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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Tawassul Non-Permissibility of Tawassul to the Dead Another claim put forward by the Salafiyyah is that, on the basis of evidences tawassul to (S.A.W.A.) during his lifetime is acceptable but after his death there is lack of evidence to support the view that tawassul was ever made to him.[^31] Critique The contemporary Sunni scholar Dr. Ramadan Buti of the University of Damascus, rejects this viewpoint of the Wahhabiyyah sect.

He says tawassul to (S.A.W.A.) and things pertaining to him is permissible, whether during his lifetime or after his death, since things or items related to him are not necessarily linked to his lifetime such as tabarruk (sacred relics) or tawassul , as is confirmed by Sahih al-Bukhari, Chapter on the hair of the Prophet. No Muslim would ever attribute to other than the One and Only God the effect of anything related to the person of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) during his life or after his death.

If a person were to hold the opposite view that this effect is independent in itself, he would be considered an infidel. Accordingly, the tabarruk of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and tawassul to him and to things related to him, does not mean attributing the blessed effect to his personal influence independent of God, but is an indication of the fact that as the Last Divine-Sent Messenger he is the 'Best of Creation' and is the 'Mercy of Allah' for the entire creation.

Therefore tawassul to him is a means of gaining proximity to ALLAH (SWT) and His infinite Mercy for mankind. It was in this sense that the companions sought tawassul to the Prophet and things related to him. Likewise, it is recommended to seek intercession ( shafa'at ) through the pious persons such as the (A.S.) of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.). Sunni authorities including Shawkani, Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, San'ani and others are unanimous on this issue as was made clear concerning the request for rain.

In view of these facts, Dr. Buti calls it a strange confusion by the Wahhabiyyah to make difference between the lifetime of the Prophet and after his death.[^32] To quote Professor Hasan bin 'Ali al-Saqqaf, polytheism (shirk) is polytheism either in this world or in the next, whether or not the person through whom people are seeking tawassul to God, is alive.