As for anyone who denies what has been established by mass transmission and consensus, he is an unbeliever once the proof has been established against him, whether or not he calls this “seeking relief.”

As for someone who acknowledges his intercession but denies the Companions’ practice of seeking nearness to Allah through him and seeking his intercession: al-Bukhārī related in his Sahīh, from Anas, that whenever they suffered drought, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb would seek rain through al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, saying:

“O Allah, we used to seek nearness to You through our Prophet, and You would grant us rain. Now we seek nearness to You through our Prophet’s uncle, so grant us rain.” They would then be granted rain.

In the Sunan of Abū Dāwūd and elsewhere, it is related:

“A Bedouin said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘People are suffering hardship, families are hungry, and possessions have been ruined. So supplicate to Allah for us, for we seek your intercession with Allah, and we seek Allah’s intercession with you.’

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then glorified Allah, until the effect of this was apparent on his Companions’ faces. He said, ‘Woe to you! Allah is not sought as an intercessor with any of His creation. Allah’s majesty is far greater than that.’”

He then related the remainder of the hadith. Thus, the Prophet rejected his statement, “We seek Allah’s intercession with you,” but did not reject his statement, “We seek your intercession with Allah.” Rather, he approved it, thereby establishing its permissibility. Whoever denies this is misguided, mistaken, and an innovator; whether he is to be declared an unbeliever is a matter of disagreement and requires qualification.

As for someone who acknowledges what the Book, the Sunnah, and consensus have established concerning his intercession, seeking nearness to Allah through him, and similar matters, but says that none but Allah should be invoked, and that matters within Allah’s power alone should be sought from Him alone—such as forgiveness of sins, guidance of hearts, sending down rain, causing plants to grow, and similar matters—he is correct in this. Indeed, this too is a matter concerning which there is no disagreement among Muslims.

As Allah Most High says:

“And who forgives sins except Allah?”

And He says:

“Indeed, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills.”

And as He Most High says:

“O mankind, remember the favor of Allah upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from heaven