And there is no dispute among the great majority of the Muslim community that he may intercede for those whose obedience entitles them to reward.

However, many among the adherents of religious innovation, the Khawārij, and the Mu'tazila denied his intercession for those who commit major sins. They said, “He does not intercede for those who commit major sins,” because, according to them, Allah neither forgives such people nor brings them out of the Fire once they have entered it, whether through intercession or otherwise. The position of the Companions, the Successors, the leading Muslim scholars, and all other adherents of the Sunnah and the community is that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, intercedes for those who commit major sins, and that no believer remains in the Fire forever. Rather, anyone whose heart contains a grain’s weight or an atom’s weight of faith will emerge from the Fire.

But this seeking of rain, requesting intercession, and seeking a means of approach to Allah through him or others took place during their lifetimes: people would ask them to supplicate, and they would supplicate for them. Thus, their means of approach was his supplication; seeking his intercession meant asking him to intercede, and intercession is supplication.

As for seeking a means of approach through his person, whether in his presence, in his absence, or after his death—such as adjuring Allah by his person or by another prophet, or petitioning by their very persons through their supplications—this was not a well-known practice among the Companions and the Successors. Rather, when drought struck, 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb, Mu'āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān, and those present with them from among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and those who followed them in righteousness sought rain, sought a means of approach to Allah, and requested intercession through living people, such as al-'Abbās and Yazīd ibn al-Aswad. In these circumstances, they did not seek a means of approach, request intercession, or seek rain through the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, either at his grave or elsewhere. Instead, they turned to alternatives, such as al-'Abbās