This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book In Search of Truth.
Question: The Holy Quran mentions that the Children of Israel used to pray for victory against the disbelievers; does this verse justify praying by invoking the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
Answer: This verse (Al-Baqarah: 89) is not evidence for praying by invoking the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This verse mentions the Jews who, before the arrival of the Last Prophet ﷺ, hoped for victory over the disbelievers and said that when the last Prophet comes, we will join him and overcome you.
Nowhere in this verse is it stated that they prayed to Allah in such a way as, "O Allah! Help us through so-and-so." Therefore, using this verse as proof for praying by invoking the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is not correct.
Question: Does Surah An-Nisa, verse 64, serve as evidence for seeking forgiveness at the Prophet’s grave after his passing?
Answer: Coming to you ﷺ from [جَاءُوْكَ] means coming to you ﷺ in person; it does not mean the Prophet's grave. In this verse, the word [جَاءُوْكَ] is also used: [وَ اِذَا جَآءُوۡکَ حَیَّوۡکَ بِمَا لَمۡ یُحَیِّکَ بِہِ اللّٰہُ], and when these people come to you, they pray for you with a word from which Allah has not granted you prayer.
Reference: (Al-Mujadila:8)
Both verses refer to the time of your life. This is why it is not established from any companion, follower, or imam that anyone came to the grave and sought forgiveness through your intercession.
Question: Does the incident of Utbah prove the permissibility of going to the Prophet's grave to seek intercession or mediation?
Answer: In this regard, a story of Utbi is narrated that a Bedouin came to the Prophet's grave, greeted, recited verse 64 of Surah An-Nisa, and said that he had come to seek your intercession before his Lord. Then in Utbi's dream, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appeared and instructed him to give the Bedouin the glad tidings of forgiveness.
Reference: (Ibn Kathir)
This story is fabricated. No one has authenticated Utbi, and in its chain of narration is Muhammad bin Harb Al-Hilali, whose identity is unknown and is not mentioned anywhere. When the status of the chain is unknown, this unknown narration cannot be accepted.
