Technical meaning of
tawassul (توسل)
tawassul (توسل) carries
multiple meanings. It is used in
the sense of need, inclination,
stature and nearness; three of
these senses are consistent
with its technical usage:
1. Highest station
Wasīlah is the highest station
in Paradise, which is reserved
for the intercessor – the holy
Prophet ( صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم ) – on the Day of
Judgement. It is usual for
Muslims to pray, after the call
to prayer, that Muhammad
( صلى الله عليه وآله
وسلم) may obtain this
station. It is related to Bukhārī
that the Prophet ( صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم ) himself
persuaded his followers to
offer the following prayer:
Allah’s Messenger ( صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم ) said as
reported by Jābir bin ‘Abdullāh:
Anyone who prays after the
call to prayer, “O Lord, in
exchange for this complete
invitation and standing prayer,
make Muhammad ( صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم ) a source
of intermediation and
superiority and appoint him to
the highest station in Paradise
as promised by You,” my
intercession for him on the Day
of Judgement will be obligatory.
[11]
In this supplication (du‘ā’), al-
wasīlah means ‘a spot which is
a special grade of excellence in
Paradise,’ this is also the
highest station reserved for
the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم ). Whenever we
invoke the mediation of the
holy Prophet ( صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم ), we have
in mind this specific place in
Paradise.
2. Proximity to Allah
The nearness to Allah is in
itself a source of
intermediation. When a creature
comes close to Allah through
the perfection of his faith,
obedience to His rules and
prescriptions, observance of
forms of worship, following the
sunnah and avoiding sins, this
nearness to Allah in itself
becomes a source of
intermediation. Similarly those
who work with sincerity of
intention acquire close access
to Allah and are elevated to
the stature of His favourites.
Their sincerity and affiliation
keep them steadily glued to
the right path and serve as
an mediation to counter the
tricks of the devil. According to
Allah Himself, Satan has sworn
to lead the believers astray:
(Satan) said, “I swear by Your
honour that I will mislead all of
them.”[12]
But he will never be able to
mislead those who have
attained nearness to Allah.
3. Source of intermediation
All objects, which are a means
to attain the nearness of
Allah, also serve as sources of
intermediation whether they
are related to individuals or
deeds. The Qur’ān has made it
permissible to seek the means
of approach, and what is
permitted cannot be waived
without proper shar‘ī argument
or convincing proof. The Qur’ān
says:
O believers! Fear Allah and seek
means (of approach to) His
(presence and to His nearness
and accessibility).[13]
This verse does not stress any
specific application and includes
both acts and individuals. The
same verse acts as an explicit
justification of intermediation.
Shāh Ismā‘īl Dihlawī interprets
the Qur’ānic verse as the
direction provided by the
spiritual guide:
People who are in search of
the true conduct mean by
wasīlah a kind of guide. Search
for the guide should necessarily
precede the hard struggle that
is required for the attainment
of true success, and Allah has
prescribed this method for the
seekers of the true path.
Therefore, without the
direction of the guide, its
acquisition is almost impossible.
[14]
References:
[11]. Bukhārī, as-Sahīh, b. of
adhān (the call to prayer) ch.8
(1:222#589); Nasā’ī, Sunan, b.
of adhān (2:27); Ahmad bin
Hambal, Musnad (3:354); Ibn
Hajar ‘Asqalānī, Fath-ul-bārī
(2:94; 8:399); Bayhaqī, as-
Sunan-ul-kubrā (1:410);
Baghawī, Sharh-us-sunnah
(2:283-4#420); Muhammad
Khatīb Tabrīzī, Mishkāt-ul-
masābīh, b. of salāt (prayer)
ch.4 (1:216#659).
[12]. Qur’ān (Sād) 38:82.
[13]. Qur’ān (al-Mā’idah) 5:35.
[14]. Ismā‘īl Dihlawī, Sirāt
mustaqīm (p.58).
Source:
Islamic Concept of Intermediation - Tawassul > Reality of Intermediation
http://mrehan.wapath.com/AULIYA+ALLAH/ISLAMIC+CONCEPT+OF+INTERMEDIATIO/___/CHAPTER+1
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