Shortened Question:
Is it permissible to call the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam Shafi az-Zunub?
Question:
Is it permissible to call the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam Shafi az-Zunub?
Does this mean that we are making tawassul?
Does this mean that all prophets are shufaa?
If so, how do we make shafaa for people?
What is the correct attitude of Muslims towards such shafaa?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
To make tawassul is to have an intermediary in your dua to Allah Ta’ala.
It is permissible to make tawassul. This is understood from the following verse:
{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ} [المائدة: 35]
“O you who believe fear Allah and seek a way of nearness to Him and strive in His way so that you may successful”( Surah Al-Ma’idah : 35)
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam informed a blind man to make dua saying:
I ask You (Allah) and turn towards You (Allah) through Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam who is your Nabi of Mercy.[1]
It is narrated that whenever there was a drought Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu used to seek rain through the medium of Hadrat Abbaas Radiallahu Anhu. He used to beseech Allah Ta’ala saying that we used to seek rain through your Nabi Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam while he was alive now we are asking you through, Hadrat Abbaas Radiallahu Anhu, the uncle of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam. [2]
It is permissible to call Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam الذنوبشفيع“shafi az-zunub.”
The word شفيع means intercessor, mediator. The word الذنوب means misdeed, sin. Hence الذنوبشفيع means intercessor for one’s sins. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam had requested from Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala the right to intercede on behalf of his Ummat.
Based on the above premise it is permissible to make tawassul and ask Allah through the medium of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Salam or a pious person. However, it is Shirk to make dua to a prophet or pious person. Allah alone fulfills our needs. No human being can do anything if Allah does not will it to happen
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Islamic Solutions
Jamaica
[1]:3578 – حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلَانَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ خُزَيْمَةَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ، أَنَّ رَجُلًا ضَرِيرَ البَصَرِ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُعَافِيَنِي قَالَ: «إِنْ شِئْتَ دَعَوْتُ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ صَبَرْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ» . قَالَ: فَادْعُهْ، قَالَ: فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ فَيُحْسِنَ وُضُوءَهُ وَيَدْعُوَ بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ وَأَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّ الرَّحْمَةِ، إِنِّي تَوَجَّهْتُ بِكَ إِلَى رَبِّي فِي حَاجَتِي هَذِهِ لِتُقْضَى لِيَ، اللَّهُمَّ فَشَفِّعْهُ فِيَّ» سنن الترمذي ت شاكر (5 / 569)
[2]:3710 – حَدَّثَنَا الحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ المُثَنَّى، عَنْ ثُمَامَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الخَطَّابِ، كَانَ إِذَا قَحَطُوا اسْتَسْقَى بِالعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ فَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّنَا صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَتَسْقِينَا، وَإِنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِعَمِّ نَبِيِّنَا فَاسْقِنَا» قَالَ: فَيُسْقَوْنَ صحيح البخاري (5 / 20)
