If someone were to say, “I only invoke the shaykh so that he may act as an intercessor for me,” this is no different from the Christians’ supplication to Mary, their priests, and their monks. A believer pins his hopes on his Lord, fears Him, and calls upon Him alone, devoting the religion sincerely to Him. As for his shaykh, what is due to him is that one pray for him and ask Allah’s mercy upon him.

Indeed, the most honored of all creation is the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his Companions were the people most knowledgeable of his standing and most obedient to him. Yet he never told any of them, in times of panic or fear, to say, “O my master, O Messenger of Allah!” They never did so during his lifetime, nor after his death. Instead, he commanded them to remember Allah, to supplicate to Him, and to send blessings and peace upon him—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Allah the Exalted says:

“Those to whom people said, ‘The people have gathered against you, so fear them,’ but it only increased them in faith, and they replied, ‘Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Trustee.’” [Āl ʿImrān 3:173]