Seeking Nearness to Allah Through the Status and Persons of the Righteous

Question:
They say: Honorable Shaykh, “O Allah, we ask You by the status of our master so-and-so,” and this person may be far away and absent, or he may be dead.

Answer:
This is from the prohibited types of seeking nearness (tawassul). This is the second type of tawassul, which is the prohibited tawassul. Seeking nearness to Allah by the status of anyone, whether prophets or others, is not permissible. One does not seek nearness to Allah by the status of anyone, because this is something that has not been transmitted. As for what has been transmitted, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Seek nearness to Allah by my status,” this is a fabricated hadith with no basis. It is not found in the reliable books of the Sunnah. Likewise, seeking nearness through the persons of the righteous, through the deeds of the righteous, or through their rank with Allah is also prohibited tawassul. This is because the deeds of the righteous belong to them, and they are not yours for you to invoke Allah with them. Rather, you invoke Allah with your own deeds. You seek nearness to Allah with your own deeds, and you do not seek nearness to Allah with the deeds of others. He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: You have no connection with the deeds of people or the righteousness of people. So you do not seek nearness to Allah by the righteousness of so-and-so, or by such-and-such a close friend of Allah (wali), or by his rank with Allah. All of this is falsehood and innovated supplication. Yes.