But Alusi adds that it is permissible to supplicate at the...

But Alusi adds that it is permissible to supplicate at the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), since the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) used to stand beside his shrine and supplicate with face towards the Qiblah. b) Tawassul to the Prophet after his Death The 'ulama' are divided whether or not it is permissible after the death of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) to make him the means of supplication with such phrases as Allahumma inni asaluka bi-Nabiyyika (O Allah!

I beseech You through Your Prophet), or bi-jahi Nabiyyika (by the dignity of Your Prophet), or still bi-Haqqi Nabiyyika (for the sake of Your Prophet). We come across three different opinions in this regard.

Opinion on Permissibility All jurists including Imami, Shafi'i, Maliki, and later-day Hanafi scholars as well as others such as the Hanbalis, are unanimous on the permissibility of this way of supplication, whether it was in the lifetime of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), or whether it is after his passing away.[^5] The Abbasid caliph, Mansur al-Dawaniqi, once asked Malik ibn Anas the founder of the Maliki School of jurisprudence whether he should turn towards the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) or face the Qiblah for supplication?

Malik answered him: “Why do you want to turn away from the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) when he ( (S.A.W.A.)) is the wasilah (means) for you and for your father Adam, towards ALLAH (SWT) on the Day of Resurrection.

Turn to him (the Prophet) and seek his intercession (shafa'at)”.[ 6] The Sunni scholar al-Nawawi in describing the manners and etiquette of making pilgrimage to the shrine of (S.A.W.A.), writes: The pilgrim should face the shrine of the Messenger of ALLAH, make him a means ( tawassul ) towards reaching God and seek his wasilah as intercession ( shafa'at ), in the same manner as the Bedouin who visited the Prophet's shrine and standing beside it said: Peace unto you O Messenger of ALLAH (SWT), I have heard ALLAH (SWT) has said:...Had they, when they had wronged themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would certainly have found Allah Most-Propitious, Most-Merciful.