in supplication, as in the examples you have mentioned—then a person’s words, “I ask You by Your Prophet Muhammad,” should be understood to mean: “I ask You through my faith in him and my love for him, and I draw near to You through my faith in him, my love for him, and the like.” You have already stated that this is permissible without dispute.
The reply is: Whoever intends this meaning is correct, without dispute. If the statements of those among the early generations who sought to draw near to Allah through the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, after his death—as reported from some of the Companions and Successors, Imam Ahmad, and others—are understood in this sense, that is a sound interpretation. There would then be no dispute over the matter. However, many ordinary people use this expression without intending this meaning; it is these people whom those who objected were criticizing. Likewise, when the Companions spoke of drawing near to Allah through him, they meant through his supplication and intercession, and this is permissible without dispute. Yet most people in our time do not intend this meaning when they use this expression.
If it is said: A person may say to another, “By the right of kinship,” the reply is: Kinship imposes upon a person an obligation towards his relative, as Allah Most High says:
“And fear Allah, in whose name you ask one another, and respect the ties of kinship.”
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Kinship is a bond from the Most Merciful. Whoever maintains it, Allah maintains ties with him; and whoever severs it, Allah cuts him off.”
He also said:
“When Allah created kinship, it clung to the two sides of the Most Merciful’s waist and said, ‘This is the position of one seeking refuge in You from being severed.’ He said, ‘Are you not content that I should maintain ties with whoever maintains you and cut off whoever severs you?’ It replied, ‘Yes, I am content.’”
And he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Allah Most High says: ‘I am the Most Merciful. I created kinship and derived its name from My name. Whoever maintains it, I maintain ties with him; and whoever severs it, I cut him off utterly.’”