Why Muslims pray to the Prophet and Imams: Chapter by Khalil Andani (Open Access)
An academic article on how intercessory prayer is a widely-accepted mainstream Muslim practice among Sunnis, Sufis, Twelvers, and Ismailis.
Why do Ismailis regularly pray to the Imams and seek their blessings in du‘a’ and tasbihs? This is a question that many Ismailis and non-Ismailis ask today.
Many people are unaware that the majority of Muslims, including Sunnis and Shi‘a, accept and practice “intercessory prayer” or istighatha.
Intercessory prayer, in which a person directs a personal du‘a’ or supplication to the Prophet Muhammad, the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt, or the “Friends of God” (awliya’ Allah), was widely accepted by the vast majority of premodern Sunni and Shi‘i Muslims and remains mainstream today. It is only the Wahhabi / Salafi sect of Islam, which began in the 1700s, that rejects intercessory prayer as being shirk (idol worship).
In a newly published book chapter, Dr. Khalil Andani explores now both Sunni and Shi‘i Muslim scholars accept and justify intercessory prayer or istighatha based on the verses of the Qur’an, the Hadith and Islamic metaphysics. The chapter contains many examples of Sunni, Twelver Shi‘i, Sufi, and Ismaili prayers where a person calls on the Prophet, Imams, and Saints for help.
Dr. Andani’s chapter may be downloaded below or accessed via academia.edu:
Dr. Andani’s chapter was published in I of the Heart, an academic volume dedicated to Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Support Ismaili Gnosis in Publishing New Articles
“Whether you are giving to an Imamat institution or to any other organization which works for good, these are the same in my eyes.
All giving is an act of faith. All giving is of spiritual benefit.”
— Imam Shah Rahim al-Husayni
(Dallas, Texas, November 10, 2025)
