There is yet another type of Tawassul that has defied all classifications and does not fit into any category discussed so far. It is the most amazing, unique and special type of Tawassul. Here, one is NOT:

1. Praying to Allah directly.

2. Asking Allah by anyone's Wasilah.

3. Asking anyone to pray to Allah for him.

4. Asking for help from anyone else.

Instead, duas get accepted even without actively presenting them to Allah. Distress and worries dissolve without even lamenting to Allah. It is a state of such great spiritual height that one comes closer to Allah without any conscious effort. This is an “automatic” Tawassul for achieving nearness to Allah and for prayers to be accepted.

This is the power of “Hadith ul-Kisaa” which is accepted by all the Muslims. The Holy Lady Hazrat Fatimah (‘a) has reported this narration and it has come to us through the great companion Jabir Bin Abdullahi Ansari (ra). The whole event is well known to all the Muslims hence the entire detailed narration will be skipped here and only the part relevant to our discussion will be quoted. Hazrat Fatimah (‘a) reports:

فَقالَ أَبي رَسُولُ اللهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) : يا عَلِيُ وَ الَّذي بَعَثَني بِالحَقِّ نَبِيّاً وَ اصطَفاني بِالرِّسالَةِ نَجِيّا ، ما ذُكِرَ خَبَرُنا هذا في مَحفِلٍ مِن مَحافِلِ أَهلِ الأَرضِ وَ فِيهِ جَمعٌ مِن شِيعَتِنا وَ مُحِبّيِنا وَ فِيهِم مَهمُومٌ إِلا ّوَ فَرَّجَ اللهُ هَمَّهُ وَ لا مَغمُومٌ إِلاّ وَ كَشَفَ اللهُ غَمَّهُ وَ لا طالِبُ حاجَةٍ إِلاّ وَ قَضى اللهُ حاجَتَهُ

“Then my father said: O Ali! By Him who rightfully appointed me a prophet, and chose me a messenger of the salvation of mankind, whenever an assembly of our followers and friends mention this event, there shall remain none grieved but Allah shall remove his grief, there shall remain none distressed but Allah shall remove his distress and there shall remain none wish seeker but Allah shall grant his wish!”

The following points are noteworthy:

1. The Prophet (S) swears by Allah

2. The Prophet (S) gave a categorical statement and not a dua.

3. One has just to mention this event and Allah will grant wishes and prayers.

How does this happen? What is the physics and chemistry of this event? The answer is in the narration itself:

فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ لِأَبِي: يا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَخبِرنِي ما لِجُلُوسِنا هَذا تَحتَ الكِساءِ مِنَ الفَضلِ عِندَ اللهِ ؟ فَقالَ النَّبيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ): وَ الَّذي بَعَثَنِي بِالحَقِّ نَبِيّاً وَ اصطَفانِي بِالرِّسالَةِ نَجِيّاً ، ما ذُكِرَ خَبَرُنا هذا فِي مَحفِلٍ مِن مَحافِل أَهلِ الأَرَضِ وَ فِيهِ جَمعٌ مِن شِيعَتِنا وَ مُحِبِيِّنا إِلاّ وَ نَزَلَت عَلَيهِمُ الرَّحمَةُ ، وَ حَفَّت بِهِمُ المَلائِكَةُ وَ استَغفَرَت لَهُم إِلى أَن يَتَفَرَّقُوا

“Ali (‘a) Said to my father; O' Prophet of Allah (S), tell me what significance has Allah given for us getting together underneath the cloak? The Prophet replied; By Him Who rightfully appointed me a Prophet and Chose me a messenger for the salvation of mankind, whenever an assembly of our followers and friends mention this event, Allah will bestow on them His blessings and mercy, and the angels will encircle them asking Allah to forgive their sins until that assembly disperses”.

Therefore, by narrating this event, the following happens:

1. Allah showers His Blessings and Mercy on the people narrating it and those listening to it. Where there is Allah's Blessings and Mercy, there cannot be stress and grief.

2. The angels descend from the heavens and surround these people. Where there are angels, the spiritually pure beings, the whole environment becomes spiritually charged and elevated and the people in that environment too become spiritually closer to Allah.

3. The angels pray for the forgiveness of those present. Angels' prayers are not rejected by Allah as:

a) They are spiritually pure and closer to Allah.

b) Whatever they do, is by Allah’s command. Therefore, it is Allah who commands them to descend and pray for these peoples’ forgiveness and Allah cannot reject what He commands to be done.

4. The people whose sins are forgiven, their du’as are accepted.

The Wasilah of Muhammad (S) and his Ahlul Bayt (‘a) is the pinnacle of Tawassul. There is NO other Tawassul better and superior to this. The Prophet (S) also said:

“O Ali! Your remembrance (Dhikr) is my remembrance, my remembrance is Allah's remembrance and Allah's remembrance is worship (Ibaadah)”

From the above discussion we can safely say that any gathering that discusses Muhammad (S) and his Ahlul Bait (‘a) becomes a gathering of Ibaadah and spiritual elevation. This underlines the importance of our “Majalis” where the Dhikr of Muhammad (S) and Aale Muhammad (‘a) is made. It is in such gatherings that we collectively manifest our love for the Holy Prophet (S) and his Ahlul Bayt (‘a) as ordered by Allah (SWT) Himself.

…قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ…

“…Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my relatives…” (42:23)

This manifestation of love to the Ahlul Bayt (‘a) is our mark, identity, heritage and the means for our salvation in this world and the hereafter.