✅Answer: One of the important blessings that the Shi'a and lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) can benefit greatly from is 'tawassul' to the Infallibles to attain various needs. Of course, this topic is vehemently denied by the Nawasib (enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt, may Allah curse them), while on the other hand, some extremists have gone to extremes in this matter. In this brief overview, we will mention a summary of some of the ways that can be used. If Allah wills.

✅One of the ways of seeking 'tawassul' with the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is to ask them to supplicate for you. There are numerous examples in narrations where the companions would ask the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) to supplicate for various needs, and the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) would supplicate for them. A few examples are mentioned:

عَنْ عَلِیِّ بْنِ الْحَکَمِ عَنِ (الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ) أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَی أَبِی الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ غَیْلَانَ.... قَالَ إِنِّی خَلَّفْتُ امْرَأَتِی وَ بِهَا حَمْلٌ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ یَجْعَلَهُ غُلَاماً فَأَطْرَقَ إِلَی الْأَرْضِ طَوِیلًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَمِّهِ عَلِیّاً فَإِنَّهُ أَطْوَلُ لِعُمُرِهِ وَ دَخَلْنَا مَکَّةَ فَوَافَانَا کِتَابٌ مِنَ الْمَدَائِنِ أَنَّهُ وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 6, p. 11

Translation: In a hadith, Ibn Ghilan said to Imam Al-Ridha (peace be upon him): 'May Allah rectify your affairs, I left my wife while she was pregnant, so please supplicate to Allah that He makes it a boy!' The Imam lowered his head for a long time and remained silent, then he raised his head and said: 'Name him Ali, for it will lengthen his life.' The narrator says: We entered Mecca, and a letter reached us from Mada'in that a boy had been born to him.

عَنْ أَبِی عَوْفٍ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَیْهِ فَأَلْطَفَنِی وَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مَکْفُوفَ الْبَصَرِ أَتَی النَّبِیَّ فَقَالَ یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ یَرُدَّ عَلَیَّ بَصَرِی قَالَ فَدَعَا اللَّهَ فَرَدَّ عَلَیْهِ بَصَرَهُ...

📚 Basair al-Darajat, Vol. 1, p. 272

Translation: Abi Awf says: I entered upon Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), and he was gentle with me and said: 'Indeed, a blind man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, ask Allah to return my sight to me;' so the Messenger of Allah supplicated and his eyes and sight returned to him.'

فی حدیث قال حارثه قَالَ یَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لِی أَنْ یَرْزُقَنِی الشَّهَادَةَ مَعَکَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْ حَارِثَةَ الشَّهَادَةَ فَلَمْ یَلْبَثْ إِلَّا أَیَّاماً حَتَّی بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص سَرِیَّةً فَبَعَثَهُ فِیهَا فَقَاتَلَ فَقَتَلَ تِسْعَةً أَوْ ثَمَانِیَةً ثُمَّ قُتِلَ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, p. 54

Translation: In a hadith, Harithah said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): 'O Messenger of Allah, ask Allah to grant me martyrdom with you,' the Messenger of Allah said: 'O Allah, grant Harithah martyrdom.' It was not more than a few days later that the Messenger of Allah sent a group for Jihad and sent Harithah with them. He engaged in Jihad and killed eight or nine people and was then killed.

✅From these types of narrations, many have been transmitted in hadith collections that we can ask the Infallibles (peace be upon them) to ask Allah for us to fulfill our needs for all reasonable requests without any restriction, and this is a very good position and opportunity for us to ask any of the Infallibles we wish to supplicate for us regarding the needs we have.

Someone might say: 'One can ask for supplication from all people!' In response, it is said that there are many differences between the supplication of an Imam and others, two of which are mentioned:

✅1- One of the characteristics of the infallible Imam is being 'mustajab al-da'wah' (one whose supplication is answered). If others supplicate for us, it may not be answered, but if the Imam supplicates for the cure of cancer, the revival of the dead, or any other reasonable need, it will be answered. Pay attention to the following narration:

Imam Al-Ridha (peace be upon him) said in a hadith: 'The Imam (infallible) has signs.' Until he said:

وَ یَکُونُ دُعَاؤُهُ مُسْتَجَاباً حَتَّی إِنَّهُ لَوْ دَعَا عَلَی صَخْرَةٍ لَانْشَقَّتْ بِنِصْفَیْنِ....

Meaning: 'The supplication of the Imam is answered in a way that if he supplicates upon a rock, the rock will split in half...'

📚 Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Vol. 4, p. 418

✅2- When a supplication is requested from the Imam, if the nature of our request or what we are asking for is not correct, the Imam corrects it:

Shu'ayb said to Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'May I be sacrificed for you; supplicate for me that He makes me independent of His creation.' The Imam said: 'Indeed, Allah places the provision of whomever He wishes on the hands of whomever He wishes, but ask Allah: 'to make you independent of the need that forces you to resort to the lowly and wretched of God's creation.'

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 663

It is observed how the Imam corrected the supplication of this person. So, in all needs, we can and it is better to resort to any of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) we wish and ask them to supplicate for our need and benefit from this opportunity and mercy.

✅Another way in 'tawassul' to the Infallibles (peace be upon them) is to swear to Allah by their right. Dozens of examples of this have reached us in hadith books and narrated supplications. Pay attention to a few examples:

عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ الْبَاقِرِ قَالَ: إِنَّ عَبْداً مَکَثَ فِی النَّارِ سَبْعِینَ خَرِیفاً وَ الْخَرِیفُ سَبْعُونَ سَنَةً قَالَ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَیْتِهِ لَمَّا رَحِمْتَنِی قَالَ فَأَوْحَی اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ إِلَی جَبْرَئِیلَ أَنِ اهْبِطْ إِلَی عَبْدِی فَأَخْرِجْهُ قَالَ یَا رَبِّ وَ کَیْفَ لِی بِالْهُبُوطِ فِی النَّارِ قَالَ إِنِّی قَدْ أَمَرْتُهَا أَنْ تَکُونَ عَلَیْکَ بَرْداً وَ سَلَاماً قَالَ یَا رَبِّ فَمَا عِلْمِی بِمَوْضِعِهِ قَالَ إِنَّهُ فِی جُبٍّ مِنْ سِجِّینٍ قَالَ فَهَبَطَ فِی النَّارِ فَوَجَدَهُ وَ هُوَ مَعْقُولٌ عَلَی وَجْهِهِ فَأَخْرَجَهُ فَقَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ یَا عَبْدِی کَمْ لَبِثْتَ تُنَاشِدُنِی فِی النَّارِ قَالَ مَا أُحْصِیهِ یَا رَبِّ قَالَ أَمَا وَ عِزَّتِی لَوْ لَا مَا سَأَلْتَنِی بِهِ لَأَطَلْتُ هَوَانَکَ فِی النَّارِ وَ لَکِنَّهُ حَتْمٌ عَلَی نَفْسِی أَنْ لَا یَسْأَلَنِی عَبْدٌ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَیْتِهِ إِلَّا غَفَرْتُ لَهُ مَا کَانَ بَیْنِی وَ بَیْنَهُ وَ قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَکَ الْیَوْمَ

📚 Amali al-Saduq, p. 398

Translation: Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: 'Indeed, a servant will remain in the fire of Hell for seventy 'kharif', and each 'kharif' is seventy years. Then he will ask Allah, the Almighty and Glorious: 'By the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, have mercy on me.' So Allah, Glorious is His Glory, will reveal to Jibril to descend to My servant and bring him out.' Jibril says: 'O Lord, how can I descend into the fire?' He says: 'I have commanded the fire to be cool and safe for you.' He says: 'O Lord, how will I know his place?' He says: 'He is in a pit of Sijjin.' Jibril descends into the fire and finds that he is tied by his face, so he brings him out. Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, says: 'O My servant, how long have you been swearing to Me in the fire?' He says: 'O Lord, I do not have a count of it.' The Lord says: 'Know, by My glory, that if it were not for what you asked of Me, I would have prolonged your humiliation in the fire, but I have made it incumbent upon Myself that no servant asks Me by the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad except that I forgive what is between Me and him, and today I have forgiven you.'

عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ قَالَ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِیُ قُلْتُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا تَقُولُ فِی عَلِیِّ بْنِ أَبِی طَالِبٍ قَالَ ذَاکَ نَفْسِی قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِی الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَیْنِ قَالَ هُمَا رُوحَایَ وَ فَاطِمَةُ أُمُّهُمَا ابْنَتِی یَسُوؤُنِی مَا سَاءَهَا وَ یَسُرُّنِی مَا سَرَّهَا أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ أَنِّی حَرْبٌ لِمَنْ حَارَبَهُمْ وَ سِلْمٌ لِمَنْ سَالَمَهُمْ یَا جَابِرُ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَدْعُوَ اللَّهَ فَیَسْتَجِیبَ لَکَ فَادْعُهُ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَإِنَّهَا أَحَبُّ الْأَسْمَاءِ إِلَی اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

📚 Al-Bihar, Vol. 94, p. 2

Translation: Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: 'Jabir says: I said to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family): 'What do you say about Ali ibn Abi Talib?' He said: 'He is my soul.' I said: 'What do you say about Hasan and Husayn?' He said: 'They are my spirits, and Fatima, their mother, is my daughter. What saddens her saddens me, and what pleases her pleases me. I call Allah to witness that I am at war with whoever is at war with them, and at peace with whoever is at peace with them. O Jabir! Whenever you want to call upon Allah and have Him answer you, call upon Him by their names, for they are the most beloved names to Allah.'

✅It is observed how swearing to Allah by the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad (peace be upon them all) removes difficulties, and this is a correct and certain way of 'tawassul' in the beliefs of the Shi'a. Pay attention to another example in the next part: 👇👇👇👇👇

عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ إِذَا کَانَتْ لَکَ حَاجَةٌ إِلَی اللَّهِ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّی أَسْأَلُکَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِیٍّ فَإِنَّ لَهُمَا عِنْدَکَ شَأْناً مِنَ الشَّأْنِ وَ قَدْراً مِنَ الْقَدْرِ فَبِحَقِّ ذَلِکَ الشَّأْنِ وَ ذَلِکَ الْقَدْرِ أَنْ تُصَلِّیَ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِی کَذَا وَ کَذَا فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا کَانَ یَوْمُ الْقِیَامَةِ لَمْ یَبْقَ مَلَکٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَ لَا نَبِیٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَ لَا مُؤْمِنٌ مُمْتَحَنٌ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ یَحْتَاجُ إِلَیْهِمَا فِی ذَلِکَ الْیَوْمِ.

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, p. 562

Translation: Sama'ah says: Imam Al-Kazim (peace be upon him) said to me: 'O Sama'ah, if you have a need with Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, say:'

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّی أَسْأَلُکَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِیٍّ فَإِنَّ لَهُمَا عِنْدَکَ شَأْناً مِنَ الشَّأْنِ وَ قَدْراً مِنَ الْقَدْرِ فَبِحَقِّ ذَلِکَ الشَّأْنِ وَ ذَلِکَ الْقَدْرِ أَنْ تُصَلِّیَ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِی کَذَا وَ کَذَا

(The need is mentioned in place of 'such and such')

For when the Day of Resurrection comes, no close angel, no sent prophet, and no tried believer will remain except that they will be in need of the Prophet and Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon them and their families) on that day.'

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said to Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him):

O Ali, when a matter causes you fear and terror, say:

اللَّهُمَّ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّی

Meaning: 'O Allah, by the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, grant me relief and ease.'

📚 Al-Bihar, Vol. 77, p. 65

✅Hundreds of narrations and supplications prove the permissibility and high importance of swearing to Allah by the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad at the time of supplication, as this is one of the correct and effective ways to the Divine presence. As is clear, this effective method can be used for all needs, such as curing the sick, warding off calamity, increasing provision, etc., and one can benefit from its blessings.

✅Another way to make the infallible Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) a means (wasilah) for needs is seen in the following narrations:

عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: لَا یَزَالُ الدُّعَاءُ مَحْجُوباً عَنِ السَّمَاءِ حَتَّی یُصَلَّی عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, p. 491

Translation: Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'Supplication is always veiled (it does not ascend) until blessings are sent upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.'

عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَنْ دَعَا وَ لَمْ یَذْکُرِ النَّبِیَّ رَفْرَفَ الدُّعَاءُ عَلَی رَأْسِهِ فَإِذَا ذَکَرَ النَّبِیَّ رُفِعَ الدُّعَاءُ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, p. 490

Translation: Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever supplicates but does not mention the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), the supplication hovers above his head (it does not ascend). So when he mentions the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), the supplication is raised.'

✅From the above narrations and similar ones, another way to attain a need with the Divine is revealed, which is to send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad before and after the supplication. In fact, no supplication ascends without it.

In some narrations, it is stated that whoever sends blessings one hundred times, Allah fulfills one hundred of his needs, and in most parts of the unique supplications of Sahifa Sajjadiyya, we see blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. In some places, due to a lack of attention, it is observed that believers forget to send blessings along with their supplication, and it is necessary to be careful about this.

✅Another way to make the Infallibles (peace be upon them) a means for needs is to make them intercessors and ask for their intercession. This can be done for all needs, just like the previous cases, because the Infallibles (peace be upon them) have accepted intercession with Allah, and if they intercede for our needs, Allah will surely accept their intercession. Pay attention to the following narrations:

In the Ziyarat al-Jamia al-Kabira, we address the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) and say:

زَائِرٌ لَکُمْ عَائِذٌ بِکُمْ لَائِذٌ بِقُبُورِکُمْ مُسْتَشْفِعٌ إِلَی اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِکُمْ وَ مُتَقَرِّبٌ بِکُمْ إِلَیْهِ وَ مُقَدِّمُکُمْ أَمَامَ طَلِبَتِی وَ حَوَائِجِی وَ إِرَادَتِی فِی کُلِّ أَحْوَالِی وَ أُمُورِی

Translation: 'I am your pilgrim and have sought refuge in you and have taken refuge in your graves, and I seek intercession with Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, through you, and I draw near to Him by your means, and I put you forward in front of my request, and my needs, and my will in all my states and affairs..'

In another part of this ziyarat, we address them: 'Wa lakum... al-shafa'ah al-maqbula..'

Translation: '.. and for you is the accepted intercession...'

📚 Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Vol. 2, p. 614

In the Ziyarat of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) narrated in the book Al-Kafi from Imam Ali al-Naqi (peace be upon him), we address our master Amir al-Mu'minin and say:

یَا وَلِیَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِی ذُنُوباً کَثِیرَةً فَاشْفَعْ لِی إِلَی رَبِّکَ یَا مَوْلَایَ فَإِنَّ لَکَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَقَاماً مَعْلُوماً وَ إِنَّ لَکَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَاهاً وَ شَفَاعَةً

Translation: 'O Wali of Allah, I have many sins, so intercede for me with your Lord, for with Allah you have a praised and known status, and indeed with Allah you have rank and intercession...'

✅In the topic of the accepted intercession of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) and the permissibility of making them intercessors for all needs, there are numerous hadiths and ziyarat, a few of which were mentioned. We can attain our needs, whatever they may be, by asking for intercession from the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). For example, we can address Imam Al-Ridha (peace be upon him) and say: 'O my master, intercede with the Lord for my salvation from poverty and illness,' and similar phrases...

✅However, one of the most important ways of 'tawassul' to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), which has become a point of contention, is to present the need directly to the Imam (peace be upon him). If Allah wills, we will introduce the correct method of this with the narrations themselves.

It is surprising that some people consider it permissible and reasonable to present a need to ordinary people, but when it comes to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) with all their virtues and merits, they say: 'Only seeking intercession and supplication for needs is permissible,' while with the belief that all power and might are from Allah, and they do nothing without Allah's will and other necessary beliefs, all needs can be presented to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). And of course, the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) themselves know best what to do for us in response to a need presented to them.

First, we will mention a few narrations that show the permissibility of presenting all needs to the Infallibles:

عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِی یَعْفُورٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ دَعَانِی الشَّوْقُ إِلَیْکَ أَنْ تَجَشَّمْتُ إِلَیْکَ عَلَی مَشَقَّةٍ فَقَالَ لِی لَا تَشْکُ رَبَّکَ فَهَلَّا أَتَیْتَ مَنْ کَانَ أَعْظَمَ حَقّاً عَلَیْکَ مِنِّی فَکَانَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ فَهَلَّا أَتَیْتَ مَنْ کَانَ أَعْظَمَ حَقّاً عَلَیْکَ مِنِّی أَشَدَّ عَلَیَّ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ لَا تَشْکُ رَبَّکَ قُلْتُ وَ مَنْ أَعْظَمُ عَلَیَّ حَقّاً مِنْکَ قَالَ الْحُسَیْنُ بْنُ عَلِیٍّ أَلَّا أَتَیْتَ الْحُسَیْنَ فَدَعَوْتَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ وَ شَکَوْتَ إِلَیْهِ حَوَائِجَکَ

📚 Kamil al-Ziyarat, p. 168

Translation: Abdullah ibn Abi Ya'fur says: I said to Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him): 'My longing for you has led me to come to you with difficulty and hardship.' So the Imam said to me: 'Do not complain to your Lord. Did you not go to the one who has a greater right over you than me?!' This statement of the Imam was harder on me than his first statement, when he said: 'Do not complain to your Lord.' I said: 'Who has a greater right over me than you?!' He said: 'Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him). Do you not go to Al-Husayn (peace be upon him) to supplicate to Allah in his presence and complain (present and express) your needs to him?'

إِسْحَاقُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِی أَبُو هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِیُّ، قَالَ: شَکَوْتُ إِلی أَبِی مُحَمَّدٍ علیه السلام ضِیقَ الْحَبْسِ، وَ کَتَلَ الْقَیْدِ، فَکَتَبَ إِلَیَّ: «أَنْتَ تُصَلِّی الْیَوْمَ الظُّهْرَ فِی مَنْزِلِکَ» فَأُخْرِجْتُ فِی وَقْتِ الظُّهْرِ، فَصَلَّیْتُ فِی مَنْزِلِی کَمَا قَالَ علیه السلام.

وَ کُنْتُ مُضَیَّقاً، فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَطْلُبَ مِنْهُ دَنَانِیرَ فِی الْکِتَابِ فَاسْتَحْیَیْتُ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ إِلی مَنْزِلِی وَجَّهَ إِلَیَّ بِمِائَةِ دِینَارٍ، وَ کَتَبَ إِلَیَّ: «إِذَا کَانَتْ لَکَ حَاجَةٌ، فَلاَ تَسْتَحْیِ وَ لاَ تَحْتَشِمْ وَ اطْلُبْهَا ؛ فَإِنَّکَ تَری مَا تُحِبُّ إِنْ شَاءَ اللّهُ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 508

Translation: Abu Hashim al-Ja'fari says: I complained to Aba Muhammad (Imam Al-'Askari, peace be upon him) about the narrowness of the prison and the difficulty of the chains (i.e., I expressed and presented this difficulty to the Imam), the Imam wrote to me: 'You will pray the Dhuhr prayer today in your house.' So I was released from prison at the time of Dhuhr prayer and prayed in my house just as the Imam had said. And I was in financial difficulty and intended to ask the Imam for a few dinars in a letter but I was embarrassed, so when I arrived at my house, he sent me one hundred dinars and wrote to me: 'When you have a need, do not be shy or embarrassed and ask for it, for you will see what you love, if Allah wills.'

عَنْ أَبِی هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِیِّ، قَالَ شَکَوْتُ إِلی أَبِی مُحَمَّدٍ علیه السلام الْحَاجَةَ، فَحَکَّ بِسَوْطِهِ الاْءَرْضَ، قَالَ: وَ أَحْسَبُهُ غَطَّاهُ بِمِنْدِیلٍ، وَ أَخْرَجَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِینَارٍ فَقَالَ: یَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ، خُذْ وَ أَعْذِرْنَا

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 507

Translation: Abu Hashim al-Ja'fari says: I complained to Imam Al-'Askari (peace be upon him) about need and necessity, the Imam scratched the ground with his whip, and I think he covered it with a cloth and brought out five hundred dinars and said: 'O Abu Hashim, take this and excuse us.'

✅By studying the narrations in reliable books, it is observed that the companions of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) would approach them in all sorts of problems and issues and present their problem, and the Imam would deal with each of them as was appropriate. For example, he would teach some a supplication, for some he would supplicate himself, and for some he would solve their problem miraculously by passing his hand over them, and so on. This brief overview cannot contain hundreds of narrations on this topic, but it is not hidden from anyone that the companions of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) would approach the infallible Imams (peace be upon them) and have all sorts of problems solved, from blindness and leprosy to poverty and other issues. Presenting a need, expressing a problem, and stating a difficulty, which in the Arabic language is called 'shikayah' (complaining), is a common and permissible act even among ordinary people. But one of the differences here is that the more power Allah has given to the person we present our problem to, and to whom we 'complain,' the greater our benefit will be. The Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), due to the special knowledge and ability that the Lord has granted them, have always been and are a refuge for people, and even many times their enemies would resort to and take refuge in them to solve their difficulties. Pay attention to other examples in the next part on the permissibility of 'shikayah' (expressing a need and necessity) to the Imam: 👇👇👇👇

Abdul Rahim says: I entered upon Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and said: 'I have invented a supplication!' The Imam said: 'Leave me with your invention!, when a problem befalls you, take refuge in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and perform two rak'ahs of prayer and gift it to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family).' I said: 'How do I do this?' He said: 'You perform ghusl and two rak'ahs of prayer which you begin like the obligatory prayer (with the takbirat) and in it you recite like the tashahhud of the obligatory prayer. Then when you are finished with the tashahhud and have given the salam, say:'

اللّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ، وَ مِنْکَ السَّلاَمُ، وَ إِلَیْکَ یَرْجِعُ السَّلاَمُ ؛ اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ بَلِّغْ رُوحَ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنِّی السَّلاَمَ، وَ أَرْوَاحَ الاْءَئِمَّةِ الصَّادِقِینَ سَلاَمِی، وَ ارْدُدْ عَلَیَّ مِنْهُمُ السَّلاَمَ، وَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّهِ وَ بَرَکَاتُهُ ؛ اللّهُمَّ إِنَّ هَاتَیْنِ الرَّکْعَتَیْنِ هَدِیَّةٌ مِنِّی إِلی رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلی الله علیه و آله، فَأَثِبْنِی عَلَیْهِمَا مَا أَمَّلْتُ وَ رَجَوْتُ فِیکَ وَ فِی رَسُولِکَ یَا وَلِیَّ الْمُوءْمِنِینَ

Then go into prostration and say forty times:

یَا حَیُّ یَا قَیُّومُ، یَا حَیُّ لاَ یَمُوتُ، یَا حَیُّ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، یَا ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَ الاْءِکْرَامِ، یَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِینَ،

Then place your right cheek on the ground and recite the same supplication forty times, and then place your left cheek and say it forty times, then raise your head and stretch your hands and say it forty times again, then return your hand to your neck and gesture with your index finger and say it forty times, then take your beard with your left hand and weep or pretend to weep and say:

یَا مُحَمَّدُ یَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ، أَشْکُو إِلَی اللّهِ وَ إِلَیْکَ حَاجَتِی، وَ إِلی أَهْلِ بَیْتِکَ الرَّاشِدِینَ حَاجَتِی، وَ بِکُمْ أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَی اللّهِ فِی حَاجَتِی.

Meaning: 'O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah, I complain (express my need) to Allah and to you and to your rightly-guided household (I express my need to Allah and to you and to your household) and through you I turn to Allah regarding this need of mine.'

Then you go into prostration and say:

'YA ALLAH, YA ALLAH' until your breath is cut off, then say:

صَلِّ عَلی مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ افْعَلْ بِی کَذَا وَ کَذَا»

(The desired need is said in place of 'such and such')

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'I guarantee from Allah that he will not leave that place except that his need is fulfilled.'

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 476

✅This is a very important and authentic prayer for needs that is recommended for believers to perform for their unresolved needs. And in the text of the narration, pay attention that we explicitly say: 'O Allah, I complain (express my need) to you and the Prophet and the infallible Imams (peace be upon them), meaning I express my need to you.'

عَنْ إِبْرَاهِیمَ بْنِ مُوسی، قَالَ: أَلْحَحْتُ عَلی أَبِی الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا علیه السلام فِی شَیْءٍ أَطْلُبُهُ مِنْهُ، فَکَانَ یَعِدُنِی، فَخَرَجَ ذَاتَ یَوْمٍ لِیَسْتَقْبِلَ وَالِیَ الْمَدِینَةِ وَ کُنْتُ مَعَهُ، فَجَاءَ إِلی قُرْبِ قَصْرِ فُلاَنٍ، فَنَزَلَ تَحْتَ شَجَرَاتٍ وَ نَزَلْتُ مَعَهُ أَنَا وَ لَیْسَ مَعَنَا ثَالِثٌ، فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاکَ، هذَا الْعِیدُ قَدْ أَظَلَّنَا وَ لاَ وَ اللّهِ، مَا أَمْلِکُ دِرْهَماً فَمَا سِوَاهُ، فَحَکَّ بِسَوْطِهِ الاْءَرْضَ حَکّاً شَدِیداً، ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِیَدِهِ، فَتَنَاوَلَ مِنْهَا سَبِیکَةَ ذَهَبٍ، ثُمَّ قَالَ انْتَفِعْ بِهَا، وَ اکْتُمْ مَا رَأَیْتَ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 488

Translation: Ibrahim ibn Musa says: I insisted on Imam Al-Ridha about something I had asked from him, and he kept promising me. One day, the Imam went out to receive the governor of Medina, and I was with him. So the Imam came close to a person's palace and dismounted under some trees, and I also dismounted while there was no third person with us. So I said: 'May I be sacrificed for you, this Eid is approaching, and by Allah, I do not have even one dirham.' So the Imam struck the ground hard with his whip, then he touched it and took out a gold bar from there and said: 'Benefit from this and conceal what you saw.'

✅ Pay attention that this person presented his need to his Imam, and the Imam solved his problem in this manner.

Truly, what is wrong with us complaining about our needs to the Imams? Do those who object to this not see the hundreds of existing narrations where the companions would present their incurable or difficult-to-treat problems to the Imam, and the Imam (peace be upon him) would help and save them in various ways?!

عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ:...

فَقُلْتُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاکَ، إِنِّی مُغْتَمٌّ لِشَیْءٍ یُصِیبُنِی فِی نَفْسِی وَ قَدْ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ أَبَاکَ، فَلَمْ یُقْضَ لِی ذلِکَ، فَقَالَ: وَ مَا هُوَ یَا أَحْمَدُ؟ فَقُلْتُ: یَاسَیِّدِی رُوِیَ لَنَا عن آبَائِکَ أَنَّ نَوْمَ الاْءَنْبِیَاءِ عَلی أَقْفِیَتِهِمْ، وَ نَوْمَ الْمُوءْمِنِینَ عَلی أَیْمَانِهِمْ وَ نَوْمَ الْمُنَافِقِینَ عَلی شَمَائِلِهِمْ وَ نَوْمَ الشَّیَاطِینِ عَلی وُجُوهِهِمْ؟ فَقَالَ علیه السلام: کَذلِکَ هُوَ فَقُلْتُ: یَا سَیِّدِی، فَإِنِّی أَجْهَدُ أَنْ أَنَامَ عَلی یَمِینِی، فَمَا یُمْکِنُنِی وَ لاَ یَأْخُذُنِی النَّوْمُ عَلَیْهَا فَسَکَتَ سَاعَةً، ثُمَّ قَالَ: یَا أَحْمَدُ، ادْنُ مِنِّی». فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ، فَقَالَ: أَدْخِلْ یَدَکَ تَحْتَ ثِیَابِکَ فَأَدْخَلْتُهَا، فَأَخْرَجَ یَدَهُ مِنْ تَحْتِ ثِیَابِهِ، وَ أَدْخَلَهَا تَحْتَ ثِیَابِی، فَمَسَحَ بِیَدِهِ الْیُمْنی عَلی جَانِبِیَ الاْءَیْسَرِ، وَ بِیَدِهِ الْیُسْری عَلی جَانِبِیَ الاْءَیْمَنِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ. قَالَ أَحْمَدُ: فَمَا أَقْدِرُ أَنْ أَنَامَ عَلی یَسَارِی مُنْذُ فَعَلَ ذلِکَ بِی علیه السلام وَ مَا یَأْخُذُنِی نَوْمٌ عَلَیْهَا أَصْلاً

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 514

Ahmad ibn Ishaq says in a hadith: I said to Imam Hasan Al-'Askari (peace be upon him): 'I am saddened by something that occurs to me, and I had intended to ask your father but I could not.' The Imam said: 'O Ahmad, what is it?' I said: 'O my master, it has been narrated to us from your ancestors that the sleep of the prophets is on their backs, the sleep of the believers is on their right side, the sleep of the hypocrites is on their left side, and the sleep of the devils is on their faces.' The Imam said: 'Yes, that is correct.' I said: 'O my master, I try to sleep on my right side but I cannot, and I cannot fall asleep on my right side.' The Imam was silent for a while and then said: 'O Ahmad, come closer to me.' I came closer to him. He said: 'Put your hand under your garment.' So I did. He took his hands out from under his garment and put them under my garment and passed his right hand over my left side and his left hand over my right side three times. Ahmad says: 'Since the Imam did this to me, I cannot sleep on my left side and I do not fall asleep on my left side at all.'

الْحَسَنِ، عَنِ الْهَیْثَمِ النَّهْدِیِّ رَفَعَهُ، قَالَ:

شَکَا رَجُلٌ إِلی أَبِی عَبْدِ اللّهِ علیه السلام الاْءُبْنَةَ، فَمَسَحَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللّهِ علیه السلام عَلی ظَهْرِهِ، فَسَقَطَتْ مِنْهُ دُودَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ، فَبَرَأَ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 5, p. 550

Translation: A man complained to Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) about a problem (...). The Imam passed his hand over his back, and a red worm fell out of him, and he was saved from this problem.

✅ The topic of presenting a need and expressing a problem to others is generally a reasonable and common practice. Pay attention to the following narration:

عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ یَحْیی، عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللّهِ علیه السلام: یَا حَسَنُ، إِذَا نَزَلَتْ بِکَ نَازِلَةٌ، فَلاَ تَشْکُهَا إِلی أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْخِلاَفِ، وَلکِنِ اذْکُرْهَا لِبَعْضِ إِخْوَانِکَ ؛ فَإِنَّکَ لَنْ تُعْدَمَ خَصْلَةً مِنْ أَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ إِمَّا کِفَایَةً بِمَالٍ وَإِمَّا مَعُونَةً بِجَاهٍ أَوْ دَعْوَةً فَتُسْتَجَابُ أَوْ مَشُورَةً بِرَأْیٍ

📚 Al-Kafi, Vol. 2, p. 412

Translation: Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said to Hasan ibn Rashid: 'O Hasan, when a problem befalls you, do not complain about it to any of the people of opposition, but mention it to one of your brothers, for (if you do this) you will never lose one of four qualities: either being taken care of financially, or being helped with influence and status, or a supplication that is answered, or advice with a given opinion.'

✅ The best person among the creation to whom one can present problems and needs is the infallible Imam, who has been granted these four qualities in the most comprehensive way by the Lord. People can resort to this noble family for their needs and present their problems and get results, or through other correct ways, some of which were mentioned in this brief overview, they can use the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) as a means to the Lord. Pay attention to this narration:

عَنِ الثُّمَالِیِّ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِیِّ بْنِ الْحُسَیْنِ قَالَ: مَنْ دَعَا اللَّهَ بِنَا أَفْلَحَ وَ مَنْ دَعَاهُ بِغَیْرِنَا هَلَکَ وَ اسْتَهْلَکَ

📚 Busharat al-Mustafa, p. 118

Translation: Imam Al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever calls upon Allah through us will succeed and be saved, and whoever calls upon Allah through others will be destroyed and perished.'

ابْنُ الْوَلِیدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِیِّ بْنِ الْحَکَمِ یَرْفَعُهُ إِلَی أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: إِذَا زُرْتَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَزُرْهُ وَ أَنْتَ حَزِینٌ مَکْرُوبٌ وَ سَاقَ الْحَدِیثَ إِلَی قَوْلِهِ وَ اسْأَلْهُ الْحَوَائِجَ وَ انْصَرِفْ عَنْهُ وَ لَا تَتَّخِذْهُ وَطَناً

📚 Thawab al-A'mal, p. 89

Translation: Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: 'When you visit Abu Abdullah, visit him while you are sad and sorrowful,' until he said: 'Ask for your needs from (Imam Husayn) and return from him and do not make it a home.'

✅ We remind again that the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) do nothing without the permission of the Lord, and in response to a need presented to them, they have different reactions based on what is expedient and what Allah wills. But there is no doubt about the permissibility of complaining about one's state and problems to the pure Imams (peace be upon them) with the intention of their grace, generosity, and help, and there is no restriction or exception in this regard. Also, pay attention to the following points:

✅ The ways of 'tawassul' to the Infallibles (peace be upon them) are not limited to the mentioned cases, but most of them are subsets of these cases.

✅ In a hadith in 📚 Basair al-Darajat, it is narrated from Imam Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) that he said to Jabir in a hadith: 'Allah has made us capable of what we intend.' And in other hadiths, it is stated that everything except a group of the children of Adam is obedient to us, but the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) never perform an action against the will and will of Allah.

✅ The cases mentioned in the ways of 'tawassul' each have dozens, even hundreds, of narrative evidences in reliable Shi'a books, which there is no place to mention here.

✅ It is hoped that those who, under the influence of certain propagations, refrained from explaining their situation and complaining about their needs and problems to their Imam during their pilgrimage to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and at other times, out of fear of polytheism, will not deprive themselves of the grace of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) by reading the narrations on this topic and will present their matters to their Imam in a correct manner and with the right belief.

✅ By learning the correct criteria from the reliable narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in this regard, we must be completely careful not to fall into extremism, and the prerequisite for that is to know the boundaries of affairs from the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

✅ It should be known that although falling into extremism is very dangerous, falling into negligence also has its own specific condemnation.

✅ Finally, pay attention to this narration:

Ishaq al-Sahhaf says: Imam Al-Kazim (peace be upon him) said to me: 'O Sahhaf!' I said: 'Yes, O son of the Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Are you prevented (from having intercourse) with your wife (due to magic)?' I said: 'Yes, O son of the Messenger of Allah, I have been afflicted for three years and I have treated it with every medicine, and by Allah, it has not benefited me.' The Imam said: 'O Sahhaf! Why did you not inform me and tell me?' I said: 'O son of the Messenger of Allah, by Allah, it is not hidden from me that relief and ease for everything are with you, but I was embarrassed to present this matter to you.' The Imam said: 'O Sahhaf! What place is there for shyness for a person who has been afflicted by magic and is prevented from his wife?' 'Know that I intended to untie your knot,' and then he taught him a supplication for salvation...

📚 Al-Bihar, Vol. 95, p. 113

✅ O group of lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt, all of whom have sorrows and problems in various matters, have you presented your problems to the Imam of the Age and complained to him?? Why have we resorted to many means such as doctors and counselors, etc., but we have not presented and expressed our problems to the Imam at various times?

I hope that by paying attention to these narrations and resorting to the Infallibles (peace be upon them) and complaining to them, we will open the way for the solution of our material and spiritual problems, if Allah wills.