Ibn Bazz: Lawful and unlawful Tawassul by the Prophet Q: What is the ruling on making Tawassul (supplicating to Allah in the name of .../by virtue of...) by the Prophet? Is there any evidence prohibiting this? A.H A: Making Tawassul by the Prophet (peace be upon him) needs detailing. If this Tawassul takes the form of following and loving him, obeying his orders, refraining from his prohibitions, and being sincere to Allah in worship, this is Islam and the Religion with which Allah sent His Prophets. In fact, every Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) is obligated to perform these duties, which are the means to attain happiness in the world and the Hereafter. As for making Tawassul by supplicating to the Prophet, seeking his help, asking for his support against enemies, and entreating him to cure the sick, these are kinds of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), which embody the religion of Abu Jahl and other idol worshippers. The same applies to making Tawassul by other prophets, Awliya’ (pious people), Jinn (creatures created from fire), angels, trees, stones, or idols. There is a third kind of Tawassul, which is Tawassul through the virtue of the status, right, or self of the Prophet (peace be upon him), such as by saying: O Allah! I ask You in the name of Your Prophet, by virtue of the status of Your Prophet, by right of Your Prophet, by virtue of the status or right of prophets or Awliya’, and other similar supplications. This is a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) and a means leading to Shirk. Accordingly, it is not permissible to use this kind of Tawassul neither with the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor with any other person, because Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has not prescribed this. Moreover, acts of worship are Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion), and thus it is not permissible to consider as lawful what is not supported by a proof from the Purified Shar‘ (Law) of Allah. As for the incident of the blind man who made Tawassul by the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his lifetime, he entreated the Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate and intercede to Allah for him to return his eyesight to him; he did not make Tawassul by the Prophet’s self, status, or right as was indicated from the wording of the Hadith and clarified by the scholars who explained it. ( Part No : 5, Page No: 323) This issue was discussed in detail by Shaykh¬ul¬Islam Abu Al¬‘Abbas ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be merciful to him) in his many useful books, such as "Al¬Qa‘idah Al¬Jalilah fil Tawassul wal Wasilah," which is a useful book worth reading. According to Ijma‘ (consensus of scholars), the same ruling of permissibility applies to living persons other than the Prophet (peace be upon him). For example, it is permissible to say to your brother, father, or any righteous person, "Supplicate to Allah to cure me of my illness, to restore my eyesight, to provide me with righteous offspring, etc." Allah is the One Who grants success!

Lawful and unlawful Tawassul by the Prophet 

Q: What is the ruling on making Tawassul (supplicating to Allah in the name of .../by virtue of...) by the Prophet? Is there any evidence prohibiting this? 

A.H 

A: Making Tawassul by the Prophet (peace be upon him) needs detailing. If this Tawassul takes the form of following and loving him, obeying his orders, refraining from his prohibitions, and being sincere to Allah in worship, this is Islam and the Religion with which Allah sent His Prophets. In fact, every Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) is obligated to perform these duties, which are the means to attain happiness in the world and the Hereafter. As for making Tawassul by supplicating to the Prophet, seeking his help, asking for his support against enemies, and entreating him to cure the sick, these are kinds of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), which embody the religion of Abu Jahl and other idol worshippers. The same applies to making Tawassul by other prophets, Awliya’ (pious people), Jinn (creatures created from fire), angels, trees, stones, or idols. 

There is a third kind of Tawassul, which is Tawassul through the virtue of the status, right, or self of the Prophet (peace be upon him), such as by saying: O Allah! I ask You in the name of Your Prophet, by virtue of the status of Your Prophet, by right of Your Prophet, by virtue of the status or right of prophets or Awliya’, and other similar supplications. This is a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) and a means leading to Shirk. Accordingly, it is not permissible to use this kind of Tawassul neither with the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor with any other person, because Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) has not prescribed this. Moreover, acts of worship are Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion), and thus it is not permissible to consider as lawful what is not supported by a proof from the Purified Shar‘ (Law) of Allah. As for the incident of the blind man who made Tawassul by the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his lifetime, he entreated the Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate and intercede to Allah for him to return his eyesight to him; he did not make Tawassul by the Prophet’s self, status, or right as was indicated from the wording of the Hadith and clarified by the scholars who explained it. 

( Part No : 5, Page No: 323) 

This issue was discussed in detail by Shaykh­ul­Islam Abu Al­‘Abbas ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be merciful to him) in his many useful books, such as "Al­Qa‘idah Al­Jalilah fil Tawassul wal Wasilah," which is a useful book worth reading. 

According to Ijma‘ (consensus of scholars), the same ruling of permissibility applies to living persons other than the Prophet (peace be upon him). For example, it is permissible to say to your brother, father, or any righteous person, "Supplicate to Allah to cure me of my illness, to restore my eyesight, to provide me with righteous offspring, etc." Allah is the One Who grants success!