SUHBA OF AWLIYÂ, IF WE CAN'T FIND ?

“Najm ad-dîn ad-Ghazzî wrote in his book Husn at-tanabbuh: ‘You must love, attend the suhba of, visit and attain blessings through the sulahâ’ who are awliyâ’.’ Shâh al-Karmânî said, ‘There is no ’ibâda more valuable than loving awliyâ’. Love for awliyâ’ leads to love for Allâhu ta’âlâ. And Allâhu ta’âlâ loves the one who loves Him.’ Abu ’Uthmân Khairi said, ‘He who attains the suhba of awliyâ’ finds the way to approach Allâhu ta’âlâ.’ Yahyâ ibn Mu’âdh (rahimah-Allâhu ta’âlâ) said, ‘A faithful person who attains the suhba of awliyâ’ forgets about everything. He is with Allâhu ta’âlâ. He can never approach Allâhu ta’âlâ otherwise.’ Muhammad [ibn ’Alî ash-Shâmî] ibn Irâq wrote in his book Assafînat al-’Irâqiyya: ‘Muhammad ibn Husain al-Bajlî, a faqîh, saw Rasûlullâh (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) in his dream and asked him which deed was the most beneficial. Rasûlullâh said, “Being in the audience of a walî among the awliyâ’ of Allah” And when he asked, “If we cannot find a living one?” Rasûlulâh answered, “Loving and thinking of him is the same whether he is alive or dead.” ’

“Imâm Muhammad al-Birgiwî [(rahmat-Allâhi ’alaih), d. Birgi, Anatolia, 981 A.H. (1573)] used to pray saying, ‘Oh the Best of the helpers! Oh the Shelter of the hopeless people! Oh the Most Merciful of the merciful! Oh my Allah who veils sins and who is very compassionate! Pity us, who are very sinful, for the love of Your Habîb, Your Beloved Prophet, and for the love of all prophets, angels, companions of Your Prophet and the Tâbi’ûn! Forgive our sins!’ It is permissible and lawful to pray to Allâhu ta’âlâ for the love of His Prophet (sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’alaihi wa sallam), as-Sahâbat al-kirâm (radî-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’anhum ajma’în) and the Tâbi’ûn and to have recourse to them so that the prayers may be accepted. This way of praying is nothing but asking for their intercession which is regarded as permissible by the ’ulamâ’ of Ahl as-Sunna. The Mu’tazila did not accept this. The prayer said by taking a walî as a wasîla is accepted by Allâhu ta’âlâ out of its being a karâma of that walî, which shows that karâma occurs on awliyâ’ after their death, too. Heretics, the people of bid’a, do not believe this fact