Tawaswswul in the Shafi’i Madzhab

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Hafizh Khathib al-Baghdadi Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) narrated, in Tarikh al-Baghdadi, that the truthful, swaduq, Qadhi al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali as-Saymari (r.a.) narrated to them, that the trustworthy, tsiqah, Imam ‘Umar ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Muqri (r.a.), told him, that the trustworthy Shaykh Makram ibn Ahmad (r.a.) told them, that Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Ishaq ibn Ibrahim (r.a.) told them, that the trustworthy Shaykh ‘Ali ibn Maymun (r.a.) told them, “I heard ash-Shafi’i say, ‘I swear I seek the blessing of Abu Hanifah and come to his grave every day.  Whenever I have a certain need, I pray two rak’ah, 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.’” 

Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi (r.a.), in describing the manners and etiquette of making pilgrimage to the shrine of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), wrote, “The pilgrim should face the shrine of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), make him a means towards reaching Allah and seek his wasilah as intercession, in the same manner as the Bedouin who visited the Prophet's (s.a.w.) shrine and standing beside it said: ‘Peace unto you O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), I have heard Allah (s.w.t.) has Said:

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

... وَلَوۡ أَنَّهُمۡ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسۡتَغۡفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُواْ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (٦٤) 

… If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves come unto you and asked Allah’s Forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked Forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah, indeed, Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. (Surah an-Nisa’:64) 

Therefore, I have come to you for Forgiveness of my sins and seeking your intercession with Allah.’” 

Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (r.a.) allotted a special section in his Ihya’ ‘Ulum ad-Din concerning the manners of pilgrimage to the shrine of the Prophet (s.a.w.) in order to repent and seek Forgiveness from Allah (s.w.t.).  He wrote. “The Prophet (s.a.w.) should be made the means and the intercessor, and with face turned towards the tomb, the pilgrim should implore Allah (s.w.t.) for the sake and position of the Prophet (s.a.w.) with the words: ‘O Allah (s.w.t.), indeed You have Said: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

... وَلَوۡ أَنَّهُمۡ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسۡتَغۡفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُواْ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (٦٤) 

… If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves come unto you and asked Allah’s Forgiveness and the Messenger had asked Forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah, indeed, Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. (Surah an-Nisa’:64) 

O Allah, surely we have heard Your Words and we obey Your Command, by coming to Your Prophet (s.a.w.) to seek his intercession with You for our sins; how burdensome and heavy are sins on our backs.  We repent of slipperiness, we confess our wrongs and our faults; Accept our repentance for his sake, Make Your Prophet (s.a.w.) intercessor for us, and Exalt us for the sake of his position and his rights with You.’” 

Imam al-Ghazali (r.a.) added, “It is recommended the pilgrim should go daily to the Baqi’ Cemetery, and after saluting the Prophet (s.a.w.), make pilgrimage to the tombs of Hasan ibn ‘Ali, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali, and Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad, and also perform the swalah in the Mosque of Fathimah.”