ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A New Analysis of Wahhabi Doctrines Tawassul {Resorting To Inter mediation}, Death and Shafa‘Ah {Intercession} According to the Shi`ah and the Wahhabis Tawassul according to the Wahhabis In this chapter, tawassul {resorting to intermediation} according to Wahhabism shall be examined.

The 'ulama ' of this sect believe that Tawassul to other than God, paying homage { ziyarah } to a grave and praying in a place where there is a grave in front of the person praying are not consistent with Tawhid in Lordship.

According to them, the requisite of Tawhid is that one should not resort to the intermediation of other than God even if he is the Prophet of Islam (s), because tawassul , shafa'ah {intercession} and the like are outside the Sunnah of the Prophet and the pious predecessors { as-Salaf as-salih }, and the Qur'an also regards this belief as polytheism.[^1] It is thus stated in the book, al-Tawhid bi'l-Lughati al-Farisiyyah : Seeking the help of other than God is polytheism and seeking refuge in other than God is also within the sphere of polytheism… The Words { kalimat } of God are identical with the uncreated { qadim } Essence of God.

So, for this reason, one may entreat { istighathah } these Words otherwise, such act of entreating will be regarded as polytheism.[^2] In refuting this proposition, it must be stated first of all that the pertinent verse had been revealed with respect to the jinn .

Concerning the circumstances surrounding the revelation of this verse, it must be said that the Arabs used to believe that the jinn live in the desert, and during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance { al-Jahiliyyah }, they used to turn to the “chief of the jinn” at the time of going out of the city for help, addressing him thus: “O chief of the jinn!

Save us from the evil of the jinn and preserve us from their annoyance.” Of course, resorting to the jinn is absolutely unlawful because God has explicitly prohibited this practice. In addition to this, seeking help from anyone who denies God is obviously more so.

Secondly, there are a lot of differences between the prophets { anbiya' } and messengers { rusul } who have direct connection with God, and the receivers of the divine revelation, on one hand, and the jinn who do not recognize God on the other. Therefore, the Islamic belief demands that we have to beseech and entreat God, the Exalted, and seek the intercession of those who are closer to Him.