(Holy Qur'an 4: 64).

(Holy Qur'an 4: 64).Therefore, I have come to you for forgiveness of my sins and seeking your intercession with ALLAH (SWT).[^7] Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, defining the manner of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), writes in the book al-Mughni: Stand beside the tomb of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), and say: I have come to you for forgiveness of my sins and to seek your intercession with ALLAH (SWT).[^8] The Shafi'ite scholar Ghazzali has allotted a special section in his book Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din concerning the manners of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) in order to repent and seek forgiveness from ALLAH (SWT).

He writes: The Prophet should be made the means ( wasilah ) and the intercessor ( shafi' ), and with face turned towards the tomb, the pilgrim should implore ALLAH (SWT) for the sake and position of the Prophet with the words: "O ALLAH (SWT), indeed You have said, Had they, who had wronged themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would have certainly found Allah Most-Propitious, Most-Merciful (Holy Qur'an 4:64);O ALLAH (SWT), surely we have heard Your words and we obey Your command, by coming to Your Prophet to seek his intercession with You for our sins; how burdensome and heavy (are sins) on our backs!

We repent of slipperiness, we confess our wrongs and our faults, accept our repentance for his sake, make Your Prophet intercessor for us, and exalt us for the sake of his position and his rights with You." Al-Ghazzali adds: It is recommended the pilgrim should go daily to the Baqi' Cemetery and after saluting the Prophet (S.A.W.A.), make pilgrimage to the tombs of (Imam) Hasan ibn 'Ali, (Imam) 'Ali ibn al-Hussein, (Imam) Muhammad ibn 'Ali and (Imam) Ja'far ibn Muhammad (Allah be pleased with them), and also perform the Salat in the Mosque of Fatemah (Allah be pleased with her) .[^9] Opinion on Aversion The jurist Abu Yusuf relates from his teacher Abu Hanifah that it is not right for anyone to call ALLAH (SWT) except through (the Names and Attributes) ALLAH (SWT), since He says: "And to Allah belong the beautiful Names, so call on Him thereby." (Holy Qur'an 7:180).

Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad Shaybani also feel averse in invoking God by means ( tawassul ) of the Prophet and his position, on the assumption that the creatures have no right on the Almighty Creator, and He showers His mercy on whomever He likes.