How to Seek Nearness (Tawassul) to Allaah – ibn Baaz

“What is the General Precept for Seeking Nearness to Allah, The Lofty and Majestic”
By The Noble Shaykh Abdul “Aziz ibn Baaz

Question:

What is the general precept (guideline) for seeking nearness to Allah, The Lofty and Majestic?

Answer:

Seeking nearness (tawassul) to Allah through utilization of His Names and Qualities is something that has been legislated for the Muslim, and it is from the means of obtaining a response to supplication; According to the statement of Allah, The Mighty and Majestic:

وَلِلّهِ الأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا

“And to Allah belongs the best name, so call on Him by way of them.”
(Surah al-a’raaf 7:180)

As well as what has been affirmed by him صلى الله عليه و سلّم in many narrations from seeking nearness to Allah by way of His Names and Attributes. It has also been legislated seeking nearness to Allah, Glorified is He: by believing in Him, loving Him, and by the rest of the righteous actions.

From that, is having love for the prophets of Allah, His messengers, as well as the believers from amongst His slaves. Also from that is seeking nearness to Allah with righteousness toward the parents, abstaining from committing illegal sexual intercourse, and fulfilling the trust; Due to the authentic narration that has come in the story of the companions of the cave, those who the boulder had closed in upon them and they were unable to move it. There were three of them, and so they supplicated to Allah, Glorified is He, and they sought nearness to Him by way of their righteous actions, so the boulder was removed for them.

Their report has been affirmed in the two sahihs (Bukhari & Muslim). The first of them sought nearness through his righteousness to his parents, the second by his abstention from illegal sexual intercourse after having the ability to do so, and the third by way of fulfilling the trusts for the people who entrusted him. And Allah is the One who grants success!

Translated by: Abu Nasir Saalik ibn Baldwin
http://mtws.posterous.com/how-to-seek-nearness-to-allah

ما هو ضابط التوسل بالله جل وعلا؟

التوسل بالله وبأسمائه وصفاته مشروع للمسلم وهو من أسباب إجابة الدعاء؛ لقول الله عز وجل: وَلِلّهِ الأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا، ولما ثبت عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم في أحاديث كثيرة من التوسل إلى الله بأسمائه وصفاته.

ويشرع التوسل أيضاً إلى الله سبحانه: بالإيـمان به وبمحبته وبسائر الأعمال الصالحة، ومن ذلك محبة أنبياء الله ورسله والمؤمنين من عباده، ومن ذلك التوسل ببر الوالدين والعفة عن الزنا، وأداء الأمانة؛ للحديث الصحيح الوارد في قصة أصحاب الغار الذين انطبقت عليهم الصخرة، وعجزوا عن دفعها، وكانوا ثلاثة، فدعوا الله سبحانه وتوسلوا إليه بأعمالهم الصالحة فانزاحت عنهم الصخرة، وحديثهم ثابت في الصحيحين، وكان أحدهم توسل ببره لوالديه، والثاني بعفته عن الزنا بعد القدرة، والثالث بأدائه الأمـانة لأصحابها. والله الموفق.

Related Links:

Story of Three persons blocked in a Cave – Story from Hadith – Tawassul by Good Deeds
Removal of Doubts : “Tawassul”, or “Waasitah” – Kashf ush-Shubuhaat : 10th Study
The Issue of Saints and the Hearing of the Dead in Islaam – By Abul-’Abbaas Moosaa Richardson

Calling upon Allaah by His Attributes or Actions

From Brother Moosa Richardson:

1. We are not required to restrict ourselves to calling upon Allaah using only His Names, rather we can call upon Allaah by His Attributes or Actions, like saying, “Yaa thal-Jalaali wal-Ikraam”. This does not mean that we must first affirm that Thul-Jalaali wal-Ikraam is one of His Names. Similarly, we can say, “Yaa Rabba kulli shay’” (O Lord of all things), without first affirming that “Rabbu kulli shay’” is one of Allaah’s Names… This is something well known and spoken of in the scholars’ books.

2. It is very virtuous to call upon Allaah using His Most Beautiful Names, due to His Statement, that means, “And to Allaah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him using them…”

3. Based on the first two points, the scholars who advise(d) against saying, “Yaa saatir”, perhaps they intended to guide people to what is better: the name “as-Sitteer”, which is established in an authentic narration, as opposed to “as-Saatir” or “As-Sattaar” which are both derived from His Action of as-Sitr, like in the hadeeth, “Whoever screens a believer in this life, “satarullaah” (Allaah screens him) in this life and the Hereafter…” Thus, to call on Allaah beginning with “Yaa Saatir…” is permissible, just as it is permissible to call upon Allaah beginning with, “Yaa Badee’as-Samaawaatil-wal-Ardh…” and the likes.

4. Building on a recent thread about saying only, “Yaa Allaah!” (properly pronounced “Yallaah!”) without asking for anything… just as it is not legislated for you to call upon Allaah saying this and then not ask for anything, similarly it is not legislated for you to call upon Allaah saying, “Yaa Saatir!” without asking for anything (as is the custom of many people). This goes for when you call upon Allaah by any of His Names, Attributes, or Actions.

5. Thus, if a person were to say, “Yaa Saatir (or Sattaar), ustur ‘awraatinaa!” (O He who screens, conceal our weaknesses!”), it would be similar to any other case of calling upon Allaah by mentioning His Actions, like “Yaa Haazim al-Ahzaab” and the likes.

6. We say that “as-Sitteer” is from Allaah’s Names, and that we do not have any proof to affirm “as-Saatir” or “as-Sattaar” as His Names. However, we have no proof to negate either of them as Names either, as Allaah has Names that He has not informed us of. This requires a delicate understanding.

7. We can refer to Allaah by any of His Names, Attributes, or Actions in our oaths as well, like saying, “I swear by the One in whose Hand is my soul…”

And Allaah knows best.
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
http://SalafiTalk.net

Related Links:

•  As-Sitteer (The Coverer) – Asma al Husna