[Abaronos]

Theres a big difference between the two. You are correct, Istighathah is what is considered shirk. However, some wrongly refer to Istighathah as Tawassul. Brother TripoliSunni and "Hussains" post are pretty accurate.

As for the prophet peace be upon him being alive, or martyrs who are alive (with their Lord, as the Qur'aan says) this is usually used as an arguement to go to the prophet at his grave and ask him for help, in a way no companion ever did. This then extends to Jilani, Hussain, Haqqani etc and never ends.

Qur'aan says

"And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say: "Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?" Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!"

So they didnt really say that they are Allah, but they just considered them intercessors.

Also

`And those who take Awliya (note the word used here is Awliya) beside Him (Say):'We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah (swt). Verily Allah (swt) will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah (swt) guides not Him who is a Liar and a disbeliever.' (Qur'an 39:4)

"To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has passed away, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Allah said, "And Muhammad is but a messenger; the messengers have come before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful." (3.144)

'Umar said, "By Allah, when I heard Abu Bakr reciting it, my legs could not support me and I fell down at the very moment of hearing him reciting it, declaring that the Prophet had passed away."[

This was the position of the companions, as they didnt remain in denial, saying no hes alive, and twist verses to make it permissable to go to his grave and ask for help etc. Allah is closer to us.

“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way

Assalam u Alikum wr wb

Brother,

Prophets(as), Siddiqeen(ar) and Shuhada(ar) being alive in their graves is the Aqeeda of ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamah.

The argument you present about Umar Al Farooq(ra) is the same argument Bilal Philips gives out and then tries to act funny about it which is out right ignorant and tells you the man has no idea about what Ahlus Sunnah claims. NO ONE denies RasoolAllah(saw) Passed away, It is established through the Quran that every soul shall taste death.

Prophets alive in their Graves is a Established matter and not controversial at all.

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...=4597&CATE=348

http://www.livingislam.org/n/lpg_e.html

And it is absolutely permissible to Ask RasoolAllah(saw) at his grave to make Dua for us, infact this is the practice of Sahaba(ra), Tabiyeen(ra) and Tabatabiyeen(ra) and ones who came after them.

And the logic of Allah being closer to us which is why we should only ask Allah directly was not understood by the Sahaba(ra) like you seem to understand it. Sahaba(ra) would regularly ask RasoolAllah(saw) to make dua for them? Wasnt Allah Near when they asked RasoolAllah(saw) to make dua? If so, then why ask anyone to ask anything for you when you have a direct route(btw i am not denying one can directly ask Allah directly or should ask directly), Which actually also negates the evidence Wahabies provide about Umar(ra) asking Abbas(ra) for dua. And What about RasoolAllah(saw) asking Akabir Sahaba(ra) to ask Uwais Al Qarni to make Dua for the Ummah?

One can either say ask Allah directly Period and use no intermediary period. Or one can say one can ask people for dua which essentially is using an intermediary. You cant bake your cake and eat it too.

Because RasoolAllah(saw) is alive, along with other Prophets(as) including Siddiqeen and Shuhada(ar), therefore it is perfectly permissible to ask them for Dua. Infact RasoolAllah(saw) making dua is established through Hadeeth.

My life is a great good for you, you will relate about me and it will be related to you, and my death is a great good for you, your actions will be exhibited to me, and if I see goodness I will praise Allah, and if I see evil I will ask forgiveness of Him for you."

source: http://hadithproofsfortawassul.blogs...after-his.html