—our very lives are strained, our dependants are hungry, and our wealth has been lost, so pray to Allah for us; for we seek Allah’s intercession with you, and your intercession with Allah.’

At this, the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him and his family—pronounced tasbīḥ (he glorified Allah) so emphatically that his Companions could read it on their faces. He then said, ‘Woe to you! Allah is not to be sought as an intercessor before any of His creation—His majesty is far greater than that.’

He therefore approved the man’s words, ‘We seek your intercession with Allah,’ but rejected the phrase, ‘We seek Allah’s intercession with you,’ for the intercessor is the one who petitions, and the servant petitions his Lord and seeks His acceptance of intercession, whereas the Lord—exalted is He—neither petitions His servant nor seeks his intercession.

[How to Visit Graves in the Prescribed Manner]

As for the lawful visitation of graves, it consists of offering greetings of peace to the deceased and supplicating for him, just as one would invoke blessings upon