Tawassul in View of the Holy Quran and the Islamic Sources

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Culturology, Higher Education Complex for Language, Literature and Culturology, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language, Language Center, Imam Sadiq (PBUH) University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30497/isqh.2025.248964.1062

Abstract

This study investigates the concept of tawassul —seeking a means of approach to God—from the perspective of the Qurʾān and other Islamic sources. To achieve this goal, numerous Sunni and Shiʿi texts—primarily Sunni works—were examined, and a selection of the most authoritative sources was chosen as the foundation of the analysis. Employing a descriptive–analytical method, the research explores and compares diverse perspectives on the meaning, types, and applications of tawassul. The study also compares interpretations across traditions to clarify the relation between intercession and monotheism. The findings demonstrate that, according to the Qurʾān and Islamic tradition, the mediating entity may at times consist of righteous deeds and sincere acts of worship, and at other times a noble individual who enjoys a divinely granted rank and esteem. The study further reveals that tawassul has been widely acknowledged and practiced as an ancient religious tradition through which believers seek closeness to God. It eventually suggests that tawassul—when performed in accordance with divine instruction—does not constitute shirk (polytheism) but rather reinforces tawḥīd (monotheism). In other word, tawassul reaffirms tawhid by acknowledging that all mediation operates solely through God’s will.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [العربیة]

التوسل في منظور القرآن الكريم والمصادر الإسلامية

Authors [العربیة]

  • محمدناصر واعظي 1
  • ابوالفضل بهادري 2
1 أستاذ مساعد، قسم اللغة الإنجليزية وعلم الثقافة، المجمع العالي للغات والآداب وعلم الثقافة، جامعة المصطفى العالمية، قم، إيران.
2 أستاذ مساعد، قسم اللغة العربية، معهد اللغات، جامعة الإمام الصادق عليه-السلام، طهران، إيران.
Abstract [العربیة]

يتناول هذا البحث مفهوم التوسل ـ أي طلب الوسيلة للتقرب إلى الله ـ من منظور القرآن الكريم وسائر المصادر الإسلامية. ولتحقيق هذا الهدف، جرى فحص العديد من النصوص السنية والشيعية ـ وخاصةً المؤلفات السنية ـ واختيار مجموعة من أهم المصادر المعتبرة كأساس للتحليل. وباستخدام المنهج الوصفي-التحليلي، يستعرض البحث ويقارن بين وجهات النظر المختلفة حول معنى التوسل وأنواعه وتطبيقاته. كما يقارن التفسيرات عبر التقاليد المختلفة لتوضيح العلاقة بين الشفاعة والتوحيد. وتُظهر النتائج أنّه وفقاً للقرآن الكريم والتقاليد الإسلامية، قد تكون الوسيلة أحياناً الأعمال الصالحة والعبادات المخلصة، وأحياناً أخرى شخصية نبيلة تتمتع بمقام ومنزلة إلهية. ويكشف البحث أيضاً أنّ التوسل قد حظي باعتراف واسع وممارسة راسخة بوصفه تقليداً دينياً قديماً يسعى من خلاله المؤمنون إلى القرب من الله. ويخلص في النهاية إلى أنّ التوسل ـ إذا أُدّي وفقاً للتوجيه الإلهي ـ لا يُعد شركاً، بل يعزز التوحيد. وبعبارة أخرى، يؤكد التوسل التوحيد من خلال الإقرار بأنّ كل وساطة إنما تتحقق بإرادة الله وحده.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • القرآن الكريم
  • المصادر الإسلامية
  • التوسل
  • التوحيد
  • الشرك
  • الاستشفاع

References

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Interdisciplinary Studies of Quran & Hadith
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 7
January 2025
Pages 381-406

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  • Receive Date: 05 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 03 February 2025

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