Q: If a person dies while believing that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is not a human being or that he (peace be upon him) knows the Ghayb (the Unseen) or that Tawassul (supplicating to Allah in the name of …/by virtue of…) which is made to Allah in the name of Awliya' (pious people), dead or living people is a pious act bringing one closer to Allah (Glorified be He), will he be considered a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and will enter Hellfire, taking into consideration that this person does not know any beliefs other than these and that he lived in a place where scholars and people admit to them? What is the ruling on such a person? And, what is the ruling on giving Sadaqah (voluntary charity) and doing other acts of benevolence on his behalf after his death?
A: Any person who dies while having this belief, namely believing that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not a human being or believing that he knows the Ghayb, this belief is tantamount to Kufr (disbelief in Allah) and whoever believes this is regarded as guilty of major Kufr. The same applies to a person who calls upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), seek his help, or make a vow to him or to other prophets, righteous people, Jinn, angels or idols. These are the same kind of actions committed by earlier Mushriks, such as Abu Jahl and those like him. Moreover, doing so is an act of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Some people call this kind of Shirk as Tawassul which is different from major Shirk.
This indicates that it is Islamically permissible to make Tawassul in the name of one's good deeds, and that Allah relieves distress through it, as happened to the three travelers mentioned in the Hadith. However, it is forbidden to make Tawassul in the name of the honor, right or person of someone for this is Bid'ah as previously mentioned. May Allah grant us success!