Sayyid muhammad bin alawi al-maliki al hasani

Shaykh muhammad ibn alawi al-maliki
Tawassul al islam
Muhammad alawi al-maliki books pdf

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The Athar

Once caliph Abū Ja‘far Mansūr visited Medina and he asked Imam Mālik: “While supplicating, should I turn my face to the prayer niche [and turn my back to the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)] or should I turn my face to the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) (and turn my back to the prayer niche)?” On this interrogation, Imam Mālik replied: “(O caliph!) Why do you turn your face from the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), as he is the source of mediation for you and for your ancestor Adam (عليه السلام) on the Day of Judgement? Rather you should (pray and supplicate by) turning towards the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and seek his intercession so that he intercedes for you before Allah on the Day of Judgement. Allah has declared:

“We sent not an apostle, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves, come unto thee and asked Allah.s forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful”(4:64)

Qādī ‘Iy

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In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Tawassul (using means to draw closer to Allah) is one of the most controversial subjects in Islam. Muslims are confused about this topic because the line between legitimate tawassul and seeking help from deceased or absent righteous people (known as al-istighathah) has been blurred by numerous spiritual movements. They conflate the issue of legitimate tawassul with istighathah of people in the grave, while they are two different issues.

Is it permissible to seek the help of righteous people who are in their graves? Is such an act an authentic form of tawassul?

First of all, Allah has commanded the believers to perform tawassul as a means drawing closer to Him.

Allah said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَ
O you who have faith, fear Allah and seek means to approach Him.
Surat al-Ma’idah 5:35

Al-Tabari commented on the interpretation of this verse, saying:

وَاطْلُبُوا الْقُرْبَةَ إِلَيْهِ بِالْعَمَلِ بِمَا يُرْضِيهِ والْوَسِيلَةُ هِيَ الْفَعِيلَةُ مِنْ قَوْلِ الْقَائِلِ
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Every path and vehicle that delivers the servant to the essential purpose of his existence is considered a means (wasilah). To mediate, or to seek tawassul, is the act of seizing these means to gain closeness to the Almighty. More specifically, it is to ask something from the Lord through the mediation of His Beautiful Names, the Quran, righteous deeds, prophets and saints, with the hope of increasing the likelihood of the acceptance of what is asked, to seek His refuge and aid in acquiring something desired or repelling something unwanted.
The 35^th verse of al-Maidah states:
يَآ اَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ ابْتَغُوا اِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ
“O you who believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah and seek means of nearness to Him!”
The term wasilah is mentioned in the absolute sense; that is to say, without any limitations. Thus, the means one is required to search for in gaining closeness to the Lord are righteous deeds like ritual prayer, fasting and striving in His path (jihad). Some exegetes have also added that coming under the training of a murs