeking means of approach to Allah will have in the first instance a believer and Muttaqeen (a person who fear Allah). Thus wasilah does not amount to associating partners with Allah but rather reaffirms oneness of Allah.

According to Shi'a scholars, seeking Intercession (tawassul) is accepted and even advised. Shia Scholars refer to Quranic verses such as 5:3, 12:97 and 12:98 to justify its permissibility. During the tawassul prayer Shi'ites call on the names of the prophet Muhammad and the Ahl al-Bayt and use them as their intercessors to God.

References

  1. ^ Julian, Millie (2008). "Supplicating,Naming,offering:Tawassul in West Java". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 39 (1): 107–122. doi:10.1017/S0022463408000052.
  2. Shirazi, Abd al-Karim (2000). Tawassul-Seeking a way unto Allah. Ahlul Bayt World Assembly.
  3. ^ Tahir-ul-Qadri, Muhammad (2001). Islamic Concept of Intermediation (Tawassul). Minhaj-ul-Quran Publication,Lahore. pp. 42–44. ISBN 978-9693208825.
  4. Donaldson, Dwight M. (1933). The Shi'ite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak. BURLEIGH PRESS. pp. 339–358.

Further reading

  • Chiabotti, Francesco, Shafa'a (Intercession), in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014. ISBN 1610691776

External links

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