Is there a difference between seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and seeking nearness to Allah through his person?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, is there a difference between seeking nearness through status and seeking nearness through the person? And what is your statement regarding those who say: The Imams of the Da'wah distinguished between them due to their partisanship for Imam Ahmad, because of his statement regarding the permissibility of seeking nearness through status?
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no difference. There is no difference between a person seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or through the person of the Prophet. This is because seeking nearness, my brothers, means adopting a means that leads you to the intended goal. This is seeking nearness: adopting a means that leads you to the intended goal. So, does the status of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) benefit you? The answer is: No, it does not benefit you. What benefits you is faith in the Messenger, loving the Messenger, following the Messenger, and the like. As for his status, it is for him. It does not benefit you. Likewise, the person of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is not something through which you seek nearness, because if you sought nearness through it, what is the benefit? If you said, "I ask You by the Prophet," this is not sound. This is not a means. And know that if you seek nearness through something that is not a means, then this is a religious innovation and a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah), but it is minor shirk. However, if you adopt a means that benefits you and for which you are rewarded by Allah, then yes, seek nearness. Have you not seen the statement of Allah the Exalted in the supplication of those of understanding? They say:[Ali 'Imran 3:193] Who is the caller who calls to faith? Who? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He is the head of those who call to faith, and after him, those who follow him in his Ummah, and the scholars are the heirs of the prophets; all of them call to faith. [Ali 'Imran 3:193] So here, seeking nearness to Allah is through faith in Him and in His Messenger. The caller to faith is the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and he is at the head of those who call to faith. So you seek nearness to Allah through faith in Him. As for the status of the Messenger, there is no benefit for you from it. Yes, please.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no difference. There is no difference between a person seeking nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or through the person of the Prophet. This is because seeking nearness, my brothers, means adopting a means that leads you to the intended goal. This is seeking nearness: adopting a means that leads you to the intended goal. So, does the status of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) benefit you? The answer is: No, it does not benefit you. What benefits you is faith in the Messenger, loving the Messenger, following the Messenger, and the like. As for his status, it is for him. It does not benefit you. Likewise, the person of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is not something through which you seek nearness, because if you sought nearness through it, what is the benefit? If you said, "I ask You by the Prophet," this is not sound. This is not a means. And know that if you seek nearness through something that is not a means, then this is a religious innovation and a type of shirk (associating partners with Allah), but it is minor shirk. However, if you adopt a means that benefits you and for which you are rewarded by Allah, then yes, seek nearness. Have you not seen the statement of Allah the Exalted in the supplication of those of understanding? They say: