The Ruling on Seeking Nearness to Allah through the Messenger after His Death

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, is seeking nearness to Allah through the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) permissible after his death?

Answer:
Seeking nearness to Allah through the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the sense of asking the Messenger to make supplication for you, seeking nearness through his supplication, this was while he was alive (peace and blessings be upon him), seeking nearness through his supplication. As 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said to al-'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib, the uncle of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when they called for aid and asked for rain, he ordered al-'Abbas to supplicate to Allah for rain for them. He said, "O Allah, we used to seek nearness to You through your Prophet, meaning through his supplication and his calling for aid, and now we seek nearness to You through the uncle of your Prophet, so send us rain." So they were given rain when al-'Abbas (may Allah the Exalted be pleased with him) supplicated for them. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh