1. The Meaning of Tawassul
Tawassul literally means “seeking a means” or “using a الوسيلة (means) to reach a goal.”
In Islamic theology, Tawassul refers to seeking closeness to Allah through His chosen and righteous servants, such as the Prophets and the divinely guided ones.
In Shiʿa belief:
Allah alone is the independent actor, and the righteous are only means and channels of His grace.
2. Tawassul in the Holy Qur’an
a) A Clear Qur’anic Command to Seek a Means
Allah says:
“O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek a means of nearness (wasīlah) to Him.”
(Qur’an 5:35)
This verse clearly commands believers to seek a means to Allah.
The verse does not restrict this means to a specific action; according to many Shiʿa and Sunni commentators, the most evident examples of wasīlah are the prophets and the righteous servants of Allah.
b) Tawassul through the Prophet during His Lifetime
Allah says:
“If they had come to you when they wronged themselves, and asked Allah for forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance, Most Merciful.”
(Qur’an 4:64)
This verse explicitly approves seeking forgiveness through the Prophet (peace be upon him).
c) Tawassul in Previous Nations
The brothers of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) said to their father:
“O our father, ask forgiveness for our sins for us.”
(Qur’an 12:97)
Prophet Jacob (Yaʿqub) did not reject their request, which proves that asking a righteous servant to pray on one’s behalf is Qur’anic.
3. Tawassul in the Prophetic Tradition (Sunnah)
The Hadith of the Blind Man
A blind man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked for healing.
The Prophet taught him to supplicate, saying:
“O Allah, I ask You and turn to You through Your Prophet Muhammad…”
This hadith is narrated in authentic Sunni sources such as Sunan al-Tirmidhi and Sunan al-Nasa’i, and it is one of the clearest proofs for the permissibility of Tawassul through the Prophet.
4. Is Tawassul Shirk (Polytheism)?
Shirk means attributing independent power to other than Allah.
Tawassul, according to Shiʿa belief, means:
Asking Allah by the rank and closeness of His chosen servants — not considering them independent from Him.
A rational example:
• When a sick person goes to a doctor, he does not believe the doctor is God.
• The doctor is a means, not an independent source of healing.
If Tawassul were shirk:
• The Qur’an would not command it
• The Prophet would not teach it
• The righteous generations would not practice it
5. Tawassul from the Perspective of Reason
Reason tells us:
• Allah has established the world based on causes and means
• Just as we use means in material matters, using means in spiritual matters is logical
• Tawassul respects the wise system Allah has placed in creation
6. Conclusion
✔ Tawassul:
• Is rooted in the Qur’an
• Is established in the Sunnah of the Prophet
• Is consistent with sound reason
• Does not contradict pure monotheism (Tawḥīd)
Therefore, according to Shiʿa Islam:
Tawassul is a completely logical, Qur’anic, Prophetic, and monotheistic belief.