Our Wasila

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

If you have to meet any important dignitary’s it is necessary that you get all the knowledge of the protocol.  That is just for ordinary human beings; what about the meeting with the Lord?

Allah wants us to approach Him in a particular way.  In order to get this done properly He gives us a command which He says in Surah Maa-idah; 

O ye who believe! Do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto him, and strive with might and main in His cause: that ye may prosper.  (5:35)

Scholars discuss this particular principle in many ways but one thing they all agree on is that if you want to get to Allah you have to follow Prophet Muhammad (pboh).  Why, because he already met Allah and he is already aware of the etiquettes of getting to Allah.

So in essence what Allah is really telling us is; O you who believe; follow the Prophet (pboh).  Make him your wasila.  A wasila is like a middle person; therefore make Prophet (pboh) your means of getting closer to Allah.

We worship only Allah and do not ascribe any partners with Him.  This is something that is very clear to all Muslims.  We can go directly to Allah because He says ‘if you call on Me, I will respond’.  But there are many things which require some bit of information or example in order that we may maximise our capacity and capability in the short period of time.  That is why we need to tread that path that will not waste our time and resources.  That is called Siratal Mustaqeem.

Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is the best model and vehicle to take us to Allah.  Because Allah says 

And As one who invites to Allah’s (grace) by His leave, and as a Lamp spreading light.  (33:46)

He invites you to go to Allah and to take you along and to show you the path.  The path to Allah is Siratal Mustaqeem; that is the straight path; for which we always pray.  Allah says about the Prophet (pboh); 

So hold thou fast to the Revelation sent down to thee; Verily thou art on a straight way.  (43:43)

If the Prophet (pboh) is on the straight path and we want to get on the straight path; what then do we have to do?  We have to follow him (pboh).  As a result Allah says to us; 

Say: If you love Allah, then follow me.  (3:31)

That is why Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is our wasila.  He is that one who connects us with our Lord.  Why do we need to follow him if Allah gave us a Book of which is guidance?  You will see for example even in the time of the Companions they always looked towards the Prophet (pboh) for help and guidance; even though they were taught the Qur’an directly from him.  One simple example is that he taught us the times for salaat.  Allah commands us to establish our salaat, however nowhere in the Qur’an is the specific period of  timings mentioned.

He taught us how to follow the straight path to get to Allah.  So when Allah says seek the means of approach unto him we can take it to possibly mean; follow the Prophet (pboh) and make him your model and guide.  He is Siratal Mustaqeem.

The next very important point is that Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is very concerned for the believers.  Can you imagine how he will feel if we are deliberately going on the wrong path?  And he is connected to us, as Allah says; 

And know that among you is Allah’s Messenger.  (49:7)

And the Qur’an is a message for all times.  Allah didn’t say it was only relevant when he was alive.

Has his mission come to an end or does it still continue?  My dear friends, there are those who keep in constant contact with the Holy Prophet (pboh).  In other places in the Qur’an Allah says he and the angels pray for us; 

And the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, (4:64)

If you want to get close to Allah then get as close to His Beloved (pboh) as much as possible.  Any form of disrespect to him will render your deeds null and void.  Get closer to Allah by showing love and honour for Prophet Muhammad (pboh) and following his way.  Connect to Allah through him and insha Allah you will have no regrets.

May Allah increase our love and attachment to His Beloved (pboh) and through him as our wasila may we attain closeness to Him, insha Allah.

Transcript of discourse delivered by

Maulana Dr. Waffie Mohammed