The Ruling on Seeking Nearness to Allah Through the Status of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

Question: This is a message received by the program from F. M. A. from Iraq, Ninawa Governorate. He says in his message: What is the ruling on a Muslim who performs the obligatory acts and seeks nearness to Allah through the status of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Is it permissible to accuse him of shirk (associating partners with Allah)? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.

Answer: The Muslim who affirms the oneness of Allah and calls upon Him alone and believes that He is the true deity, and holds the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allah," which is that there is no true object of worship except Allah, and believes that Muhammad is truly the Messenger of Allah, whom Allah sent to the jinn and mankind, is called a Muslim because he has brought forth the two testimonies and affirmed the oneness of Allah alone, and he has believed in the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for by that he becomes a Muslim. If he commits any of the sins, such as unlawful sexual intercourse, theft, or usury, without believing that such things are permissible, but rather because he obeyed his desires and Satan, then this constitutes a deficiency in his faith and a weakness in his faith.
However, if he seeks nearness to Allah through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and says, "O Allah, I ask You by the status of Muhammad" or "by the right of Muhammad," this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) according to the majority of scholars; it is a deficiency in faith, but he does not become a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) nor a kafir (disbeliever); rather, he remains a Muslim. However, this is a deficiency in faith and a weakness in faith, like the other sins that do not take one out of the religion. This is because supplication and the means of supplication are based on divine legislation (taqdiri), and there is no indication in the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) that supports seeking nearness through the status of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, this is something that people have innovated. Therefore, seeking nearness through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of the prophets, or the right of the Prophet, or the right of the prophets, or the status of so-and-so, or the status of Ali, or the status of the People of the House, all of this is among the innovations. It is obligatory to abandon this, but it is not shirk; rather, it is among the means to shirk. Thus, its practitioner does not become a mushrik, but he has committed an innovation that diminishes faith and weakens faith according to the majority of scholars, because the means in supplication are based on divine legislation.
The Muslim seeks nearness to Allah through the names and attributes of Allah, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf: 180]. He also seeks nearness through tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and iman (faith), as it came in the hadith from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: This is seeking nearness through the oneness of Allah. Likewise, seeking nearness through righteous deeds, as in the hadith of the companions of the cave who were trapped by a rock when they entered the cave for rain or to spend the night. A great rock closed in on them, and they were unable to move it. So some of them said to others: "Indeed, nothing will save you from this rock except that you call upon Allah with your righteous deeds." So they called upon Allah with their righteous deeds. One of them sought nearness through his kindness to his parents, and the rock opened up a little.
Then the second one sought nearness through his chastity from zina. He had a cousin whom he loved greatly, and he wanted her for himself, but she refused him. Then a year of hardship and need came upon her, so she came to him seeking his help. He said, "Unless you allow me to have relations with you." She agreed on the condition that he give her one hundred and twenty gold dinars. When he sat between her legs, she said, "Fear Allah and do not break the seal except with its right." He feared Allah the Exalted, stood up from her, did not commit the sin, and left the gold for her.
He said, "O Allah, if You know that I did that seeking Your face, then relieve us of what we are in." So the rock opened up a little, but they were still unable to get out.
Then the third one sought nearness through his fulfillment of a trust. He had a trust belonging to some workers, which he left with him, and he increased it and worked with it until it became a large amount of wealth in camels, cows, sheep, and slaves. When its owner came, he returned it to him all of it, complete. He said, "O my Lord, if You know that I did that seeking Your face, then relieve us of what we are in." So the rock opened up and they went out. This indicates that seeking nearness through righteous deeds is among the causes of acceptance of supplication.
As for seeking nearness through the status of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of so-and-so, or the status of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, or the status of Umar, or the status of Ali, or the status of the People of the House, or the like of that, this has no basis; rather, it is a bid'ah (religious innovation). The legitimate seeking nearness is for the Muslim to seek nearness through the names and attributes of Allah, or through his faith in Allah, saying, "O Allah, I seek nearness to You through my faith in You," or "through my faith in Your Prophet," or "through my love for You," or "through my love for Your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." This is good, and this is a good, legitimate means. Or he seeks nearness through tawhid (the oneness of Allah) by saying, "O Allah, I ask You by the fact that I testify that You are Allah, there is no deity but You, the One, the Unique." All of this is good. Or he seeks nearness to Allah through his kindness to his parents, or his maintenance of the prayers, or his chastity from shameful deeds. All these are good means through righteous deeds. This is what the scholars and the people of investigation from the people of insight have established. As for seeking nearness through the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), or the status of so-and-so, or the right of so-and-so, this is a bid'ah? The explanation of that has been mentioned previously. The position of the majority of scholars is that it is not prescribed (mashru'). And success is from Allah.