141. WASEELA
Waseela would mean ‘equipment’. For example people would say that ship is equipment for a journey on the sea;
In almost all religions of the world we can find a common belief among the people: we need not march on the right path; we need not do any good deeds; we need not get rid of any evil; it is sufficient that if we get acquainted with a saint we can approach God.
But Islam disregards this belief here. It is commanded that those who wish to approach God; they must acquire the equipment (Waseela) known as beneficence.
If we should approach God, everyone should do good deeds and then get closer to God through such good deeds only. Hence, ‘seek the way of approach’ means without such Waseela (good deeds) no one can succeed them as intercessor.
People understand contrarily as if this verse refers middlemen while this verse has been set for the total eradication of middlemen.
‘Waseela’ does not mean saints or middlemen.
In the beginning of this verse, (5:35) it is hailed as “O you who believe”. Such hailing would include also those who are deemed as saints. Hence this verse only means that ‘the saints should also seek the way of approach i.e., Waseela’.
In such hailing ‘O you who believe’, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would be the first. So the command ‘seek the way of approach (Waseela) is applicable to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also. Those people would not understand like that, if they had reflected “which saint would the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) approach?”
In this verse there are three commands. It is how the other two commands would apply to everybody including saints. Similarly the command ‘seek the way of approach (Waseela) also would include all people’.
One more Quranic verse 17:57 clearly says that even saints are seeking the ‘way of approach’ (Waseela).
141. WASEELA
Typography
- Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
- Default Meera Catamaran Pavana
- Reading Mode