54- Ruling on seeking help from the Messenger (ﷺ)
Q: Is it permissible to ask the Messenger (ﷺ) for help?
A: It was lawful to ask the Prophet (ﷺ) for help during his lifetime regarding the things he could do; for example, one could say, "O Allah's Messenger! Help us against this ruler or this person who has wronged us." This is because the Prophet (ﷺ) had the power to give his commands to some of the Companions to remove such evil and help. No dead person should be asked for help, neither the Prophet (ﷺ) nor anyone else. It is not lawful to seek help from the dead. It is permissible to seek help from living persons only, as Allah (Exalted be He) says: The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe The man from the children of Israel sought help from Moses against the Copt as Moses was still alive, so he could hear the man and help him against his enemy. Similarly, it is permissible to ask another person for help while fighting against the enemies. As for seeking help from dead persons, idols, solid objects, trees, rocks or stars, this is a practice of Kufr (disbelief in Allah) and major Shirk (associating others along with Allah in worship). The same applies to the practice of seeking help from living persons regarding the things they cannot do such as asking a living person to guide one's heart, save one from Hellfire or help one enter Paradise due to a belief that the person has a mysterious quality or is special. This is undoubtedly a practice of disbelief in Allah. As for asking a living person to help one find a means of approach to Paradise through this person's knowledge in religion or to help one have a righteous heart by means of preaching or guiding to what is good, it is a commendable act. With regard to the belief that the righteous person can lead one to Paradise, save one from Hellfire or help one restore one's health due to a mysterious quality in them even if they are still alive, it is a practice of disbelief in Allah, may Allah forbid.
[Vol. 2, Page No. 156]