Question:

I [have] read much about Tawassul through the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, and using his name in du`ā on sunnipath.com, but all those things don't explain the following: 1. Why should we use [the] Awliyā and Sālihīn when we are able to use the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, as a means. Isn't it better to say, for example "Oh Allāh forgive me for your Prophet" than to say "Oh Allāh forgive me for Abdul Qādir Jilanī"? Why [are the] Ahl al-Tasawwuf using their Shuyūkh and not the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace? 2. Even if the matter with using [their] names in du`ā is cleared [up], there [remains] another question. Which scholars accepted saying "Yā `Abdul Qādir adriknī" (O `Abdul Qādir look at me), or "Yā Naqshbandī Madad"? How can the Awliyā hear the words, when they are far away (in their graves or [at their] homes when they are alive)? Are their souls informed directly through Allāh or are the angels transmitting them? And what is the proof for this ? And again, if this is acceptable, why not use the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, instead of Awliyā. I do believe in "Madad". But some brothers of Ahlul Sunnah don't know how to handle with this matter and still have some doubts and raised the questions ī wrote. I would be very happy if you could give me a detailed answer, since it is very hard to get detailed information on this topic in Germany from qualified scholars.

Answer:

Tawassul through the Awliyā
Shaykh Gibril Fouad Haddad