Tawassul
Definition
Tawassul is the seeking of a means or intermediary to draw closer to Allah in supplication — most commonly by beginning with praise of Allah, sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and mentioning one's good deeds or sincere state before making the request. Al-Ghazali presents tawassul as a form of spiritual intelligence: the person who comes before a powerful patron with no credentials, no introduction, and no display of goodwill is less likely to receive a favourable hearing than the person who demonstrates their sincerity and worthiness through what they bring. With Allah, the most powerful tawassul is sincerity of heart, genuine need, and the blessing on the Prophet ﷺ whose intercession is sought.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Tawassul the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.