What is the ruling on seeking nearness to Allah through status, blessing, and sanctity?

Question:
May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, this questioner says: Is it permissible to seek nearness to Allah through status, through blessing, and through sanctity? For example, if a person says, “O Allah, do such-and-such for me by the status of Shaykh So-and-So, or by the blessing of Shaykh So-and-So, or by the sanctity of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him),” or the like?

Answer:
This is not prescribed. Asking by status is a religious innovation (bid'ah). There is no evidence for it. Likewise, asking by sanctity or by blessing; all of these are matters of innovation. However, the prescribed seeking of nearness is that you seek nearness to Allah by your following of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So you seek nearness to Allah by your following of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and by your love for him, because this is a righteous deed. It is permissible to seek nearness to Allah through righteous deeds. Seeking nearness through status, truth, blessing, or other things, or through sanctity, these are matters of innovation and they are a means to associating partners with Allah (shirk).