What are the statements of the four Imams regarding seeking intercession through the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the righteous, and what is the explanation of the hadiths mentioned in this chapter by scholars prior to Shaykh al-Islam?

Scholars have differed on the ruling concerning seeking intercession (tawassul) through prophets and righteous individuals, in the sense of asking Allah by their essence or status, such as saying: "O Allah, I ask You by the status of the Prophet." Abu Hanifa deemed it disliked (makruh), while some Maliki and Hanbali scholars considered it permissible. No statement on this issue has been transmitted from Imam Al-Shafi'i. The preponderant opinion regarding intercession in this sense is that it is forbidden, but it is a matter of ijtihad (independent reasoning) where differences of opinion are permissible. There is a clear distinction between this type of intercession and polytheistic seeking of aid (istighatha) from created beings. The former is asking Allah Almighty by the status of His creation, while the latter is directly asking a created being, which is clear polytheism (shirk) and unanimously forbidden. Furthermore, a distinction must be made between seeking intercession through the person of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asking him for supplication after his death. The latter is forbidden, and none of the imams has ever deemed it permissible.