TAWASSUL AND WASEELAH (Seeking Means to Allah)

 

 

Tawassul and it’s types

 

### **Permissible and Impermissible Forms of Tawassul (Seeking Means to Allah)**

 

In Islam, **Tawassul** refers to seeking Allah’s help or response to supplication through a means that is hoped will make the supplication more acceptable. It is divided into **permissible** and **impermissible** types based on Islamic guidelines.

 

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### **1. Permissible Forms of Tawassul**

 

These are the accepted types of Tawassul in Islam:

 

 

#### **A. Tawassul through Allah’s Names and Attributes**

 

Example: *"O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy to forgive me."*

 

📖 **Evidence:** *"And to Allah belong the best names, so call upon Him by them."* (Quran 7:180)

 

 

#### **B. Tawassul through Faith and Righteous Deeds**

 

Example: *"O Allah, I believe in You, so forgive me."*

 

📖 **Evidence:** The story of the three men in the cave who sought Allah’s help by mentioning their good deeds.

 

(Sahih Bukhari & Muslim).

 

 

#### **C. Tawassul through the Supplication of a Righteous Living Person**

 

Example: Asking a pious person to make du’a for you.

 

📖 **Evidence:** The Companions would ask the Prophet (ﷺ) to pray for them.

 

 

#### **D. Tawassul through One’s State of Need and Humility**

 

Example: *"O Allah, I am poor and in need, so provide for me."*

 

📖 **Evidence:** The supplication of Musa (Moses): *"My Lord, I am in need of whatever good You may send down to me."* (Quran 28:24)

 

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### **2. Impermissible Forms of Tawassul**

 

These are prohibited because they lead to **shirk (associating partners with Allah)** or **bid’ah (innovation in religion)**:

 

 

#### **A. Seeking Help from Creatures (Istighatha with Other Than Allah)**

 

Example: *"O Messenger of Allah, help me!"* or *"O Ali, cure my sickness!"*

 

🚫 **Ruling:** **Major Shirk**, because help and healing come only from Allah.

 

**Evidence:** *"And the mosques are for Allah, so do not invoke anyone along with Allah."*

 

(Quran 72:18)

 

 

#### **B. Seeking Intercession through the Status of the Prophet (ﷺ) or the Dead**

 

Example: *"O Allah, I ask You by the status of the Prophet."*

 

🚫 **Ruling:** **Bid’ah (innovation)**, as it has no basis in the Quran or Sunnah, and the Companions never did this.

 

📌 **Note:** Some scholars, like Ibn Taymiyyah, consider this a **bid’ah**, while others forbid it because it can lead to exaggeration in veneration.

 

 

#### **C. Seeking Help from Graves and Shrines**

 

Example: *"O Sayyid al-Badawi, save me!"*

 

🚫 **Ruling:** **Major Shirk**, because it involves calling upon other than Allah.

 

📖 **Evidence:** The Prophet (ﷺ) said: *"Allah has cursed the Jews and Christians, for they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship."*

 

(Bukhari & Muslim)

 

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### **Conclusion:**

 

✅ **Permissible:** Tawassul through Allah’s names, your good deeds, or asking a living righteous person to pray for you.

 

❌ **Impermissible:** Tawassul through dead people, graves, or seeking help from other than Allah.

 

The foundation of worship is **Tawheed (monotheism)**, and any means that contradicts the Prophetic method is either **bid’ah or shirk**.

 

 

🔹 **For further reading:**

 

- *"Al-Tawassul: Anwa’uhu wa Ahkamuh"* By Ibn Taymiyyah.