BELIFEFS REGARDING ALLAH (THE EXALTED)

BELIEFS REGARDING ALLAH
(THE EXALTED)

Say, praises are because of Allah the One
Who hasn’t taken a son
And who hasn’t got a partner in any place
And who doesn’t need a helper to save Him from disgrace
So proclaim His stateliness and greatness.

(The Children of Israel - Chapter 17, Verses 111, Holy Qurán)  

Belief -1	Allah (The Exalted) is one. He has no partner in Being, attributes, actions, commands or in Names. Allah(The exalted) is “Waajibul Wahood” (His existence is necessary). His non –existence is absolutely impossible (Muhaal). Allah(The exalted) is Qadeem (always was, always will be. Not a creation). Another name for this is Azali or Abadi. It is Allah(The exalted) alone who is worthy of worship.
Belief -2	Allah (The Exalted) is free from need, in other words Allah (The Exalted) is not dependant on anyone or anything rather the entire creation is dependent on Allah (The Exalted) There are those, who think (Allah forbid) that Allah (The Exalted) created Angles etc. to do certain chores, so these mean that Allah (The Exalted) is dependant on them to do these chores. This is totally incorrect. Allah (The Exalted) created the Angels as His servants and gave them opportunity to serve Him as their Lord. It is the Angels and all the creation that are dependant on Allah (The Exalted) and Allah (The Exalted) is without doubt dependant on none.
Belief -3	To understand Allah (The Exalted’s) Being (Zaat) by means of reason is absolutely impossible. That which can be understood by means of reason, can be comprehended and encircled by the mind and there is nothing that can encircle or comprehend Allah (The Exalted’s) Being. However, through Allah (The Exalted’s) Works (Af’aal), His attributes can be identified and through His attributes, one is able to attain knowledge about the Being of Allah (The Exalted)  . The above mentioned belief explains that it is absolutely impossible for us to comprehend Allah (The Exalted’s)   Being. The reason for this is that anything which can  be understood can be comprehend, but for the sake of understanding  an example without comparison is that if one this of a bird, then one’s mind can comprehend a bird’s physique and one will thus be able to imagine or picture a bird. The reason for this is because it is tangible which the mind can understand through reasoning and knowledge. Now, none can imagine or picture  Allah (The Exalted). Thus, the human mind can not comprehend Allah (The Exalted’s) Being as it is beyond the understanding of the creation.  However, it has been explained that through  the Attributes of Allah (The Exalted), such as His Mercy, His Warth etc. we are able to know about Allah (The Exalted) and His commands.
Belief -4	Just as His Being is Qadeem, Azali and Abadi (allthese terms mean non-created always was, always will be), His attributes are also Qadeem, Azali and Abadi. It must be understood that Allah (The Exalted) is Self Existent. Allah (The Exalted) is “All Existing” in other words not created , always was and always will be.
Belief -5	With the exception of Allah (The Exalted’s) Being and Attributes (such as Allah) being Most Merciful, The Sustainer etc. everything else is “Haadis” meaning that it did not exist and only  came into existence after Allah (The Exalted) created them. In other words the Angels, Prophets, Jinns, humans an everything else in the universe only came into existence after being created by Allah (The Exalted), so they are all known as “ Creation”. In other words, all creation came into existence through Allah (The Exalted) command.
Belief -6	Any person who says the attributes of Allah (The Exalted) to be a creation is a mislead and corrupt person.
Belief -7	Any person who says  anything in the universe to be Qadeem (uncreated) or has a doubt in it being Haadis (created) is an unbeliever (Kaafir).
Belief-8	His attributes are neither the same nor separate from his Being. It is not so, that the attributes are the Names alone of his Being (Zaat). In reality His attributes cannot be separated from Allah (The Exalted’s) Being.
Belief-9	Allah (The Exalted) has Power over everything that is possible There is nothing possible which is outside His Power. In the same way, anything that is totally impossible is not within His Power. Anything which is absolutely impossible has no connection to Allah (The Exalted) , as He is free from this .An example of this is that there can never be another Allah. The non-existence of another Allah (The Exalted)  is absolutely impossible over which Allah (The Exalted)  has no Power or command. In the same way, the destruction of Allah (The Exalted) is absolutely impossible and has no connection to Him. It is thus very evident neither are those things which are absolutely impossible connected to Him and nor does Allah (The Exalted) have any Power (command) over them Thus, it has been proven that to accept any Muhaal (absolutely reality reject the oneness of Allah (The Exalted)/
Belief-10	Allah (The Exalted) is not a father of anyone, nor is he a son of anyone, nor does he have any wife. Anyone who a claim that Allah (The Exalted) is the father or son of anyone, or says that Allah (The Exalted) has a wife is an unbeliever. Even, if one thinks of these to be possible, then he is mislead. Today the Christians and even some Muslims (Allah Forbid) refer to humans as the children of god. This is totally improper a words of Kufr. Muslims must abstain from making such detrimental statements.
Belief-11	Allah (The Exalted) is “Hayy” in other words Allah (The Exalted) is All Existing and the lives of everything is in His control. He gives life to whomsoever He wills and causes death whomsoever He wills.
Belief-12	He is Qaadir (has Power) over everything that is possible. There is nothing possible that is out of his Power.
Belief-13	Maqdoor refers to those things which are within Allah (The Exalted’s) Power. It is not necessary that any or all things have to come to existence. However, only those things that are possible are Maqdoor. Muhaal or absolutely impossible things are not Maqdoor. An example of this, is that if Allah (The Exalted) wills then a He can create a Mountain of gold  or make the skies of rubies, but this is not so. It therefore does not mean that it must be in existence. It is His will that He brings into existence whatever He wills.
Belief-14	Allah (The Exalted) is All Splendid and Most Graceful. He is free from all that which has shortage or defect It is absolutely impossible for there to be any shortage or defects in Allah (The Exalted). Allah (The Exalted) is even free from that which has neither shortage nor splendor. Allah (The Exalted) is free from all defects, such as lies, deceit, distrust, tyranny, ignorance, immodesty etc. To say that lies is within  his power in this sense, that he can tell a lie, is to say a Muhaal (absolutely impossible) to be Mumkin (possible), and to say Allah (The Exalted) to have defect and this would be rejecting Allah (The Exalted). To think that Allah (The Exalted’s) power has a shortage if He does not have Power over a Muhaal, (absolutely impossible thing) is totally incorrect. It is not a shortage in the power of Allah (The Exalted). In reality, it is the weakness and shortage of that Muhaal, that it is not worthy or having connection with the power of Allah (The Exalted).
Belief-15	Existence, Power, Hearing, seeing, Speech, Knowledge and Will are  all His self Attributes, but He does not depend on ears, eyes and tongue to hear,  see or speak, since these are all physical forms (body) and Allah (The Exalted) is free from any physical  form. He hears faintest of sounds and sees the minutest of things, even that which cannot be seen under the lenses of a microscope. His seeing and hearing, is not only confined to this, but He is all Seeing and All Hearing. We thus say that Allah (The Exalted) sees absolutely and hears absolutely
Belief-16	Like all His other Attributes, His Words- Speech is also uncreated. It is not a creation .The Qur’aan is Allah (The Exalted’s) words. Any person who says the Qur’aan to be a creation has been termed a Kaafir, by Imam Aazam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him) and all the other Great Imams. Actually, the kufr (infidelity) of such a person is proven from the companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
Belief-17	His speech free from sound. The Qur’an that we recite with our tongue and which we read from written form is the uncreated words of Allah (The Exalted) without any sound. Our reading, writing and our voices are a creation .In other words, our recitation is creation and that which we have recited is uncreated. Our writing is created and that which we have written is uncreated. Our listening is creation and that which we have heard is uncreated. Our memorizing is creation and that which we have  memorized is uncreated.
Belief-18	Allah (The Exalted) Knowledge surrounds everything whether it is in full, or partial, or be it present, possible, totally impossible. In other words He knew of everything always (Azali) and still knows of everything and always knows everything forever. Things may change, but His Knowledge does not change. He is aware of the fears and whispering of the hearts. There is no limit to his knowledge.
Belief-19	He everything apparent and hidden. Ilm–e-Zaati (self knowledge) is His unique attribute. Any person, who tries to prove Ilm-e-Zaati, be it of present or hidden for any but Allah (The Exalted) is an unbeliever. Ilm-e-Zaati means Allah (The Exalted’s) self knowledge, which is unattained and uncreated.
Belief-20	He is the Creator of everything. Be it beings or actions. Everything that has been created has been created by Allah (The Exalted).
Belief-21	In reality, it is Allah (The Exalted) who sends down sustenance. The Angels etc. are only means and channels of delivering the sustenance etc.
Belief-22	As per His knowledge, He has written all good and bad as they are to happen and as it was to be done. It is not so, that we have to do as He has written, but He has written as we were to do. Thus If Belief- wrote bad for a certain person, then it was because that person was to do bad. If he was to do good, then Belief- would have written that good for him. His writing did not force any person to do anything. This is known as destiny.
Belief-23	Fate is of three types
Belief	A) Mubram-e-Haqeeqi refers to inevitable fate and is not changeable. b) Mu’allaq Mahz refers to that which is evidently pending the books of the Angels and can be change. c) Mu’allaq Shanbi Ba Mubram refers to that which is not evidently shown to be pending in the books of the Angels, but it is in the knowledge of Allah (The Exalted), that it is a pending situation(can be change for example through the duas of Allah (The Exalted’s) chosen servants.
Belief-24	Allah (The Exalted) is free from shape, size, space, direction, time and all that which is created.
Belief-25	To see Allah (The Exalted) in one’s worldly life is only unique to the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and in the hereafter it is not only possible, but a reality for every Sunni muslim. As for the issue of seeing spiritually or in a dream, then this was bestowed upon various Prophets (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and also certain Awliyah Allah. Imam Aazam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him) saw Allah (The Exalted) in his dream one hundred times.
Belief-26	When seeing of Allah (The Exalted), it is without exhilaration, in other words one who sees will not be able to describe what he saw. When a person usually sees anything or anyone then he sees from either far or near, above or below, from the left or right or from front or behind, but the seeing of Allah (The Exalted) is free from all these. It is usually asked how and why this will happen? The answer to this is that there is no place for such a question in this issue. When we see then we will be able to answer this question. The crux of all this, is that if the intellect engulfs it then it is not of Allah (The Exalted) , for the mind cannot engulf of Allah (The Exalted. It is also absolutely impossible, that the eyes will encircle of Allah (The Exalted when seeing him.
Belief-27	Allah (The Exalted) does what and as He Wills, for there as none with control over Him and there is none that can stop Him from doing that which He Wills. He neither gets drowsy nor does He sleep. He is the one who sees the entire creation and never tires. He is the Sustainer. He is more Merciful than one’s father or mother. He is the Compassionate. His Mercy is the hope of broken hearts. Excellence and Exaltedness is for Him alone. He creates the form of a child in the mother’s womb as He Wills. He is the One who is most forgiving. He is the one who accepts repentance. He is None can be freed from His hold without His Will. If He wills, he cause something little to become vast and something vast to become little. He makes big whom He Wills and makes small cause disgrace to one who is respected. He guides whom He Wills and makes small cause disgrace to one who is respected. He guides whom He Wills on the right path and removes whom He Wills from the right path. He grants closeness to whom He Wills and allows who He Wills to become cursed. He gives to whom He Wills. And seizes from whom He wills.
Belief-28	His Works are full of wisdom, whether we know of them or not. He does not need a reason to do anything. A reason is that which causes benefit to the one commanding any action (and Allah is free from this). His doings do not depend on justification or excuse to do anything which He Wills. Through His Wisdom, He has made one thing the means for another. He has created eyes   for seeing, ears to hear, fire to burn and water to quench thirst. If He Wills, then the eyes may hear, the ears may see, water may burn and fire may quench thirst. If He does not will, then in the day, a thousand eyes may not see a mountain, there may be a million fires and one straw may not even be tarnished.

Tawassul from sunnah

We have already seen the concept of Waseelah and Tawassul finding explicit mention in the Holy Quran to the extent that in Surah Maaedah (5): Verse 35 Allah has exhorted the believers to adopt a Waseelah to acquire divine proximity.

It is time to turn to the Sunnah for more proof on Tawassul. Although a single verse of the Quran should prove sufficient to establish Tawassul as an Islamic concept, I want to leave no stone unturned in putting the matter beyond doubt. This blog should be an eye opener for all the skeptics.

The concept of Waseelah and توسل can be traced in traditions. For the sake of brevity, we will mention a few instances here.

1) Hazrat Adam (a.s.) resorts to Tawassul

a) When Hazrat Adam (a.s.) disobeyed his Lord and incurred His Anger he resorted to Tawassul like this:

O Allah forgive my mistake with the Waseelah of Muhammad.
Allah asked the Prophet Adam how he knew about Muhammad.

Adam replied: When you created me, I lifted my head and saw: (لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله) written on the throne. Therefore I knew that Muhammad must be of a very high stature, else you would not have written his name along with Your Name.

Allah said: I have forgiven you. He will be the last Messenger and from your progeny. I have created you because of him.

b) The second narration is when Allah created the sky and the earth. He wrote Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.a.) name on the Pillars of the Throne and on the Doors of Paradise and on the leaves of the trees in Paradise. It was written that Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) would be the last Prophet.

In addition to these narrations, there are several more proofs for taking the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as Waseelah in prayers and for seeking forgiveness.
(Fataawa of Ibne Taymiyya vol 2 pg 150, Tarikh-e-Ibne Kathir in Story of Adam)

Apart from Ibne Taymiyya, other Sunni scholars have also documented these narrations viz. Suyuti, Bayhaqi and Tabarani.

2) Prediction and instruction of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

Ayesha narrates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) predicted about the Khawaarij:

هم شر الخلق و الخليقة يقتلهم خير الخلق و الخليقة أقربهم‏ عند اللّه‏ الوسيلة

They (Khawaarij) are the worst of the creatures who shall be put to sword by the best of creation and the most proximate of mediums (waseelah) towards Allah. (Sharhe Nahj al-Balaaghah vol 2 pg 247)

In this tradition – Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.) is referred to as the Waseelah towards Allah.

3) Conduct of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

Abu Hurairah says: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) informed about Adam (a.s.) and his seeking medium (refer above under Tafseer of Surah Baqarah (2: 37)):

Allah addressed Adam (a.s.):

يا آدم هؤلاء صفوتي‏فإذا كان لك‏ حاجة فهؤلاءتوسل

O Adam, these (progeny of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)) are my chosen ones. Whenever you have a need, make them your medium (towards me).

Prophet (s.a.w.a.) continued:

نحن سفينة النجاة و من تعلق بها نجا و من حاد عنها هلك فمن كان له الي الله حاجة فليسالنا اهل البيت

We are the Arks of Deliverance, anyone who embarks on them is saved and anyone who defies them is destroyed. Anyone who has a need before Allah must make us Ahle Bait (a.s.) as his medium.
(Faraaed al-Simtain vol 1 pg 34 tradition 1)

4) Sermon of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.)

The daughter of the noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.) – Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) says in her sermon

و احمد الله الذي بعظمته و نوره يبتغي من في السموات والارض‏ اليه الوسيلة و نحن وسيلة في خلقه

I praise Allah the One through Whose Greatness and Light everyone in the heavens and the earth seeks medium for proximity and we are the medium of proximity to Allah among His Creation.’ (Sharhe Nahj al-Balaaghah vol 1 pg 211)

5) Umar resorts to Tawassul

a) Ibne Hajar al-Asqalaani (exp 852 A.H.) records in Fath al-Baari fi Sharh al-Bukhari vol 2, pg 412:
It has been narrated by reliable chain of narrators that during the time of the second caliph – Umar b. Khattaab there was a drought and famine.

Bilal b. Haaris who was a companion of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) approached the grave of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and pleaded:

Your nation is being destroyed, seek rains of mercy from the Lord of the World.
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) appeared in his dream and said: Rains will soon pour

b) As recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Anas:

At the time of drought Umar b. Khattaab used to request Abbas b. Abdul Muttalib to invoke Allah for rain.
Umar himself would supplicate:

O Allah! We used to ask our Prophet to invoke You for rain, and You would bless us with rain, and now we ask his uncle to invoke You for rain. O Allah! Bless us with rain.
And so it would rain.
(Sahih al-Bukhari vol 2, book 17, trad 123)

Umar was a caliph of the Muslims and among the foremost Salaf. He resorts to Tawassul of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). As a matter of fact Umar takes the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as a Waseelah through the Waseelah of Abbas b. Abdul Muttalib. The aforementioned narrations show that not only was Tawassul a recommended practice during the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) lifetime, it was recommended even after his (s.a.w.a.) demise.

6) Residents of Medina resort to Tawassul

Masoodi documents in Muruj al-Zahab:

In the 53rd year of Hijrah, Ziyaad b. Abeeh the ruler of Iraq wrote to Muawiyah:

All of Iraq lies under the control of my right hand whereas my left hand is empty (indicating towards the rule of other countries).

Muawiyah entrusted him with the rule of Hijaz (area covering Medina and Mecca).

When the inhabitants of Medina heard this, all of them – adults as well as children entered the mosque of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wailing and praying for three days and sought his mediation with Allah because they were aware of the oppression and tyranny wrought by Ziyaad.

As a result of this Tawassul, Ziyaad died after three days.
(Muruj al-Zahab vol 3 pg 32)

7) Hakim Nishapuri resorts to Tawassul

It is recorded in Faraaed al-Simtain that Hakim Nishapuri – renowned Sunni scholar and author of Mustadrak alaa al-Sahihain mentions his seeking intercession though Imam Ali b. Moosa al-Reza (a.s.) thus:
Allah endowed me with the recognition of the sacred shrine of Imam Ali b. Moosa (a.s.) …As an example I quote from my experience – for a long time I was afflicted with such a pain in my foot that I could move only slightly and that too with great difficulty.

In this condition I went for the Ziyaarah of the grave of Imam Ali b. Moosa al-Reza (a.s.) and remained there for the night. The following morning there were no signs of the pain in my foot and I returned safely to Nishapur.
(Faraaed al-Simtain vol 2 pg 22)

8) Ibne Hibbaan resorts to Tawassul

Ibn Hibban, who according to many Sunni scholars ranks as the most reliable scholar after Bukhari and Muslim has documented his visitation (Ziyaarah) to the tomb of Imam Ali b. Moosa al-Reza (a.s.) in Mashshad, Iran, in his Sahih-e-Ibn Hibban:

I have done ziyaarah of his tomb many times, during my stay at Tus. Whenever I got into any difficulty I went to the grave of Imam Ali b. Moosa al-Reza (a.s.) and asked Allah for the fulfillment of my need. Every time I was answered and my difficulty was removed. This is such a reality that I found it to be true no matter how many times I did it. May Allah grant us death in the true love for Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his blessed Ahle Bait.
(Ibn Abi Haatim al-Raazi, Kitab al-Theqah, vol. 8 pg 457, tradition 14,411)

9) Mansoor-e-Dawaaneqee ordered to do Tawassul through the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)

Qazi Ayyaaz b. Moosa the renowned Sunni scholar of Marrakech, Morroco, records: Mansoor-e-Dawaaneqee (or Haroon Rashid according to other narrations) asked Imam Malik (one of the leaders of jurisprudence of Ahle Tasannun) in a debate that took place in Masjid-e-Nabawi:

While supplicating, should I stand facing the Qiblah or should I face the burial place of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)?

Imam Malik: Why are you turning your face away from your father the Holy Prophet (s.aw.a.)? He is your intercessor and the intercessor of your forefather Adam (a.s.). Rather, turn towards the grave of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) and seek intercession through him.
(Kitab al-Shifa, Chapter Ziyaarah al-Nabi by Qazi Ayyaz)

10) Tawassul through the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in his childhood

Supplications were made with the Waseelah of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) even before his prophethood, while he was still a child. This is hardly surprising as we have already seen the Tawassul of Hazrat Adam (a.s.) thousands of years before the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) birth.

Ibn Muhammad b. Abdul Wahhab Najdi states – When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) was a child, Mecca witnessed a rain deficit for an extended period of time. The Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) uncle Abu Talib (a.s.) prayed for rain through the Waseelah of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
(Mukhtasar Seerat al-Rasool by Ibne Muhammad b. Abdul Wahhab al-Najdi)

It is notable that Abu Talib (a.s.) is the one praying through the Waseelah of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) which belies the claims of the skeptics that he was a disbeliever in Islam and the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Rather the skeptics are the disbelievers in Islam and Prophet (s.a.w.a.) because they deny Tawassul through the medium of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who was the saviour of past prophets like Hazrat Adam (a.s.).

11) Blind man regains eyesight with Tawassul

Ibne Taymiyyah records that Usman b. Hunaif narrates that a blind person came to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and requested him (s.a.w.a.): Pray to Allah that He bestows me with sight.

The Prophet (s.a.w.a.): Perform ablution, offer two units prayers and then supplicate to Allah thus:
O Allah, I ask You through the Waseelah of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Allah resored his sight.
(Al-Tawasul by Ibne Taymiyyah pg 80 sourced from Tirmizi, Ibn Maajah, Hakim Nishapuri, Imam Bukhari in Tareekh, Musnad-e-Ahmad Ibne Hanbal and Tabarani)

The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) himself recommends Tawassul to the blind man while he (s.a.w.a.) could just as easily have prayed for the blind man himself which incidentally would also have been tantamount to Tawassul.

Skeptics justify this by claiming that Tawassul of this nature in the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) lifetime was permitted but is prohibited after his demise. The claim is groundless. Are they claiming that Tawassul was abrogated after the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) demise? Let them advance a verse from the Quran which abrogates Tawassul if they are truthful in their claims.

12) Waseelah of companions

Not just the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), even righteous companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) were Waseelah for the people in times of distress.

Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abdul Birr, Ibn Saad, Ibn Athir record: Whenever there was a famine in Rome, the Romans would supplicate through the Waseelah of Abu Ayyub Ansari (r.a.).

When supplication was made through the Waseelah of Abu Ayyub Ansari (r.a.) it did rain.
(Tareekh-e-Ibne Kathir, Tabaqaat-e-Ibne Saad, Usd al-Ghaabah, Istiaab).

These are some proofs of tawassul from authentic sources hope this will make you 100% firm in your belief about permissibility of intercession through pious person of Allah.

May bless us all.Ameen