The ruling on saying: “O Messenger of Allah, intercede for me”

Question:
The questioner says: Is the saying of the one who says, “O Messenger of Allah, intercede for me,” major shirk (associating partners with Allah) or not?

Answer:
Nothing is sought from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) after his death. The Companions did not seek anything from him after his death. When great problems arose for them, they did not go to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to resolve them; rather, they resolved them themselves and exercised independent legal reasoning among themselves, referring to their scholars and wise men to settle their issues. They did not go to the Messenger as they did during his lifetime (peace and blessings be upon him). Even when they were afflicted with drought, they did not go to the grave of the Messenger and say, “Pray to Allah for rain for us,” as they used to ask of him while he was alive. Rather, 'Umar asked al-'Abbas, because he was alive and present, to pray to Allah for him. They did not seek anything from the Messenger after his death, neither intercession nor anything else. Yes, and nothing is sought from the dead. That is the end of it. Yes.