Why do the Salafis prohibit seeking intercession through the person of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, despite the consensus of scholars on its permissibility before Ibn Taymiyyah, and its continued permissibility by scholars of all madhhabs?

Tawassul (seeking a means of nearness to Allah) through the person (dhat) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) means mentioning his person in a supplication, such as saying: "I ask You by the right of the Prophet." This is impermissible according to the majority of scholars, because it is a request made through a cause that does not necessitate the desired outcome. However, tawassul through the supplication of righteous people or through good deeds is permissible. The impermissibility of this type of tawassul is not a denigration of the Prophet’s status (peace be upon him); rather, it is because supplication is an act of worship based on divinely revealed texts, and this specific type of tawassul was not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or from the righteous predecessors (Salaf Salih). A number of scholars affirmed this prohibition even before Ibn Taymiyyah, which clarifies that this is not merely an individual opinion of his.