ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Tawassul Tawassul to the Dead is Addressing the Non-Existent Muhammad bin 'Abd al-Wahhab writes: Tawassul to a person who is alive has no objection, but tawassul to the dead is to address the non-existent and is an absurd, ugly and despised act. Critique This statement is a clear violation of ALLAH (SWT)'s words in the Holy Qur'an: "Reckon not those who are slain in the way of Allah, to be dead; Nay!

They are alive and are being sustained by their Lord." (3:169) It is also in contradiction to the saying of (S.A.W.A.) as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and all other authoritative (Sihah) Sunni works. After the Battle of Badr the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) stood near the well of the same name and addressed the dead with ayah 46 of Surah al-A'raf.

When some of his companions objected that how could the dead hear him, the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) replied: "You are not more hearing than them."[^34] It is in opposition to the statements of Islamic intellectuals such as al-Ghazzali who writes in Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din: "Some people think death as extinction and state of non-existent, and those who hold such beliefs have no faith and actually mean to deny ALLAH (SWT) and the Hereafter." Hafiz al-Nawawi in al-Majmu' fi Sharh al-Muhadhdhab which says that while standing beside the tombs of Prophets, especially the shrine of (S.A.W.A.), it is recommended to request them to supplicate to God for our needs, since they are alive and as the Holy Qur'an says: "are being sustained by their Lord." (3:169)[^35] Shaikh Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri who states his fatwa and that of 75 'ulama' of different Islamic lands as follows: In our view, (S.A.W.A.) is alive in his holy tomb and his life is similar to worldly life but without its duties.

'Allamah Jalal al-Din Suyuti writes in his book Anba' al-Azkiya' bi-Hayat al-Anbiya' on the authority of Shaikh Taqi al-Din Subki that the proof of the life of Prophets and martyrs in their graves is the prayer offered by Prophet Moses in his own tomb as mentioned in a hadith. In this regard Shaikh Shams al-Islam Muhammad Qasim has written a booklet titled Ab-i Hayat.[^36] Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab in answer to Shaikh Ja'far Najafi said that seeking help from the dead is an absurd act.

But how could this be called shirk since there is no connection between absurdity and polytheism?