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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Concept of Intermediation (tawassul) CHAPTER TWO: The Doctrine of Tawassul (In the Light of Qur’ān) In the last chapter it was discussed that tawassul and wasīlah , semantically speaking, are a means of approach to something; they are also instrumental in achieving nearness to someone.

Since the object of life of a believer is to attain the proximity and pleasure of Allah, He has guided them at many occasions in the Holy Qur’ān to gain access to Him; and in the process, not only to satisfy their quest for truth but also to seek His pleasure. The search for truth and Allah’s pleasure are interrelated. It obviously implies that the believer is not seeking the philosopher’s truth, which is more or less abstract and lacks personal involvement.

The truth that a believer is seeking must reflect his emotional involvement. This is a precondition for any favourable divine response, and when this condition is fulfilled, his quest is positively rewarded. He achieves three targets in a single leap of faith; he comes closer to truth, he satisfies his own craze for truth and at the same time he is able to receive Allah’s pleasure, which is the ultimate aim of his life.

Some of the Qur’ānic verses given below clearly prove how explicitly and without any ambiguity Allah has enjoined upon the believers to seek means of accessibility to Him for the fulfilment of their needs and desires and for leading a contented life on this earth. Argument No. 1: Injunction for seeking means of approach It is commanded by Almighty Allah as the holy Qur’ān states: O believers!

Fear Allah and seek means (of approach to) His (presence and to His nearness and accessibility) and strive in His way so that you may prosper.[1] The Qur’ānic verse stresses four things: faith, piety, search for means of approach, and struggle for Allah’s sake. First of all, the Qur’ān mentions faith. After faith it enjoins piety upon the believers because a heart laced with fear of Allah, is in fact a heart laced with His obedience. A man who possesses piety never disobeys Allah.

Each moment of his life is spent in pleasing Him and, incidentally, all of his other concerns are pushed into the background. As a matter of fact, obeying the divine regulations becomes a part and parcel of his existence. Virtue and good deeds shape up as inseparable parts of his character and conduct. His desire to be close to Allah elevates him in His eyes.