To what extent is the article valid that cites the verse: (And if, when they had wronged themselves, they had come to you, and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving, All-Merciful), and the saying of Ibn Kathir concerning the story of the Bedouin and seeking intercession through the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, to prove the validity of seeking intercession?

Firstly, the permissible tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah) is through Allah's Most Beautiful Names and Attributes, through faith and monotheism, through righteous deeds, and through the supplication of a righteous person. As for tawassul through the status (jah) of the Prophet or righteous people, it is forbidden because it is a means leading to shirk (polytheism).

Secondly, the noble verse (And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would surely have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful) pertains to the lifetime of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and not after his death. For after his death, the Messenger cannot seek forgiveness for them. Coming to his grave for this purpose is a means leading to istighathah (seeking aid from other than Allah), which is shirk. The Companions did not come to his grave to seek forgiveness after his death.

Thirdly, the story of Al-Utbi concerning the Bedouin has a weak chain of narration and cannot be used as proof. It is false and contradicts the Qur'an and Sunnah.