A: We advise everyone to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and know that happiness and salvation in this life and in the Hereafter lie in worshipping Allah Alone and following in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace be upon him), for he (peace be upon him) is the best of Awliya' (pious persons). Indeed, Messengers and Prophets (peace be upon them) are the finest people and the best of the pious and righteous. Those ranked after them in excellence are the Sahabah (Companions) of the Prophets (may Allah be pleased with them) and then those who follow them. The best generation of this Ummah (Muslim nation) are the Sahabah of our Prophet (peace be upon him) and then other believers according to their respective ranks and degrees in piety.
The true Awliya' are the people of righteousness and committed adherence to obeying Allah and His Messenger. Our Prophet Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah (peace be upon him) stands at the head of the prophets and after them his Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) and then the closest to them in piety and then those next to them, according to their degrees in sincerity and faith as clarified above.
It is required of us to love them and imitate their example in goodness and righteous deeds, but it is not permissible for us to be attached to them and worship them besides or instead of Allah or to supplicate to them, turn to them for support, or to ask them for help such as saying, "O Messenger of Allah, help me! O 'Ali, help me! O Al-Hasan, help me or support me! O Shaykh Abdul Qadir or others, help me!" Worship is solely the Right of Allah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2). And Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). And And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil And And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allâh, any other ilâh (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kâfirûn (the disbelievers in Allâh and in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful. Allah calls them "Kafirun" (i.e. disbelievers) for having invoked others besides Allah. Moreover, Allah (Exalted be He) says, And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allâh. Also, Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the date-stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).
Allah (Glorified be He) illustrates that those whom they call upon for help besides Him including Messengers, Awliya', or others do not hear their calls. They either call the dead, or those occupied with worshipping their Lord like the angels, or people not present who cannot hear them, or inanimate beings that neither hear nor perceive anything. Then, Allah (Glorified be He) informs us that if those worshipped were to hear such calls, they would not respond and will decline this worship on the Day of Judgment.
Accordingly, it is known that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is the One Who hears the invocations and answers the supplicant if He (Glorified be He) wills. He is the only Sustainer Who can extend benefit and inflict Harm; the Sovereign over all, Able to do all things. Therefore, one should be cautious against the worship of other than Allah or getting attached to the dead, the absent, inanimate beings, or other creatures. They neither hear invocations nor are they able to extend benefit or harm. As for present, living people, there is nothing wrong in seeking their help in matters within their capacity. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in the story of Musa, The man of his (own) party asked him for help against his foe Another example of this is calling upon Muslims brothers for help when facing Allah's enemies in the Cause of Allah. Indeed, Allah is the One Who grants success.