Have Taqwa of Allah and seek the Wasilah to Him (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 35)

Commanding Taqwa, Wasilah, and Jihad

Allah commands His faithful servants to fear Him in Taqwa, which if mentioned along with acts of obedience, it means to refrain from the prohibitions and the prohibited matters. Allah said next,

seek the Wasilah to Him. Sufyan Ath-Thawri said that Talhah said that `Ata' said that Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said that Wasilah means `the means of approach'. Mujahid, Abu Wa'il, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, `Abdullah bin Kathir, As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and others gave the same meaning for Wasilah. Qatadah said that the Ayah means, "Seek the means of approach to Him by obeying Him and performing the acts that please Him.''

Those whom they call upon seek a means of access to their Lord (Allah).) [Surah Al-Isra' 17: 57] Wasilah is a means of approach to achieve something, and it is also used to refer to the highest grade in Paradise, and it is the grade of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), his residence and the nearest grade in Paradise to Allah's Throne. Al-Bukhari recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) said that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

Whoever, after hearing to the Adhan says, "O Allah! Lord of this perfect call and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Grant Muhammad the Wasilah and superiority and send him [on the Day of Judgment] to the praiseworthy station which You have promised him," then intercession from me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection.  Muslim recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said that he heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) saying,

When you hear the Mu'adhdhin, repeat what he says, and then ask for Salah (blessing, mercy from Allah) for me. Verily, whoever asks for Salah for me, then Allah will grant ten Salah to him. Then, ask for the Wasilah for me, for it is a grade in Paradise that only one servant of Allah deserves, and I hope that I am that servant. Verily, whoever asks (Allah) for Wasilah for me, he will earn the right of my intercession. Allah said,

and strive hard in His cause as much as you can. So that you may be successful. After Allah commanded Muslims to avoid the prohibitions and to work towards obedience, He commanded them to fight against their enemies, the disbelievers and idolators who have deviated from the straight path and abandoned the correct religion. Allah encouraged the believers by reminding them of the unending success and great happiness that He prepared for them for the Day of Resurrection, which will never change or decrease for those who join Jihad in His cause. They will remain in the lofty rooms of Paradise that are safe and beautiful. Those who live in these dwellings will always be comfortable and will never be miserable, living, never dying, and their clothes will never grow thin, nor will their youth ever end.


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)