Tawassul is the Sunnah of the Prophet

During this month of August -as it has been the practice in the past- Edinburgh Central Mosque is organising "Discover Islam Exhibition" which runs for the whole month. Many local Scottish people as well as tourists are expected to come to the exhibition to know more about Islam. I observe that during this month, there is also a 'renowned' scholar from Damascus, perhaps was invited by the Mosque (as I was told), giving talks after congregational prayers. While I do benefit from his talks, but I do not feel at ease with his tendencies most of the time, trying to enforce his "Salafi" doctrine on the listeners, by bringing up matter which is a non-issue in reality, except by the modern so-called "Salafis" (they do not fit to be called true Salafis since the real Salaf do not behave in this manner. They are rather best called "Wahhabis", see Albani and His Friends by G.F.Haddad) .

One of the infamous issues that Sufis always subject to attack by these Wahhabis is their adoption of "Tawassul". They feel that making tawassul is a kind of "shirk" to Allah, equating it with "worshipping other than Allah" such as "worshipping" the Prophet or the Saints (Awliya'). While this is not so and never in the history that Sufis believe the Prophet, the Saints or the pious people have the power or the effect in themselves in fulfilling one's supplications. But what has been done is merely emulating the practice of the Salaf among the Companions, the Followers, the Imams and the pious people for centuries who took it from the Sunnah of the Prophet s.a.w. himself --may ALlah bless him and his families. Are we trying to say that their practices were wrong and they had made "shirk" to ALlah all this while?. Not the least!

The academic arguments in supporting tawassul and responding to criticisms would be very long and I do not intend to venture into it in this blog. Suffice for me to mention here that if anyone wants to know further, then please spend sometime reading the various articles from the blog below which has responded quite extensively to various attacks. May Allah reward the author and may ALlah give me strength to translate them into Malay one day, Insya ALlah.

Tawassul: Some Hadiths Proof

Wallahu 'alam.