Tawassul and istighathah with Prophet Muhammad in Mawlid Berzanji

Abstract

Tawassul and istighathah with Prophet Muhammad were among the practices of Muslims in Malaysia when they greet the Prophet's birthday (mawlid) and cite the book Mawlid al-Barzanji. This practice becomes polemic to the practice of mawlid and berzanji by some Muslims in Malaysia. Until there are those who accuse the practice as shirk and kufr. Therefore, this study is conducted to analyze the issues raised regarding tawassul and istighathah in the practice of mawlid and berzanji and to analyze the opinion of the Islamic jurists on the issue. The study involved qualitative and quantitative data through interviews, content analysis, and questionnaires. A total of four respondents were interviewed, 34 documents were analyzed, and 233 respondents answered the questionnaires. The findings of this study found that the issue of tawassul and istighathah with the Prophet Muhammad after his death was an issue of ijtihad. The study concludes that it is encouraged to do tawassul and istighathah with the Prophet Muhammad, the other Prophets and the Apostles, and the righteous person; whether they were alive or after they died.