The Concept of Wasila
Question:
Salam,
Kindly tell me what is 'waseela' and under what conditions it is permissible?
Thanks a lot !
Answer:
Wasila means a tool, a vehicle, a mean to achieve something.
There is a saying attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib which (authentic or not) I think very nicely summarises what wasila is:
“The best means (Wasila) by which seekers of nearness to God, the Glorified, the Exalted, seek nearness, is the belief in Him and His Prophet, striving in His cause, for it is the high pinnacle of Islam, and (to believe) in the kalimatu'l-'ikhlas (the expression of Divine purification) for it is just nature and the establishment of prayer for it is (the basis of) community, payment of zakat (Islamic tax) for it is a compulsory obligation, fasting for the month of Ramadan for it is the shield against chastisement, the performance of hajj of the House of God (i. e . Ka`bah) and its `umrah (other than annual visit) for these two acts banish poverty and wash away sins, regard for kinship for it increases wealth and length of life, to giving alms secretly for it covers shortcomings, giving alms openly for it protects against a bad death and extending benefits (to people) for it saves from positions of disgrace.”
(Nahj al-Balagha, sermon 110)
As very nicely illustrated in the above writing, the means towards the Almighty are nothing beyond what the Qur’an has instructed us about. These are:
- Belief in God and his Prophet
- Striving in the path of God
- Prayer
- Zakah
- Fasting
- Hajj
- Visiting relatives
- Charity
- Good deeds
The verse of the Qur’an that advises about seeking wasila itself is evident to this:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ ابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسيلَةَ وَ جاهِدُوا في سَبيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُون
O you who believe! Have piety towards God and seek means to Him and strive hard in His way so that you may reach success (in the hereafter) (5:35)
As you can see, striving in the path of God is mentioned as one of the examples of seeking means towards God.
So to summarise, practising our religion is the best means towards the Almighty.
Of course the means towards Him are not excluded to the above list, however any other measure that we take as means towards Him needs to be on the basis of the teachings of religion and cannot conflict with its premises and instructions.
May God be satisfied with the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and his pious companions.
-------
February 2014
Salam,
Kindly tell me what is 'waseela' and under what conditions it is permissible?
Thanks a lot !
Answer:
Wasila means a tool, a vehicle, a mean to achieve something.
There is a saying attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib which (authentic or not) I think very nicely summarises what wasila is:
“The best means (Wasila) by which seekers of nearness to God, the Glorified, the Exalted, seek nearness, is the belief in Him and His Prophet, striving in His cause, for it is the high pinnacle of Islam, and (to believe) in the kalimatu'l-'ikhlas (the expression of Divine purification) for it is just nature and the establishment of prayer for it is (the basis of) community, payment of zakat (Islamic tax) for it is a compulsory obligation, fasting for the month of Ramadan for it is the shield against chastisement, the performance of hajj of the House of God (i. e . Ka`bah) and its `umrah (other than annual visit) for these two acts banish poverty and wash away sins, regard for kinship for it increases wealth and length of life, to giving alms secretly for it covers shortcomings, giving alms openly for it protects against a bad death and extending benefits (to people) for it saves from positions of disgrace.”
(Nahj al-Balagha, sermon 110)
As very nicely illustrated in the above writing, the means towards the Almighty are nothing beyond what the Qur’an has instructed us about. These are:
- Belief in God and his Prophet
- Striving in the path of God
- Prayer
- Zakah
- Fasting
- Hajj
- Visiting relatives
- Charity
- Good deeds
The verse of the Qur’an that advises about seeking wasila itself is evident to this:
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ ابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسيلَةَ وَ جاهِدُوا في سَبيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُون
O you who believe! Have piety towards God and seek means to Him and strive hard in His way so that you may reach success (in the hereafter) (5:35)
As you can see, striving in the path of God is mentioned as one of the examples of seeking means towards God.
So to summarise, practising our religion is the best means towards the Almighty.
Of course the means towards Him are not excluded to the above list, however any other measure that we take as means towards Him needs to be on the basis of the teachings of religion and cannot conflict with its premises and instructions.
May God be satisfied with the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and his pious companions.
-------
February 2014
