Seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the prophets and the righteous is a religious innovation (bid'ah) and a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah)

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. In his other question, he asks: Is it permissible to make du'a' (supplication) through the status of the righteous?

The Shaykh:
This is a bid'ah (religious innovation). It is not permissible to seek nearness to Allah through the status of the righteous or through their persons, because this is a bid'ah and a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). Supplication is a great act of worship; Allah has commanded us to supplicate to Him and promised to answer, but He did not command supplication through status or through a means, nor did He command that. Rather, He commanded direct supplication to Him. Yes.

The questioner:
And the Messenger of Allah and others are exploited in this.

The Shaykh:
Yes, it is not permissible to seek nearness to Allah through the status of any created being, whether prophets or others, because this has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So it is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Also, it is one of the means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). Yes.