THE CONCEPT OF TAWASSUL AND SHAFA'AH IN ISLAM

Tawassul is derived from the word “Wasilah”. Wasilah means intermediary. Allah had sent 124,000 Prophets to guide the humanity. Was it possible for Allah to address individual human being? When Allah used the intermediary or Wasilah, it makes sense that human beings should retract the original path.

Tawassul is pursued in this world and Shafa’ah is sought on the Day of Judgment.

In Surah Yousuf, the Prophet Yousuf asked one of the two men who was being released from the prison to follow up his case with the king as stated in Surah Yousuf Ayah 42: “Yousuf asked the one, whom he knew would not be executed, to mention his case to his master.” Also, Prophet Yousuf’s brothers asked their father in Ayah 97-98: “Father, ask forgiveness for our sins; we have certainly sinned. Prophet Yaqub said: “I shall ask my Lord to forgive you; He is All-forgiving and All-merciful.” Similarly, in Surah al-A’raf Ayah 134 Bani Isra’il used the Wasila of Prophet Musa when they said: “Pray for us to your Lord through your covenant with Him.” Allah Himself is asking the people to use the Wasilah of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) in Surah al-Nisa Ayah 64: “If they ever do injustice to themselves and come to you (Muhammad) asking for Allah’s forgiveness and if the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) also were to ask Allah to forgive them, they would certainly find Allah All-forgiving and All-merciful.” In Surah al-Ma’idah Ayah 35, Allah is clearly asking people to find the Wasilah: “Believers, have fear of Allah. Find the means to reach Him and strive hard for His cause so that you may have everlasting happiness.”

Some people say that even if the Wasilah of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) is accepted while he was alive now he is dead, how can he help after his death? The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) died in the path of Islam and according to the Glorious Qur’an whoever dies in the path of Islam is a Martyr and all Martyrs are alive. According to the Sahih Tirmizi and the Sahih of Ibne Maja there was a man called Al-Habbar bin Aswad who was already condemned by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). When he came to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) after the revelation of Ayah 64 of Surah al-Nisa and sought forgiveness from the Messenger of Islam, he was forgiven by the Messenger. The companion Usman bin Hunaif reports that during the life time of the Noble Messenger, a blind man came to him and said that he had no one to take care of him and requested him to pray to Allah to return his eye-sight. The Noble Messenger told him to recite two rakat salaat and pray to Allah in the name of His Prophet. The man regained his eye-sight through his Wasilah. After the death of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) another man came to him saying that he went to the third caliph for assistance but did not get it. Usman bin Hunaif said that he remembered the case of the blind man; hence he told him to go to the grave of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and perform 2 rakat salaat and pray to Allah seeking the Wasilah of the Prophet. The man complied and subsequently went to the third caliph again and was helped by him! According to the Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal who narrated that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) told him that even after his death he will continue to listen to the salaam sent by the Muslims. That is the reason that all Muslims offer their salaams in their salaat. There are traditions which say that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had said that even after his death, the deeds of the Muslims reach him.

As for the Shafa’ah or intercession, there are 17 Ayahs which negates any Shafa’ah which relates to the idols. But there are 10 Ayahs which express conditional Shafa’ah. The final decision rests with All-Mighty Allah without Whose consent there will not be any Shafa’ah as stated in Ayatul Kursi in Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 255: “No one can intercede with Him for others except by His permission.”  Surah Maryam Ayah 87: “…no one will benefit from the intercession except those who establish a covenant with the Beneficent before they die.” Imamate is a covenant. In Surah Baqarah Ayah 124, when Prophet Ibrahim asked for the title of Imamate for his descendants, the Ayah says that this covenant is not granted to the unjust-“Qala La Yanalu Ahdiz Za’limeen”. Surah Ta’Ha Ayah 109: “On that day no one’s intercession will be of any benefit unless he has received permission from the Beneficent and whose word is acceptable to Him.”

Hence, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the Infallible Imams (a.s.) of his (s.a.w.a.s.) Progeny will intercede on the Day of Judgment. During the Period of Barzaq, the individual’s deeds will be responsible for their status in the grave.

However, the people who neglected their salaat, people who gave false witness, the unjust rulers and the people who oppressed the orphans will not enjoy the intercession on the Day of Judgment.