The Lost Tawassul (Seeking Intercession)

Summary of the Article: The Lost Tawassul (Seeking Intercession)

This story, narrated by Hujjat al-Islam Sayyid Jafar Rafiei, concerns the late Ayatollah Haj Abdullah Rafiei, who was deeply committed to maintaining kinship ties (Silah al-Rahm). During one of his trips to Tehran to visit his nephew, Haj Agha Rahim, he lost his way. After unsuccessfully trying to find the address, feeling tired due to his advanced age, he first went to a mosque to perform the prayer (Salat) at its earliest prescribed time (Awwal al-Waqt). After the prayer, bewildered about what to do at nightfall in a large city like Tehran, he sought intercession (Tawassul) from Imam Zaman (AJ) [Ajjalallahu Ta’ala Farajahush Sharif – May Allah Hasten His Noble Reappearance], reciting the phrase “Al-Mustaghathu Bika Ya Sahib az-Zaman” (O Master of the Age, I seek refuge in you!).

Moments later, his nephew arrived looking for him. When Ayatollah Rafiei asked how he had found him, the nephew explained that an unknown person had informed them of the Ayatollah’s location via the home intercom. However, when inquiries were made about the identity of that person, it became clear that no one they knew had sent the caller [or: no one had been sent by the Ayatollah’s side]. At this moment, …