al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq wal-Khalq

al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq wal-Khalq (The Intermediary Between the Truth and Creation) is a theological treatise and legal responsa (fatwa) by Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) clarifying the distinction between affirmed prophetic mediation and prohibited polytheistic intermediaries between God and mankind al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…+1.

Origin and Scope

The treatise was written in response to an inquiry regarding a debate between two individuals, in which one argued that creation necessarily requires an intermediary to reach God al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…. In answering the query, Ibn Taymiyya systematically divided the concept of mediation (wasita) into two fundamental categories: the legitimate mediation of messengers in conveying divine guidance, and the impermissible mediation of taking created beings as channels of worship, intercession, or supplication al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…+1.

Core Themes and Arguments

Prophetic Conveyance and Religious Guidance

Ibn Taymiyya affirms that mediation is essential and affirmed by consensus across religious traditions when understood as the messengers conveying God's commands, prohibitions, reward, punishment, names, and attributes, which human intellect cannot independently deduce al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…+1. To deny this form of mediation constitutes disbelief by consensus al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…. Beyond the prophets, religious scholars and teachers serve as intermediaries between the Prophet and the community solely by transmitting knowledge, teaching, and disciplining, though no individual among them is infallible al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w….

Prohibited Intermediaries and Polytheism

Conversely, the work argues that positing intermediaries to grant provision, victory, forgiveness of sins, or relief from hardship—or praying to them and placing reliance (tawakkul) upon them—is major polytheism (shirk) and disbelief by scholarly consensus al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…+1. Ibn Taymiyya emphasizes that no human or angel acts as an intermediary in creating, providing, or guiding Majallat al-Bayan.

Refutation of the Ruler Analogy

A central section of the treatise refutes the false analogy comparing God to worldly kings who require chamberlains and courtiers al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w…+1. Ibn Taymiyya outlines three reasons why earthly monarchs depend on intermediaries:

1. Lack of knowledge, requiring others to inform them of their subjects' needs—whereas God encompasses all secrets and hears all supplications directly al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w….
2. Incapacity and weakness, needing deputies and allies to maintain authority—whereas God is entirely self-sufficient, without partners or helpers al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w….
3. Lack of inherent motivation to show mercy, requiring external persuasion, advice, fear, or hope to prompt action—whereas God is the Creator of all causes, more merciful than a mother to her child, and acts without coercion al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w….

The text clarifies that legitimate intercession (shafa'a) on the Day of Judgment occurs solely with God's permission and for those with whom He is pleased, rather than through pressure or independent authority al-Wasita bayna al-Haqq w….

Reception and Editions

The treatise has been widely printed both independently and within collections of Ibn Taymiyya's works. It is included in Majmu' al-Fatawa within the first volume Majmu al-Fatawa. In modern times, Rashid Rida commended the work in his journal al-Manar, highlighting its defense of pure monotheism alongside Ibn Taymiyya's treatise Raf' al-Malam 'an al-A'imma al-A'lam Manhaj al-Shaykh Muhammad…+1. Independent editions have been edited and published by several scholars, including an edition prepared by Muhammad Jamil Zayno and printed by the Islamic University of Madinah al-Shirk fi al-Qadim wa a…+1.