that he said:

“Do not praise me excessively as the Christians praised Jesus, son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: ‘The servant of Allah and His Messenger.’”

Indeed, whoever permits invoking a created being while forbidding supplication to the Creator—which affirms His being the One upon whom all depend and His divinity—has contradicted “Islam” in both its negation and its affirmation: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.

As for the rights of Allah’s Messenger—may my father and mother be sacrificed for him—such as loving him more than oneself, one’s family and one’s wealth; supporting, revering and venerating him; obeying him and following his sunnah, and other such duties, they are very great indeed. [Likewise, seeking a means of approach to Allah through him in supplication is prescribed, as in the hadith reported by al-Tirmidhī and graded authentic by him, in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, taught someone to say:

“O Allah, I ask You and seek a means of approach to You through Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of mercy. O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah, I seek a means of approach through you to my Lord concerning my need, that He may fulfill it. O Allah, accept his intercession for me.”

Such seeking a means of approach through him is good] (*).

As for invoking him and seeking his aid, that is forbidden. The distinction between these two is agreed upon among the Muslims. Someone seeking a means of approach invokes Allah alone, addresses Him and asks of Him. He does not call upon anyone else except by way of evoking his presence, not by way of requesting anything from him. By contrast, someone who invokes another and seeks his aid asks the one invoked, makes requests of him, seeks his aid and places his reliance upon him. And Allah is the Lord of the worlds