A Play on Dua-e-Tawassul and the Concept of Wasilah

This play was performed in the Holy Month of Ramadhan

Narrator: We are indeed extremely blessed to be witnessing one of the greatest months in the Islamic calendar yet again. The month of Holy Ramadhan is known as Shahrullah meaning "the month of Allah". It is indeed the month of Barakah (Blessings), Rahmah (Mercy) and Maghfirah (Forgiveness). Our Ulema tell us that this Holy month has been divided into 3 parts - the first 10 days are full of barakah - blessings, the 2nd part is of Rahmah - full of Mercy from Allah upon His servants, and the third part, the remaining last 10 days of this month is the time for Maghfirah - the time to ask for forgiveness of our sins. The Holy month of Ramadhan is the month win which the doors of acceptance of dua's are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened from the first night and are not shut till its last night. Thousands of Angels ascend and descend between the heavens and the earth and the sins are forgiven. It is said that one, who is not forgiven in this holy month, shall not be forgiven in any other months unless he presents himself on the plain of 'Arafah (in Hajj) to seek forgiveness.40:60 وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُم  And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer youThe Arabic word du-a means call, request, supplication, invitation, invocation or prayer.Allah has given man permission to invoke Him. In all du-as request is made to Allah alone, but through the wasilah (means of approach)-the Holy Prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt.5:35 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ  O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means of nearness to Him

Wasilah is a means of access to a thing or a being. It is to faithfully follow the Holy Prophet and the holy Imams of his holy house, who have been thoroughly purified by Allah (Ahzab: 33).

Shaykh Tusi says, in his book Misbah, that imam Hassan bin Ali Al Askari wrote this dua'a for Abu Muhammad who requested him to teach him the proper way of reciting salawat. Allama Majlisi has mentioned this dua'a on the authority of Ibn babawayh who confidently says that there is no difficulty or problem that this dua'a does not solve. The merciful Allah is beseeched in the name of and for the sake of the Holy prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt. It is known as "quick-fulfillment-of-all-legitimate-desires" dua'a

(Excerpt taken from the book "Mulaqat Imam-e-Zamana'')

Najmus Saqib in Bihar-ul-Anwar states the story of Abu Wafa Shirazi. Abu Wafa Shirazi was a follower of Ahlul Bait and was wrongly imprisoned by Abu Ilyas for a crime he did not commit. He was confined to a cell and was on death row.

Scene 1:

In this scene we shall see how on a Thursday night Abu Wafa says his prayer, falls asleep and has a dream.

Abu Wafa: O Allah, I beseech Thee, and turn towards Thee, On my Lord! I beseech you for a fair trial and my release. O 'Ali, son of al-Husain, O Zayn al-Abidin, O Prostrator before Allah, O descendant of the Messenger of Allah, I turn towards you and seek your intercession and advocacy before Allah. I put before you my open need.

(falls asleep)

PM: Salaam Alykum O Abu Wafa Shirazi

Abu Wafa (surprised): Aykum Salaam who are you and how do you know my name?

PM: I am the Prophet of Allah, the mercy on mankind. I am the grandfather of the Imam that you have beseeched in your prayers.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul – Holy Prophet

PM: Abu Wafa let me tell you how to ask for my ahlul bait for their intercession. Whoever you ask from, whichever one of us, you will never go away empty handed as we are all Muhammed ''Awaluna Muhammad, awsatuna Muhammad, aakhiruna Muhammad wa quluna Muhammad.

PM: When you are in need to take revenge from an enemy use the wasilah of My Brother Abul Hassan, he is my akhi, my waasi.

Abu Wafa: Ya Rasool Allah (AS) Imam Ali (AS) has demonstrated patience & tolerance for all injustice done to Him, and Hazrat Fatima Zahra (AS), Her belongings and property was all forcefully taken away from Her.

PM: This was an agreement between myself and my dear brother Ali, which he fulfilled and he followed my instructions and commands.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul – Imam Ali

PM: O Abu Wafa, when you pray for your affairs of the next world and when you wish the blessings of Almighty Allah to be bestowed upon you, then you should make the joy of my eyes, My Daughter Fatematuz Zahra and my Two Sons Hassan and Hussein your wasilah. Do not make them a wasilah when you are praying for desires of this world.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul – Bibi Fatema, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein

PM: Oh dear servant of Allah (Abu Wafa), Ali ibne Hussein Zain-ul-Abedin, the best of worshippers and prostrators will help you in oppression, injustice, tyranny and violence, and from the wickedness and mischief of the Shayateen.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul – 4th Imam

PM: Muhammad ibne Aliyinil Baqir, the expanded of knowledge, and Jaffer ibne Muhammad As Sadiq, the truthful, and who shares the same name as me, are the two Imams who can be your wasilah when seeking nearness and attaining the pleasure of Almighty Allah.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 5th and 6th Imam

PM: Abu Wafa, ask for well being in your worldly affairs through the wasilah of my son Moosa ibne Jaffer the tranquil one, and the one also known as Babul Hawaij and from whose door nobody ever goes away empty handed.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 7th Imam

PM: O Abu Wafa, when departing on a journey, pray for your health, safe trip and safe return through the wasilah of the devoted one, Ali ibne Moosa Raza. He is also ghareebal guraba, the loneliest of lonely ones.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 8th Imam

PM: O beloved lover of the ahlul bayt, when you pray for your livelihood and abundance in sustenance, pray through the wasilah of my son, Mohammad at -Taqi, the generous and pious. He is Babul Murad, the door at which those who long for something stand.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 9th Imam

PM: Through Ali ibne Mohammad Ali Naqi, who is Haadi (the guide) and Naqi (the pure one), ask for the acceptance of your Nawafil Prayers, and to be kind to your brothers for obeisance of Almighty Allah.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 10th Imam

PM: O Abu Wafa, when praying for your Akhirat (The next world) use the wasilah of my son the wise one and warrior, Hassan Al Askari. Remember Abu Wafa, he is the father of the Imam of your time.

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 11th Imam

PM: Call for your Last Imam when you are under the sword, this means for any of your religious or worldly affair and problems and when you think there is no solution to it you should call upon him, and he will come to help you right away.

Abu Wafa when you call you last Imam Say: "YA SAHIB UZ ZAMAN AGISNI YA SAHEB UZ ZAMAN ADRIKNI"

Reciter: Dua Tawasul 12th Imam + chorus and END

Abu Wafa: I followed the instructions given by the Holy Prophet. I then witnessed a Noble Personality descending from the heavens riding a horse. I pleaded to His Excellence "Oh Maula please save me from this tyrant and remove me from these calamities" to which He (AS) answered that "Your work has been taken care off". When I woke up in the morning Abu Ilyas called me and asked me "who did you plead to last night" and I said to him "to the One who is the helper of the constrained and helpless".

Narrator: It needs to be clarified here that when the Holy Prophet (AS) mentioned to call upon your Last Imam when you are under the sword does not only mean as such, it means for any of your religious or worldly affair and problems and when you think there is no solution to it you should call upon His Excellency, you will definitely receive help right away.