The ruling on seeking nearness to Allah through the Prophet after his death by supplicating, “O Messenger of Allah”

Question:
This questioner, Maim Noun, says in his question: Honorable Shaykh, some people claim that this supplication cures serious illnesses. They say this supplication: “O Prophet of Allah, O Messenger of Allah, you are our means of approach when all other means are cut off. Call upon Allah, O Messenger of Allah, for our healing,” and so on from such supplications.

Answer:
This is an invalid supplication. Seeking nearness to Allah through the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by asking him for supplication after his death is an invalid matter and is not permissible. This was only done during his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him); they used to ask him for supplication, as the blind man asked him (peace and blessings be upon him) to call upon Allah to restore his sight. This was only during his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him). As for after his death, nothing is sought from him, neither supplication nor anything else, nor consultation, nor anything else. This is because the Companions did not do this. When they were afflicted with drought during the time of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), their custom during the life of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was that they would ask the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to supplicate for rain, and he would supplicate for them and they would be given rain. But when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away and they sought rain, they did not go to the grave of the Messenger and ask him to call upon Allah for rain. Rather, 'Umar said to al-'Abbas: “O al-'Abbas, call upon Allah. O Allah, we used to seek nearness to You through our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when we were afflicted with drought, and we were given rain, meaning through his supplication. And we seek nearness to You through the uncle of our Prophet, so give us rain.” And they were given rain. This is evidence of their turning away from the Messenger to al-'Abbas, who is lower in virtue than he, and it is evidence that nothing is sought from the Messenger after his death, and a fortiori, nothing is sought from the other dead, neither supplication nor anything else, nor intercession nor anything else, and they are dead. Because this is among the means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). First, it is a bid'ah (religious innovation), as it has not been transmitted, and what has not been transmitted is a bid'ah. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . Second, it is a means of shirk and istighathah (calling for aid) to the dead, calling upon the dead other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you and bless you.