Brother Musa, that link was not my own, I was responding to the comment of another brother. As for tawasul itself, if I’m correct in assuming that you are, or at least favor, the Salafi path, then I was correct in what I said earlier, as far as I know. While tawasul through the virtue of creation is a point of disagreement among scholars, the dispute is whether it is a bid`ah or not, and not if it constitutes shirk. As I said before, however, there is a consensus that directly asking any creation in the form of du`a (i.e. as one would ask Allah (SWT)), whether that person is an Awliya or the Prophet (SWS) himself, is clear cut haram (and shirk too, if I’m not mistaken).

For a better explanation, try the following website:

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/979

I hope this helps.

Salam Alaikum

And quite the contrary Allah ta ala says in Suratu Zumar ” They the mushrikin say ” We do not supplicate to them and turn toward them except to seek nearness (lee yu qaribuhum) and intercession with Allah “. Aya 3.

Allah says in Surat Yunus “They all worshipped other than Allah from what would not harm or benefit them; they say these are our intercessors with Allah”. Aya 18.

As for the Shafa3 then they are of two types.

1. As shifa3atu Ul manfiyah (denied and negated)

2. As Shifa3atu Ul Muthabata (Is the one that is permitted)

This one is the one in which the person doing it is honured by Allah and whose actions Allah is pleased with.

Allah says “who is there that can intercede with him, except by his permission”. Baqara aya 255.

This deals with two topics. One being the justification that the jahali arabs used to rationalize their shirk.

The second is the topic of intercession in general.

When I have a little more time I will respond further to the link provided bidhniallah.

Wa Salaam Alaykum

Ma3 Salaam

SUPPLICATING ALLAH THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?hD=1&ID=141&CATE=24”

Brother, I was not speaking of tawassul through people (living or dead). The majority of the Salafi (as far as I know) disagree with this practice on the basis that they consider it a bid`ah. I (and I believe brother Musa) was instead speaking of actually making du`a to a human, and seeking barakah from them. This practice has been rejected by all Islamic Scholars, even though some of the more ignorant of the Muslimeen still commit this regrettable practice (May Allah forgive them, and guide them away from their error).

Just curious…

Ma3 Salaam

And Ibn Abdullah thanks for the support. May Allah make Ramadan fruitfull for you.

Some of the comments were pretty rude. But it’s no problem, Walhamdulilah. It does not bother me. I am more concerned about making hijra from the ma3asi to the obedience of Allah. May Allah accept our efforts of fasting in the month of ramadan. Also May Allah Guide all of you to doing righteous deeds in ramadan. And please remember that Allah says “For sure in the messenger of Allah you have the best example”.

The prophet muhammad sallahu alayhi wa salaam said in

Sahih Bukhari
Volume 8, Book 73, Number 83:

Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallahu anho):
The Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.”

Also in Hadith # 5 in the Arba3een of Imam An Nawawi on the authority of the Mother of the beleivers the mother of Abdullah Aisha radiallahu ta ala anha she said “the prophet sallahu alayhi wa salaam said whomever invents in our affair what is not from it will have it rejected” and in the riwaya of muslim “whoever does an action that is not from our affair will have it rejected”.

Stay away from matters that have no evidence in the quran and the sunnah. In the fiqh there is a maxim that states that in ibadah matters everything is prohibited unless you have a text to prove the action of worship that you are engaged in. In areas of mu3amala (social interactions) everything is allowed unless there is a text prohibiting it.

However, there are areas that are unclear. With that I would recommend that you look at Hadith # 6 of the Arba3een of An Nawawi. It is about al mushtabihat (unclear matters).

This is a reminder for me and you. It is not my intention to argue. Allah says when the ignorant approach them the say salama.

Wa Salaam Alaykum

Brother Musa. I appreciate your earnest efforts to keep away your Muslim brothers from Shirk, but I can assure you that neither the Ashari nor the Maturudi branches of Aqidah utilize any form of Aristotelian nor Platonic philosophy, nor do they allow making du`a to those other than Allah (SWT). And I say this without following either school of Aqidah. There are certainly those among the Ashari and Maturudi that commit these errors (May Allah (SWT) guide them), but, in truth, neither school accepts these practices as legitimate.

Salam Alaikum