Tawassul
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Tawassul (Arabic: توسل ) is an Islamic religious practice in which a Muslim seeks nearness to Allah. A rough translation would be: "To draw near to what one seeks after and to approach that which one desires." The exact definition and method of tawassul is a matter of some dispute within the Muslim community.
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[edit] Origin
Muslims who practice tawassul point to the Qur'an, Islam's holy book, as the origin of the practice. Many Muslims believe it is a commandment upon them to "draw near" to Allah.[1] Righteous actions are often describe as a means to reaching this nearness.[2]
[edit] Intercession
Some Muslims also define tawassul as "intercession" with Allah, also pointing to the Qur'an in explanation of this. Muslims also believe that intercession is only with the permission of Allah.[3][4] Some Muslims believe that seeking intercession by invoking other than Allah or with the dead is forbidden within Islam, similarly pointing to the Qur'an in explanation of this.[5][6] Amongst Sufi and Barelwi and other Sunnis, as well as Twelver Shi'a, it refers to intercession: the act of asking a dead Sufi or Imam for their prayers.
[edit] References
- ^ Surat al-Ma-idah 5:35
- ^ Surat al-Kahf 18:110
- ^ Surat Maryam 19:87
- ^ Surat Saba 34:83
- ^ Surat as-Zukhruf 43:86
- ^ Surat Yunus 10:18
