[Q 716] Permissibility of Istighatha and Wasilah

Question

Young person asked questions regarding the above cuplets.
That these are words of dua and dua is only from Allah عزوجل ۔

Is this a dua?

What is the difference between dua, waseela, request and shafayat?

Can we say these words in the blessed court of Rasool Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ واصحابہ وبارک وسلم and what is the ruling in the light Sharia?

Is there any relation between verse 20 to 24 in Surah Jinn and these cuplets?

How can youngsters be guided in these matters?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Asking from the presence of Allah Almighty or calling upon Allah Almighty is called Du’a. And to use the beloved personalities of Allah Almighty as an intercessor in the presence of Allah Almighty is called Wasilah. Similarly, to request intercession from the beloved personalities of Allah Almighty, such as Prophets and Awliya (saints), is called Talab-e-Shafa’at (seeking intercession). And asking from the pious servants of Allah is called Istighatha. This is also, in reality, a form of Wasilah.

The words mentioned in the question are also, in reality, Istighatha, which is a permissible and lawful act, because addressing the pious servants of Allah and asking from them is not Du’a (supplication to Allah directly) but rather making them a means (Wasilah) for one’s need in the presence of Allah Almighty. And presenting the Wasilah of pious servants in the presence of Allah Almighty is absolutely permissible, just as the Holy Prophet ﷺ taught a Sahabi a Du’a after performing two rak’ats, in which the Wasilah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was presented. In fact, in one narration, the words are: “Ya Rasulullah ﷺ, fulfill my need,” the meaning of which is that “you become the means for the fulfillment of my need.” Thus, it is in Jami’ Tirmidhi:

«أن رجلا ضرير البصر أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: ادع الله أن يعافيني قال:إن شئت دعوت، وإن شئت صبرت فهو خير لك». قال: فادعه، قال: فأمره أن يتوضأ فيحسن وضوءه ويدعو بهذا الدعاء:اللهم إني أسألك وأتوجه إليك بنبيك محمد نبي الرحمة، إني توجهت بك إلى ربي في حاجتي هذه لتقضى لي، اللهم فشفعه في»

A blind man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘Pray to Allah that He cures me.’ He ﷺ said, ‘If you wish, I will pray, and if you wish, you may be patient, and that is better for you.’ The man said, ‘Then pray for me.’ So, he ﷺ commanded him to perform wudu thoroughly and then supplicate with this Du’a: ‘O Allah, I ask You and turn to You by means of Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. I have turned by means of you to my Lord for this need of mine, so that it may be fulfilled for me. O Allah, accept his intercession for me.’

(Jami’ Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 569, Sharikat Maktabat wa Matba’at Mustafa al-Babi al-Halabi, Egypt)

Mulla Ali al-Qari رحمه الله (passed away 1014 AH) states:

«وفی نسخۃ بصیغۃ الفاعل،ای لتقضی الحاجۃ لی،و المعنی لتکون سببا لحصول حاجتی و وصول مرادی فالاسناد مجازی»

Its meaning is that “in one version, it is in the active voice, meaning ‘that my need may be fulfilled,’ and its meaning is ‘that you become the cause for the fulfillment of my need and the attainment of my objective,’ so this attribution is metaphorical.”

(Al-Hirz ath-Thamin li al-Hisn al-Hasin, vol. 1, p. 1062, Maktabat al-Malik Fahd al-Wataniyyah, Riyadh)

Answered by: Usman Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 7th September 2026