A: A Muslim is someone who believes in Tawhid (Oneness) of Allah, supplicates to Him (may He be Glorified and Exalted) Alone, believes that He is the True God, believes that La ilaha illa Allah (there is no deity except Allah) knowing that it means that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and believes in Muhammad (peace be upon him) and that he is truly the Messenger sent by Allah to the two worlds of humans and Jinn (creatures created from fire). Such a person can be called a Muslim, because they have pronounced the Shahadah (Testimony of Faith), and believed in Tawhid and in the Messenger (peace be upon him).

If sins, such as Zina (illegal sexual intercourse outside marriage), theft, and dealing with Riba (usury), are committed, they are considered signs of defect and deficiency of Iman (faith). If someone falls into such sins, or part of them due to following their desires and not because they believe they are permissible, their Iman is defective and weak.

As for those who perform Tawassul through the honor of the Prophet (peace be upon him) by saying: "O Allah! I ask you, O Lord, by the honor of Muhammad", or "by Muhammad," this is viewed by the Jumhur (dominant majority of scholars) to be Bid`ah (rejected innovation in religion) and a deficiency and weakness in Iman, but the person is not a Mushrik or a Kafir (disbeliever). They are still a Muslim, but their Iman is deficient, weak, and affected by the sins and Bid`ah, but they have not left Din (religion). This is because Du`a' (supplication) and its manner are Tawqify (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion). There is no evidence in the Shari`ah (Islamic law) to the effect that Tawassul through the Prophet's honor is a lawful means. This practice has been introduced by people.

 Tawassul through the honor of our Prophet (peace be upon him), the honor of other or all prophets (peace be upon them), by the Prophet, by the prophets, by the honor of so-and-so, by the honor of `Aly, or by the honor of Ahlul-ul-Bayt (members of the Prophet's extended Muslim family), is considered Bid`ah that should be abandoned. It is not Shirk, but it is a means to it, and someone who does it is not a Mushrik, they are a Muslim who has committed Bid`ah that has diminished and weakened their Iman. This is the view held by the Jumhur of Muslim scholars. This is because the manners of Du`a' are Tawqify and a Muslim should perform Tawassul by Allah's Names and Attributes, as Allah (may he be Glorified and Exalted) says:Surah Al-A`raf, 7: 180 And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them. (Surah Al-A`raf, 7:180).

Tawassul may also be through Tawhid and Iman, as stated in this Hadith: "O Allah! Forgive me, as I testify that You are Allah, and there is no deity except You; You are the One, the Self-Sufficient, who neither begets nor was begotten and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." This Hadith is a clear example of Tawassul through Tawhid.

Tawassul through good deeds is also permissible, as in the Hadith of the People of the Rock. They entered a cave to shelter from heavy rains or to spend the night, and a rock blocked the mouth of the cave. The rock blocked the cave and they could not move it. So they said to themselves: "The only thing that will save us from this rock is making Du`a' to Allah through the good deeds we have done." So they made Du`a' to Allah with their good deeds. The first one performed Tawassul through his dutifulness to his parents, which made the rock move a little.

Another performed Tawassul through his chastity from Zina. He loved his cousin deeply and wanted to make love with her, but she refused. Several years passed and she came to him asking for help, she needed a loan of 120 Dinars (a Dinar is an old Arab coin that equals 2.975 grams of gold). He refused to help her, unless she gave herself to him, and she agreed to surrender herself to him for the 120 Dinars of gold. When he was in between her legs, she said to him: "Fear Allah, and do not break the seal (i.e. take her virginity), except by lawful means (i.e. marriage)." So he got up out of fearing Allah, gave her the money, and left her

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 without committing any obscenity. He then said: "O Allah! If You know that I only did that seeking Your Pleasure, please find us a way out of this situation we are in." And the rock moved a little more, but they still could not get out.

The third man performed Tawassul through his fulfillment of trusts. He had the wages of some of his workers, and one of them left his with him. So he invested them until they developed into a great wealth of camels, cows, sheep, and slaves. When the worker came for his wages, he gave it all to him. He then said: "O Allah! If You know that I only did that seeking Your Pleasure, please find us a way out of this situation we are in." Then the rock moved and they went out.

The Hadith shows that Tawassul through righteous deeds can be a reason for it to be answered.

As for Tawassul through the honor of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the honor of so-and-so, the honor of `Aly, `Umar, or Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, or the honor of Ahl-ul-Bayt etc., all of this is baseless. Tawassul should be through Iman, such as saying: "O Allah! I ask You through my Iman in You, my love for You and my love for Your Prophet (may peace be upon)." Such Tawassul is valid and is a good means. Tawassul can also be through Tawhid, such as saying: "O Allah! Forgive me, as I testify that You are Allah, and there is no deity except You." All these ways of Tawassul are good, as Tawassul through dutifulness to parents, establishing regular Salah, or preserving chastity. All these are good deeds, as confirmed by knowledgable scholars of verification and vision. As for Tawassul through someone or his honor, it is a Bid`ah and not permissible according to the Jumhur of scholars.