Is seeking nearness to Allah through the supplication of the righteous permissible?

Question:
Is seeking nearness to Allah through the supplication of the righteous permissible?

Answer:
Yes, seeking nearness to Allah through the supplication of the righteous is permissible. Asking a righteous man to make du'a' (supplication) for you is not a problem. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked al-'Abbas ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib to ask Allah for rain for the Muslims when they were suffering from drought. This indicates that asking the righteous for du'a' is a permissible matter, and this is a permissible form of tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah), tawassul through the du'a' of the righteous.
Likewise, Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Abu Yazid al-Jurashi to ask for rain for the Muslims, just as 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did. These are two eminent Companions who asked the righteous for du'a' for the Muslims. One may ask for du'a' for himself or for the Muslims. Yes.