Q: What is the proper way to seek intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and deceased saints?
A: One can make Du'aa to Allah and ask Allah to grant needs in the Name of Our Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) or through the Medium of Our Rasool. This is permissible and is proven from Hadeeth. One can also make Du'aa through the medium and intercession of pious people who have passed away. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) made Du'aa through the medium of the Muhaajir Sahaabah, and they made Du'aa for rain through the medium of his uncle Abbaas. If this was done when they were alive then one can do so even more after their death because one is not asking from them anything, rather one asks from Allah through their Barakaat, blessings, and good A’maal. And it is well known that these pious people died with the greatest of A’maal and once they died their deeds were accepted and sealed by Allah. There will be no addition or deletion to their deeds. So there is even a greater reason to make Du'aa through the medium of the dead pious people, for we know that after passing away they were accepted by Allah. We are not asking from them directly, for this is Haraam, and these Sahaabah and pious people cannot give us anything if we asked from them even in their lifetime, and more so after death.
Mufti Siraj Desai