WASEELA - Is it Permissible in Islam?
"O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and seek means of nearness to Him, and strive hard in His way that you may be successful " [Al-Maidah:35]
The story of the Prophet Noah and His son is a very good example to explain the point. When Noah (peace be upon him) saw his son drowning, he cried to his Lord and said:
My Lord, surely my son is of my family, and Your promise is true and You are the Most Just of the Judges. Allah replied:
O Noah, he is not of your family; he is (an embodiment of ) unrighteous conduct. So ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge. I admonish you lest you be of the ignorant. [Hud:45-46]
Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and His Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful [Al-Quran 2:37]
The words are mentioned in Quran in Surah Al-A'raf. They said:
Our Lord! we have wronged our own souls. If You will not forgive us and bestow upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be lost [Al-Quran 7:23]
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. Al-Baqara-186
SAHIH BUKHARI 4.16:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
When Allah revealed the Verse: "Warn your nearest kinsmen," Allah's Apostle got up and said, "O people of Quraish (or said similar words)! Buy (i.e. save) yourselves (from the Hellfire) as I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Bani `Abd Manaf! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment,
O Safiya, the Aunt of Allah's Apostle! I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment; O Fatima bint Muhammad! Ask me anything from my wealth, but I cannot save you from Allah's Punishment."
SAHIH BUKHARI 9.603:
Narrated `Adi bin Hatim:
Allah's Apostle said, "There will be none among you but his Lord will talk to him, and there will be no interpreter between him and Allah. He will look to his right and see nothing but his deeds which he has sent forward, and will look to his left and see nothing but his deeds which he has sent forward, and will look in front of him and see nothing but the (Hell) Fire facing him. So save yourself from the (Hell) Fire even with half a date (given in charity)." Al-A`mash said: `Amr bin Murra said, Khaithama narrated the same and added, '..even with a good word.' "
Sources:
1) http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?53381-Need-answers-The-Truth-about-quot-Wasila-quot-%28getting-close-to-Allah%29
2) http://www.islamtomorrow.com/wasila/2.asp
