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Salaam brothers and sisters, I am a new Shia and am always asked questions by my family (who are for the most part okay with my conversion from Sunni to Shia). I was asked "Asking others to pray for you is recommended and encouraged. The issue is how can someone who is dead (eg. Rasullallah PBUH, the Imams, Wali) pray for us?". What evidence in the Quran and Sunnah of Muhammad (PBUH) and the Ahlul Bayt that one who is dead can make prayers for us? Authentic Scholarly sources are best. Thanks

Assalam-O-Alaikum My Shia Brothers in Islam. My question is, What are Proofs of Shia for Intercession? Is intercession still allowed after death, I mean after passing away of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and Ahlul-Bayt? What about saints? Is it appropriate to go at the grave of a saint and Intercession through them? Jazaak Allah Khair !!!

InshAllah you will all benefit by these sources: Intercession in The Holy Quran: "No intercessor can plead with Him except after His permission."-Qur'an 10:3 Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission?-Quran 2:255 On that Day, no intercession shall avail, except the one from whom Allah the Most Gracious has given permission and whose word is acceptable to Him-Qur'an 20:109 And they cannot intercede, except for him with whom He is pleased-Qur'an 21:28 None shall have the power of intercession except such a one as has received permission or a promise from Allah the Most Gracious.-Qur'an 19:87 Intercession with Him profits not except for he whom He permits-Qur'an 34:23 We sent no messenger but to be obeyed by the leave of Allah. If they who have been unjust to themselves had come to you (Prophet Muhammad) and begged Allah's forgiveness, and the Messenger had begged forgiveness for them - indeed, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving, Most Merciful-Qur'an 4:64 (The brothers of Yusuf) said, 'O our father! Ask forgiveness from Allah for our sins. Indeed, we have been sinners.' He said, 'I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you. Verily, He, only He, is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful-Qur'an 12:97-98 Intercession of Prophet Mohammad (Sawa) In this Hadith the Prophet(saws) intercedes for this blind man: A blind man came to the Prophet and said: "Invoke Allah for me that he help me." He replied: If you wish I will delay this, and it would be better for you, and if you wish I will invoke Allah the Exalted (for you)." He said:"Then invoke him." The Prophet said to him: idhhab fa tawadda', wa salli rak`atayn thumma qul -- "Go and make an ablution, pray two rak`at, then say: "O Allah, I am asking you (as'aluka) and turning to you (atawajjahu ilayka) with your Prophet Muhammad (bi nabiyyika Muhammad), the Prophet of mercy; O Muhammad (ya Muhammad), I am turning with you to my Lord regarding my present need / I am asking my Lord with your intercession concerning the return of my sight (inni atawajjahu bika ila rabbi fi hajati hadhih -- another version has: inni astashfi`u bika `ala rabbi fi raddi basari) so that He will fulfill my need; O Allah, allow him to intercede (with you) for me (allahumma shaffi`hu fiyya)." Sunni References: -Ahmad (4:138 #17246-17247), -Tirmidhi (hasan sahih gharib -- Da`awat Ch. 119) -Ibn Majah (Book of Iqamat al-salat wa al-sunnat, Ch. on Salat al-hajat #1385), -Nasa'i (`Amal al-yawm wa al-laylat p. 417-418 #658-660), -al-Hakim (1:313, 1:526), -Tabarani in al-Kabir, -Rigorously authenticated as sound (sahih) by nearly fifteen hadith masters -including Ibn Hajar, Dhahabi, Shawkani, and Ibn Taymiyya. My intercession will be for the people who committed the cardinal sins (al-kaba'ir) except shirk and dhulm (polytheism and oppression) Kanz al-Ummal, al-Muttaqi al-Hindi The intercessors are five: the Qur'an, near relatives, trusts (amanah), your Prophet, and the family of your Prophet Kanz al-Ummal, al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, hadith #39041 Many of the narrators of hadith narrate a prayer (du'a) from the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) which begins: "O my Lord! I turn to you by your Prophet, the Prophet of Mercy (Allahumma, inni atawajjahu ilayka bi nabiyyika nabi al-rahma...)." Then it says: "O Muhammad! I turn to Allah by you to solve my difficulties." Ibn Majah; al-Nisa'i; Tirmidhi; al-Husn al-Hasin, ibn al-Juzri Umar Invoking Intercession: Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 17, Number 123: Narrated Anas: Whenever drought threatened them, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, used to ask Al-Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib to invoke Allah for rain. He used to say, “O Allah ! We used to ask our Prophet to invoke You for rain, and You would bless us with rain, and now we ask his uncle to invoke You for rain. O Allah ! Bless us with rain.” And so it would rain. Intercession Done by The Son of Umar: It is narrated that the feet of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar al-Khattab became disabled and would no longer carry him. After being told to call upon the closest people to his heart, he said: "Wa Muhammada!" His feet were cured and worked properly again. Shifa' al-Asqam, al-Samhudi Intercession of Sahabi Umar Ibn Ibrahim Al-Khatib narrates in Tarikh Baghdad that the truthful (saduq) qadi al-Husayn ibn `Ali al-Saymari narrated to them, that the trustworthy (thiqa) Imam `Umar ibn Ibrahim [ibn Ahmad] al-Muqri told him, that the trustworthy Shaykh Makram ibn Ahmad told them, that `Umar ibn Ishaq ibn Ibrahim [status?] told them, that the trustworthy Shaykh `Ali ibn Maymun told them: ‘I heard al-Shafi`i say: “I swear I seek the blessing of Abu Hanifa (inni la’atabarraku bi-Abi Hanifa) and come to his grave every day"’ meaning as a visitor. “Whenever I have a certain need I pray two rak`as then I come to his grave and ask Allah Most High for my need at his grave, and little time passes until it is fulfilled.” Narrated by al-Khatib in Tarikh Baghdad (1:123)cf. al-Kawthari in his Maqalat (p. 453) and by Ibn Abi al-Wafa’ in Tabaqat al-Hanafiyya (p. 519) through al-Ghaznawi. Imam al-Haytami cites it in the thirty-fifth chapter of his book on Imam Abu Hanifa entitled al-Khayrat al- Hisan. Fatwas on the Permissibility of Intercession By Ahlus-Sunnah Scholars: All jurists including Imami, Shafi'i, Maliki, and later-day Hanafi scholars as well as others such as the Hanbalis, are unanimous on the permissibility of this way of supplication, whether it was in the lifetime of the Prophet (s), or whether it is after his passing away. 1. Sharh al-Mawahib, vol. 8, p. 304; 2. al-Majmu', vol. 8, p. 274; 3. Ibn 'Abidin, vol. 5, p.254; 4. al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah, vol. 1, p. 266 and vol. 5, 318; 5. Fath al-Qadir, vol. 8, p. 297, 298 6. al-Futuhat al-Rabbaniyyah 'ala al-Azkar al-Nabawiyyah, vol. 5, p. 36 Imam Malik urged an Abbaside Khalifa to seek the tawassal of Rasulullah (s) The Abbasid caliph, Mansur al-Dawaniqi, once asked Imam Malik ibn Anas whether he should turn towards the grave of the Prophet (s) or face the Qiblah for supplication? Malik answered him: Why do you want to turn away from the Prophet (s) when he (Prophet Muhammad (s)) is the wasilah (means) for you and for your father Adam, towards Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Turn to him (the Prophet) and seek his intercession (shafa'at). -Al-Mughni ma' al-Sharh, vol. 3, p. 588; -al-Sharh al-Kabir ma' al-Mughni, vol. 3, p. 494; -al-Qadi `Iyad in al-Shifa (2:92-93) Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal advocated making tawassal through Rasulullah (s) The correct position of the [Hanbali] madhhab is that it is permissible in one's supplication (du`a) to use as means a pious person, and it is said that it is desirable (mustahabb). Imam Ahmad said to Abu Bakr al-Marwazi:yatawassalu bi al-nabi fi du`a'ih -- "Let him use the Prophet as a means in his supplication to Allah -al-Insaf fi ma`rifat al-rajih min al-khilaf `ala madhhab al-Imam al-mubajjal Ahmad ibn Hanbal (3:456): Imam Shaafi would make tawassal through the Ahlul bayt (as) - Ibn Hajr Haytami - al-Sawa`iq al-muhriqa li ahl al-dalal wa al-zandaqa (eg page 180) and al-Khayrat al-hisan (p. 69) Imam Shafi`i made tawassul through the Family of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt) when he said Al al-nabi dhari`ati wa hum ilayhi wasilati arju bihim u`ta ghadan bi yadi al-yamini sahifati The Family of the Prophet are my means and my intermediary to him. Through them I hope to be given my record with the right hand tomorrow. -Ibn Hajr Haytami, in Al-Sawa`iq al-muhriqa li ahl al-dalal wa al-zandaqa (eg page 180) -al-Khayrat al-hisan (p. 69) This has also been found in Diwan al-Shafi`i as edited by `Umar Faruq al-Dabbagh (Beirut: Dar al-arqam, n.d.) p. 50. The pilgrim should face the shrine of the Messenger of Allah (s), make him a means (tawassul) towards reaching God and seek his wasilah as intercession (shafa'at), in the same manner as the Bedouin who visited the Prophet's shrine and standing beside it said: Peace unto you O Messenger of Allah, I have heard Allah has said: ...Had they, when they had wronged themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would certainly have found Allah Most-Propitious, Most-Merciful. (Holy Qur'an 4: 64). Therefore, I have come to you for forgiveness of my sins and seeking your intercession with Allah. -Al-Majmu', vol. 8, p. 274; -Fayd al-Qadir, vol. 2, p. 134; -I'anah al-Talibiyyin, p. 315. Ibn Qudamah Hanbalis tawassal supplication before the tomb of Rasulullah (s):- Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, defining the manner of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (s), writes in the book al-Mughni Stand beside the tomb of the Prophet (s), and say: I have come to you for forgiveness of my sins and to seek your intercession with Allah. 1. Al-Mughni ma' al-Sharh, vol. 3, p. 588; 2. al-Sharh al-Kabir ma' al-Mughni, vol. 3, p. 494 Imam Ghazzali al Shaafiis tawassal supplication before the tombs of Rasulullah (s) and Ahlul bayt (as) Imam of Ahlul Sunnah Abdul Hamid Ghazzali allotted a special section in his book Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din concerning the manners of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (s) in order to repent and seek forgiveness from Allah. He stated: The Prophet should be made the means (wasilah) and the intercessor (shafi'), and with face turned towards the tomb, the pilgrim should implore Allah for the sake and position of the Prophet with the words: "O Allah, indeed You have said, Had they, who had wronged themselves, come to you and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them, they would have certainly found Allah Most-Propitious, Most-Merciful (Holy Qur'an 4:64); Al-Ghazzali also added: It is recommended the pilgrim should go daily to the Baqi' Cemetery and after saluting the Prophet (s), make pilgrimage to the tombs of (Imam) Hasan ibn 'Ali, (Imam) 'Ali ibn al-Husayn, (Imam) Muhammad ibn 'Ali and (Imam) Ja'far ibn Muhammad (Allah be pleased with them), and also perform the Salat in the Mosque of Fatimah (Allah be pleased with her). -Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din, vol. 1, pp. 258-261

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Assalam o Alaikum, Wa Rehmatullah, Wa Barakatuhu. Wasilah The wasilah (Arabic: وسيلة‎‎). is a means by which a person, goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. In another version of the meaning: Wasilah, according to Ibn Manzur (d. 711/1311) in Lisān al-'Arab means "a station with King, a rank, or act of devotion. In other words, it refers to a position of power due to one's proximity to the king or sovereign. While the tawassul or tawassulan is the use of wasilah for this purpose. http://sunnah.com/muslim/4/13 In religious contexts, the tawassul is the use of a wasilah to arrive at or obtain favour of Allah. Two times word wasilah is used in Quran [Maida 35] O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed. [Isra 56-57] Say: "Call on those - besides Him - whom ye fancy: they have neither the power to remove your troubles from you nor to change them." Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord, - even those who are nearest: they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath: for the Wrath of thy Lord is something to take heed of. From above verses it is clear that the Wasilah in Maida-35 is in the form of command, i.e seek means that brings one closer to Allah. And Isra 56-57 says Wasilah (means of nearness) is not only restricted to humans and also certainly not in the manner which is negated by Allah there. Most beloved things to Allah by which one gets closer to Him Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him." http://www.sunnah.com/bukhari/81/91 Best means to seek nearness to Allah Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 110 https://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-110-best-means-which-seekers-nearness-Allah The best means by which seekers of nearness to Allah, the Glorified, the Exalted, seek nearness, is the belief in Him and His Prophet, fighting 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 Allah (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. Go ahead with the remembrance of Allah for it is the best remembrance, and long for that which He has promised to the pious, for His promise is the most true promise. Tread the course of the Prophet for it is the most distinguished course. Follow the sunnah of the Prophet for it is the most right of all behaviours. Learn the Qur'an for it is the fairest of discourses and understand it thoroughly for it is the best blossoming of hearts. Seek cure with its light for it is the cure for hearts. Recite it beautifully for it is the most beautiful narration. Certainly, a scholar who acts not according to his knowledge is like the off-headed ignorant who does not find relief from his ignorance, but on the learned the plea of Allah is greater and grief more incumbent, and he is more blameworthy before Allah. Original Sources: al-Saduq, Man la yahduruh, I, 131; al-Tusi, al-'Amali, I, 220. YOUR THOUGHTS?

Assalaamu 'aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatu When it comes to making dua, I have heard of several ways in which one can seek the intercession of the Ahlul Bayt in order to help a dua get accepted, but I wanted to ask if all of these methods are considered acceptable according to mainstream Shia so this way I have a more correct understanding of Shi'ism. I will give an example: I wish to make dua so that my heart is steady and I get good results in my university exams. Method #1: "O Hussain, please steady my heart in my exams and give me good grades Method #2: "O Allah, for the sake of your 'abd Hussain, please steady my heart in my exams and give me good grades" Method #3: "O Hussain, please intercede for me with Allah (SWT) so that He may steady my heart in my exams and give me good grades." Note: Replace the name Hussain with any other member of the Ahlul Bayt. Could you please tell me if Shi'ism allows for all three methods, or just two, or just one? BarakAllahu Feekum

Why do we need to ask the Imams to ask on our behalf? Would the Imams ever convince God to give us something God denied us. would the Imams stop God from doing something to us? The Imams will is never against Gods will, so if God willed he would give and if he didn't then the Imams won't argue. God never denies us what is good for us and he never gives us that which is bad for us, So why should we ask an Imam to ask God, why not ask God straight? Also didn't the Meccans seek intercession from the idols? and isn't there an Ayat which tells us to call upon God alone? please answer and also state if you are Shia or Sunni or Salafi.

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim As salam alaikum Does any one know where I can find a beautiful dua mentioning or seeking within it the intercession of the twelve aimmah as way of strengthening the dua to Allah? And also where I can find a extensive list of the titles of Sayyidina Imam Ali (as)? Thanks

Sheikh Al samahiji went to Al Hussain (as) & said the following emotional sentence.

This is an amazing book. I HIGHLY suggest everyone to read it and those who tries to use quranic verses to relate Shias with shirk to read this specifically. What ever argument you have, regarding any verse that you think is against tawassul for example, see how the author refutes your claim. You must read the whole book to get a clear picture of how polytheism and idolatry is portrayed. Taking one verse out of context wont work. We must understand the history of the meccans and idolatry as well. None the less, it is a really good read overall. http://www.al-islam.org/study-polytheism-and-idolatry-quran-abbas-sayyid-karimi (wasalam)

I am the only Shia in a family of ten. My family members do not know I am Shia. Even if they knew it is of no consequence to them. Now that I know Imamah & Wilayah, I am sure Islam offers me a solution to help my family in the next life; not that being a Shia I have a default place in Paradise. Knowing the Imams (as) sure hepls one way or another, I hope. Please advise what are the things I can do.

Straitness and the Prophets The Prophets encompassed a struggle when they came to mankind to preach. Allah says in the Quran to Prophet Muhammad: [7:2] A Book revealed to you-- so let there be no straitness in your breast on account of it-- that you may warn thereby, and a reminder close to the believers. The breast of the Prophet Muhammad was meant to be straitened because of what he was meant to preach. The literal meaning of the word strait is narrow. It is used to describe pain and difficulty. But despite Allah saying that "let there be no straitness in your breast on account of it", the poor Prophet Muhammad has his breast straitened; because of them. [11:12] Is it then possible from you (O Prophet,) that you will abandon some of what is being revealed to you, and that your heart will be straitened thereby, because they say: Why has a treasure not been sent down to him or an angel not come with him? You are but a warner. And Allah takes care of everything. But what did the Prophet say? He still asked for their forgiveness. He continued to feel the pain in his heart, and continued to ask for their forgiveness. That is why Allah stated in the Quran: [59:21] Had We sent down this Quran to a mountain, you would have seen it humbled, burst apart out of awe for Allah. We cite such examples for people, so that they may ponder. Such was the heart of our Prophet Muhammad, and that is what differentiated him from other human beings. And that is what made him special. The reason the Imam Mehdi will be different from other human beings is because his heart will be able to experience all the same and he would be able to withstand the pressure of it all to speak to Allah for one last forgiveness for the people. Would you try it and feel the pain and not fall down crying? Surely, you will not have the strength. May he have it! (The concept of the straitness of the Prophets is also there for other Prophets, when Musa said: [26:13] My heart gets straitened, and my tongue is not fluent; so send for Harun. And for Lut: [29:33] And when Our messengers came to Lut, he grieved for them and his heart was straitened because of them, but they said: We are going to save you and your family, except your wife who will be among those remaining behind. Also, the concept of straitness is there for the unbelievers: [6:125] So, whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He makes his heart wide open for Islam, and whomsoever He wills to let go astray, He makes his heart strait and constricted, (and he feels embracing Islam as difficult) as if he were climbing to the sky. In this way, Allah lays abomination on those who do not believe. (Perhaps some people will wonder here how is it that the Prophets feel the same way as unbelievers feel. Allah says in the Quran: [9:128]“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.” Allah has no qualms to set forth a destined time and send down His punishment. He says in the Quran: [32:13] And if We had so willed, We would have led everybody to his right path (by force), but the word from Me had come to pass: I will certainly fill the Jahannam with jinn and human beings together. [68:14] So, leave Me alone with those who reject this discourse. We will draw them on little by little (towards hell) from a way they do not know. [89:23] and Jahannam (hell), on that day, will be brought forward, it will be the day when man will realize the truth, but from where will he take advantage of such realization? There are many more Ayats that tell of Allah's reckoning and some more where He is stated to be quick in reckoning (3:19, 40:17, 5:4 and many more) but there are a variety of Ayats that tend to make a believer even more fearful of Allah's wrath: [74:35] it (Saqar : hell) is one of the greatest things. [67:11] Thus they will confess their sin. So, away with the people of the hell! [67:10] And they will say: Had we been listening or understanding, we would not have been among the people of the hell. [89:23] and Jahannam (hell), on that day, will be brought forward, it will be the day when man will realize the truth, but from where will he take advantage of such realization? All these Ayats, and there are many more, talk about the regret that the unbeliever will have on the day of judgment. There are also numerous Ayats where the people of the hell ask the angels and the keepers of the hell to pray to Allah for their mercy (40:49, 43:47). Thinking that hell will not be painful for us, or that we may never be able to get into it is equivalent of denying it. As it is in Surah Haaviya, man cannot comprehend what hell is; it is in a state of fury. He just seems to think that he will get over it or that he will not suffer enough or that he will be able to find the grace of the Lord...but that will not be the case. We must always deliver durood and salaam on the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa'Alihay Wassalam) because he was a sign of mercy for the people. Which brings me to my initial topic: why do the hearts of the Prophets straiten? It is stated in the Quran: [9:113] It is not (permissible) for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the Mushriks, even if they are kinsmen, after it became clear to them that they are the people of hell. [48:6] and so that He may punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the mushriks (polytheists), men and women, who think evil thoughts about Allah. Bound for them there is a vicious circle, and Allah has become angry with them, and He has prepared Jahannam (hell) for them, and it is an evil destination. [92:11] And his wealth will not help him when he will fall down (into hell). These all Ayats point out to the facts that not the Prophets, nor the believers are permitted to seek forgiveness for those meant to be in hell. And then there a reason to go to hell. And then the failing of wealth to protect him.The straitness of the Prophet is because he chose to defy God, continued to preach, and seek forgiveness for each and every single person in mankind. Ibrahim couldn't do it, Musa couldn't do it, Lut couldn't do it, by God Nuh lived 950 years and he couldn't do it...but the Prophet Muhammad brought down the Lord's favor and said that even if you say "One Allah" I promise paradise for you. It is such a pity, that some of us are even unable to do that. Before I leave, some Ayats to consider: [7:179] Surely We have created for hell a lot of people from among Jinn and mankind. They have hearts wherewith they do not understand, eyes wherewith they do not see, and ears wherewith they do not hear. They are like cattle. Rather, they are much more astray. They are the heedless. [25:65] and those who say: Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Jahannam (the hell); indeed, its punishment is a persisting affliction. And, perhaps if you are able to comprehend this Ayat: [33:72] We did offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear its burden and were afraid of it, and man picked it up. Indeed he is unjust (to himself), unaware (of the end). Thank you.