the affirmation of Allah’s oneness and the faith present in their hearts. He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also stated that whoever asks Allah to grant him al-wasīla will be entitled to his intercession on the Day of Resurrection. He thus explained that his intercession is attained by following him in the affirmation of Allah’s oneness and the faith he brought, and by offering the supplication he prescribed for us to make on his behalf.
As for asking by virtue of someone’s right, this rests on two questions: first, what right that person has with Allah; and second, whether we may ask Allah by virtue of that right, as we ask by virtue of someone’s standing and sanctity.
Regarding the first, some people say that a creature has a right against the Creator which can be known through reason. They compare the creature to the Creator, as some of the Mu'tazila and others do.
Others say that a creature has no right against the Creator under any circumstances, but that what He will do is known on the basis of His promise and His declarations. This is the position of some followers of Jahm and al-Ash'arī, and others who claim adherence to the Sunnah.
Still others say that Allah has prescribed mercy for Himself and imposed upon Himself a right owed to His believing servants, just as He has forbidden injustice for Himself. No creature has imposed this upon Him, nor is He to be compared to His creatures. Rather, by virtue of His mercy, wisdom and justice, He has prescribed mercy for Himself and forbidden injustice for Himself. As He says in the authentic divine hadith:
“O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not wrong one another.”
And He, Most High, says:
“Your Lord has prescribed mercy for Himself.”
And He, Most High, says:
“And it was incumbent upon Us to support the believers.”
In the two authentic hadith collections, Mu'ādh relates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “O Mu'ādh, do you know what right Allah has over