From Algeria, he says: Many of our imams say that seeking nearness to Allah through the Prophet is permissible. Is the prayer behind them valid?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner from Algeria says: Many of our mosque imams say that seeking nearness to Allah through the Prophet, or through the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous, is permissible. Some of them say that going to the graves for that purpose is permissible. His question is: Is the prayer behind them valid?

Answer:
It must be made clear to these people, because they may be ignorant of this matter. It should be explained to them that this is not permissible. It is not permissible to seek nearness to Allah through a created being, neither through the being itself nor through its status. Rather, seeking nearness is only through its supplication and intercession. As for seeking nearness through its status or its right, that is not permissible. So explain this to them. If they persist, do not pray with them. Yes.