The Categories of Intercession and Seeking It from the Prophet During His Lifetime

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: I have heard a division of intercession into two categories: prescribed and not prescribed. In the prescribed category, he mentioned seeking it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) during his lifetime.

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
He says: I have heard a division of intercession into two categories: prescribed and not prescribed. In the prescribed category, he mentioned seeking it from the Messenger during his lifetime. Is this correct? Yes.

The Shaykh:
Yes, one seeks from the Messenger and from others during their lifetime for supplication. Supplication is intercession. The Companions sought supplication from the Messenger; they asked him for supplication, and they asked him to seek rain for them, to supplicate for rain for them. Seeking supplication from a living person who is present is permissible, and it is a type of intercession, because Allah has permitted supplication and commanded it, Glorified and Exalted is He: So if the meaning of seeking intercession from a living person is seeking his supplication, then there is no harm. If one seeks his supplication, there is no harm. This is what occurred with the Companions and the Messenger during his lifetime. As for after he died, they did not seek anything from him while he was dead, (peace and blessings be upon him). On the Day of Resurrection, the people will come to the Messenger because he is alive and present, and they will ask him to intercede with Allah, meaning that he will supplicate to Allah for them. This is what happens.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,