for that act may involve harm that outweighs its benefit. Islamic law came to secure and perfect benefits, and to eliminate and reduce harms. Otherwise, all forbidden acts—associating partners with Allah, drinking wine, gambling, indecency, and injustice—may bring their perpetrators benefits and fulfil some of their aims. Yet because their harms outweigh their benefits, Allah and His Messenger prohibited them. Likewise, many practices, such as acts of worship, jihad, and spending wealth, may entail harm; but because their benefits outweigh their harms, the Lawgiver commanded them.

This is a principle that must be taken into account. Nothing may be deemed obligatory or recommended without evidence from Islamic law establishing that status. Acts of worship can only be obligatory or recommended; whatever is neither obligatory nor recommended is not an act of worship. Supplication to Allah Most High is an act of worship if what is sought through it is permissible.

In sum, asking Allah through him has been reported from some of the early generations and scholars. This is unlike invoking the dead or absent among the prophets, angels, and righteous, seeking their aid, and voicing complaints to them. None of the early generations—the Companions and those who followed them in righteousness—did this, nor did any of the leading Muslim scholars permit it.

The hadith of the blind man, narrated by al-Tirmidhī and al-Nasā’ī, belongs to the second category: seeking a means of approach to Allah through the Prophet’s supplication:

“The blind man asked the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to supplicate for Allah to restore his sight. He told him, ‘If you wish, you may remain patient; and if you wish, I will supplicate for you.’ He replied, ‘Rather, supplicate to Him.’ So he instructed him to perform ablution, pray two units of prayer, and say:

‘O Allah, I ask You