Is it permissible to seek intercession through Awliya (saints) and the righteous, such as Al-Mursi Abu Al-Abbas and Sayyiduna Al-Hussein, based on Umar ibn Al-Khattab's seeking intercession through Al-Abbas, the uncle of the Messenger? And is it permissible to equate the Creator with the created by saying "Allah and so-and-so," by analogy with "Allah and His Messenger"?

The religion of Islam is founded on two main principles: worshipping Allah alone, and worshipping Him according to what He has legislated in His Book or through the tongue of His Messenger, peace be upon him.

Intercession through the righteous falls into two categories: 1. Supplicating to them and seeking their aid: This is major shirk (definition) (polytheism) which expels one from the fold of Islam. 2. Supplicating to Allah through them (e.g., "O Allah, by the prestige of so-and-so"): This is an innovation for which there is no evidence of its permissibility. The evidence against its permissibility is that the Companions interceded through Al-Abbas by his supplication while he was alive, and they refrained from interceding through the Prophet, peace be upon him, after his death.

Equating Allah with the Messenger, peace be upon him: This is a great misguidance and a grave falsehood, and an act of disbelief in Allah, because it equates the Creator with the created, and the Lord with the one who is served. The origin of this equalization is the thought of the Sufis who believe that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the first manifestation of the Divine Essence, or that his soul is the soul of Allah. The prohibition came against saying "whatever Allah wills and you will" or "whatever Allah wills and Muhammad wills." The Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded saying "whatever Allah wills, then you will," because the word "wa" (and) implies equality which is impermissible between Allah and His Messenger, unlike "thumma" (then) which implies order and delegation.

The difference between the right of Allah and the right of the Messenger: The right of the Messenger: Obedience to his commands and prohibitions, because obeying him is from obeying Allah. The right of Allah alone: Awe and piety, reliance and desire, and seeking help. Allah Almighty distinguished in His Book between what is the right of the Messenger (like obedience) and what is the right of Allah alone (like awe, piety, reliance, and desire).