2. The second category: seeking rescue or assistance from a created being in matters that only Allah can accomplish—such as turning to the dead, or appealing to the living for things that only Allah can effect, like curing the sick, lifting afflictions, or averting harm. This type is impermissible; indeed, it amounts to major shirk.

In the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime there was a hypocrite who used to harm the believers. Some of them said, “Come, let us seek the help of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ against this hypocrite.” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “One does not seek rescue through me; rather, rescue is sought through Allah.”(1) He disliked having such wording applied to himself—even though the matter was within his power during his lifetime—in order to safeguard tawḥīd, to block every path leading to shirk, out of humility before his Lord, and to warn the ummah against any statements or actions that might lead to associationism.

So if this is his ruling with respect to things he could actually do while alive, how can anyone seek rescue from him after his death and ask him for matters that only Allah can accomplish?(2) And if it is impermissible in relation to him ﷺ, then it is even more prohibited with respect to anyone else.