they would practice tawassul through him and ask Allah for rain, but they never sought rain through him after his death, nor during his absence, nor at his grave, nor at the grave of anyone else. In the same way, Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān—may Allah be pleased with him—once sought rain through Yazīd ibn al-Aswad al-Jurashī and said, “O Allah, we beseech You by means of the best among us. Yazīd, raise your hands to Allah!” Yazīd raised his hands and supplicated, the people prayed as well, and they were granted rain. For this reason the scholars have stated that it is recommended to seek rain through the righteous and pious; if such a person belongs to the household of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that is even better. No scholar has reported that tawassul or the rain-seeking prayer is legislated through the Prophet or any righteous person after his death or in his absence. They did not consider it recommended for istisqāʾ, for seeking victory, or for any other supplication. Indeed, supplication is the very marrow of worship.