What is the ruling on seeking intercession with God through the Prophet or his status, and what is the view of the four imams on this, and does this contradict the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "Whoever asks Allah to grant me Al-Waseelah, my intercession will be due for him on the Day of Resurrection"?

The preponderant opinion is that it is impermissible to seek intercession by the person (dhāt) of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, nor to ask Allah by his prestige (jāh) or his right (ḥaqq), because a creature has no right over the Creator. This has been denied by the verified scholars among the Imams of the Hanbali school. As for seeking intercession from Allah through the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, meaning turning to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, with supplication (du'a) or other acts of worship, this is a forbidden polytheistic form of intercession. However, turning to Allah with the supplication that He grant you the intercession of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, on the Day of Judgment, there is no harm in this, and it is considered a permissible supplication.