How can the permissibility of intercession and seeking aid from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) after his death, using the vocative form "Ya Muhammad" (even from a place other than his grave), be reconciled with what is understood from the Holy Quran, namely that supplication and drawing closer to Allah should be directed to Him directly without interceding through other individuals? And what is the proof that the deceased hears the call wherever he may be?

It is not permissible to call upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, after his death by saying, "O Muhammad," as this is a forbidden form of seeking aid (istighatha). This is based on his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: "Aid is not sought from me; rather, aid is sought from Allah." It is also forbidden to seek aid from or supplicate to any other created being, because seeking aid and supplicating are acts of worship, and directing them to other than Allah is polytheism (shirk). Al-Albani weakened the story of Uthman ibn Hunaif regarding tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through an intermediary) and considered it objectionable (munkara). Scholars have differed on whether the dead can hear, and the preponderant opinion is that the deceased generally hears the words of their visitor. Tawassul is not obligatory, and scholars have differed on its permissibility. As for asking for intercession from a creature, it is not legislated; rather, it is an innovation (muhdathat) and was not practiced by the Companions or the Successors. Indeed, supplicating to angels, prophets, and righteous people after their death and seeking aid from them is a form of polytheism. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade taking the graves of prophets and righteous people as places of worship, because that is a means to polytheism with Allah.