Tawassul

Salafiyyah Interpretation of Ayah 10 of Surah Yunus

Shaikh Bin Baz in his answers to Ayatollah Wa'iz-Zadeh has also cited the followingAyah of the Holy Qur'an as another instance of non-permissibility oftawassul , saying that in his opinion Muslims who upholdtawassul to the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) are like idolaters who seek intercession from objects, which are of no use:

"And they worship beside Allah which can neither hurt them nor profit them, and they say: these are our intercessors with Allah..." (10:18)

Critique

First, thisAyah has no connection with Muslims since they do not worship any thing or object except ALLAH (SWT).

Secondly, as said earlier, addressing the Prophet is not meant to worship him but to request him for supplication and intercession.

Thirdly, it is a matter of surprise to compare the Prophet to those whom the Holy Qur'an says "can neither hurt them nor profit them," since the fact cannot be denied that obedience to the Prophet is to the benefit of Muslims and disobedience to him, whether during his lifetime or after his death, is certainly detrimental to them. Similarly, the supplication and intercession of the Prophet for those who are eligible, whether in worldly life or in the Hereafter, is profitable for the Muslims as unanimously confirmed by the 'ulama'.

Fourthly, it is a grave error to equate the belief of the Muslims that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) is the intercessor, with the belief of the polytheists "these (idols) are our intercessors with ALLAH (SWT)," since God has explicitly rejected their claim as lies.

"...those who take guardians besides Him, (say) we worship them not but (in order) that they make us near to Allah; surely Allah will judge between them about what they differ; surely Allah does not guide the one who is a liar and an ingrate." (39:3)

As is clear from the wordings of the Holy Qur'an the polytheists who make such claims are liars. They are not conscious of God, neither do they worship Him or prostrate to Him nor have they any faith in their Unseen Creator:

"And when it is said to them prostrate you in obeisance to the Rahman (the Beneficent God), they say: Who is Rahman? Shall we prostrate in obeisance unto what you bid us? And it (only) adds to their flight (from the truth)." (25:60)