What is the ruling on seeking help from the Awliya' (saints or friends) of Allah with the belief that they intercede with Allah Almighty in desired matters, and that Allah is almost certain to accept their intercession because they are pious, while not believing that they are capable of helping or interceding on their own except with Allah's permission?

The Holy Quran is replete with texts indicating that Allah alone owns everything. Allah has commanded His servants to supplicate to Him alone, and He has not placed any intermediary between Himself and them in supplication. Whoever supplicates to other than Allah has gone astray. The dead and those in graves cannot be sought for aid in dispelling distress and averting calamities. Seeking aid from them falls into categories:

- Supplicating to them instead of Allah to seek forgiveness or healing from them: This is major shirk (polytheism).

- Requesting supplication from them while believing that their supplication is answered, even if they are in their graves: This is a false belief and a means to major shirk. It is minor shirk if it does not involve the belief that they can benefit or harm.

- Seeking intercession through them in the sense of supplicating to Allah alone, interceding through their right and status: This is prohibited and an innovation (bid'ah).

As for seeking supplication from a righteous living person, it is permissible, as is seeking aid from a living person in matters they are capable of.