For this reason, the scholars said:

It is recommended to seek rain through people of religious devotion and righteousness; if they belong to the household of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that is better still.

The reality of seeking intercession and a means of approach in this way is to seek a means of approach through the person’s supplication. He would supplicate for those seeking a means of approach and intercession through him, and the people would supplicate along with him, as in the following account:

“When the Muslims suffered drought during the lifetime of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a Bedouin came to him and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the livestock have perished and the roads have become impassable. Supplicate to Allah to grant us rain.’

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raised his hands and said, ‘O Allah, grant us rain! O Allah, grant us rain! O Allah, grant us rain!’ There was not a wisp of cloud in the sky, but a cloud formed in the direction of the sea, and rain fell upon them for a week, during which they did not see the sun. Then the Bedouin—or someone else—came in and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the roads have become impassable and the buildings have collapsed. Supplicate to Allah to lift this rain from us.’

“He raised his hands and said, ‘O Allah, around us, not upon us! O Allah, upon the hills and hillocks, the places where trees grow, and the valley beds!’ The clouds drew away from Medina as a garment is drawn aside.”

This hadith is well known in the two Sahīh collections and elsewhere. Another hadith, recorded in Sunan Abī Dāwūd and elsewhere, states:

“A man said to him, ‘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, glorified Allah until the effect of this could be seen on his Companions’ faces, and said, ‘Woe to you! Do you know who Allah is? Allah is not sought as an intercessor with any of His creation. Allah’s majesty is far greater than that.’”

This makes clear that seeking a person’s intercession—in the words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Companions—means seeking intercession through his supplication and intercession. It does not mean making a request by invoking his person. For if this were