Article for Sheikh Alalbany from at-Tawassul Book

In the Name of Allaah, the Extremely Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy...

Allaah, the Perfect and Most High states:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
«O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and fear Him. Seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His Cause as much as you can. So that you may be successful.»1

Shaykh al-Albaanee comments:2

"...The Imaam of the scholars of Tafseer, al-Haafidh ibn Jareer (rahimahullaah) in explaining this verse, commented: "O you who affirm all that Allaah and His Messenger have informed you of, the reward He promised and the punishment He threatened!

اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ
«Fear Allaah»

He commented: "Respond to Allaah by obeying Him in all that He has commanded you with and forbade you from."

وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَة
«Seek the means of approach to Him»

He commented: "Seek nearness to Him by performing deeds pleasing to Him."

al-Haafidh ibn Katheer relates from Ibn `Abbaas (radiyallaahu `anhumaa) that the meaning of waseelah is "to draw near." He related the likes of that from Mujaahid, Aboo Waa.il, al-Hasan, `Abdullaah bin Katheer, as-Suddee, Ibn Zayd and others. He further related from Qataadah that he said regarding it: ‘Meaning: You draw near to Him by obeying Him and performing deeds pleasing to Him.'

Imaam Ibn Katheer then stated: "This is what these Imaam's have said regarding this, and there is no disagreement between the scholars of tafseer about it. And al-Waseelah is that which delivers one to the attainment of what he intends."3

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[1] Soorah al-Maa`idah (5):35.
[2] Shaykh al-Albaanee, at-Tawassul, Anwaa'uhu wa Ahkaamuhu, p13.
[3] Ibn Katheer, Tafseer ibn Katheer, 2/52-53).

Translated by Umm Sufyaan Faatimah