that their beseeching of the tzadik is not prayer or worship, or alternatively that they are still praying to God and through God, but secondarily communicating with the tzadik. The conflict between the groups is essentially over what constitutes prayer, worship, a mediator (melitz), and an agent (sarsur). Islam Tawassul is the practice of using someone as a means or an intermediary in a supplication directed towards God. An example of this would be such: "O my Lord, help me with [such and such need] due to the love I have for Your Prophet." Some Shi'a practice seeking intercession from saints, in particular from Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali and Ali's son, Husayn. A well-known Persian Shi'a hymn reads "" ("It is not strange that man, through servitude to 'Ali, will reach God"). Mandaeism The names of uthras (celestial beings in the World of Light) in Mandaean prayers, such as the canonical prayers of the Qolasta. Some of these prayers, such as the Asiet Malkia (Qolasta prayer 105) and Ṭabahatan prayer (Qolasta prayer 170), have long lists of ancestors, uthras, and prophets such as Adam and John the Baptist. Serer religion In the religion of the Serer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania, some of their ancient dead are taken as, in an analogy, holy saints, called Pangool in the Serer language. These ancient ancestors act as interceders between the living world and their supreme deity Roog. See also Efficacy of prayer Intercession of Christ Intercession of the Spirit Intercession of the Theotokos Patron saint Shrine Slava (patron saint day) Veneration Notes References External links Church Fathers on the Intercession of the Saints Marian Prayers and Prayers of the Saints Marian Novenas and Novenas to Saints Index and Calendar of Saints Salatul Istisqa, Islamic prayer for rain ceremony The performance of the Salatul Istisqa, the Islamic prayer for rain, in the parched bed of the Goulburn River in Denman, in the Hunter Valley, Sydney, Australia, 2003. Hadith Proofs for Tawassul through the Prophet Christian worship and liturgy Christian terminology Sainthood Shia Islam