Muslims...

Muslims, through the wasilah of these two, hold fast to divine laws and strive to attain ALLAH (SWT)'s proximity, since good deeds, obedience and adherence to the Qur'an, the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and his Infallible (A.S.) are the basis of shafa'at .

This is better explained by 'Allamah Tabataba`i in his exegesis: Persons who lack any ability to attain the required perfection are like the illiterate who wants to become the doyen of scholars merely through recommendation, since he neither has any basic learning nor has he the required connection with the one who could intercede.

Or they could be compared to a slave who is disobedient to his master, but without coming out of this state of insubordination and disobedience wants to be forgiven through intercession ( shafa'at ).

In none of these two cases intercession is beneficial, since shafa'at is the wasilah or means for accomplishment of a cause and is not a cause in itself to make him a doyen of scholars in the first case, and in the second case to avail forgiveness from the master in the state of disobedience.[^17] Therefore, as it has been clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, if a person does not fulfill his obligations and adherence to the path of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and the Infallible Imams (A.S.), he will not be considered worthy of shafa'at , even if the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) were to intercede on his behalf.

"Alike it is for them whether you seek forgiveness for them or seek not forgiveness for them; Never will God forgive them..." (63:6) Opinion on Non-Permissibility of Tawassul In the opinion of Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyyah and later Hanbali scholars’ tawassul to the person of the Prophet (S.A.W.A.) himself is not permissible. Tawassul has three concepts, of which two are deemed correct, and according to Ibn Taymiyyah, whoever rejects these two concepts of tawassul is either an infidel or an apostate.

The Ayah "and seek an approach unto Him", is a means of approaching ALLAH (SWT) by obedience to Him and His Messenger, as it is said: Whoever obeys the Prophet has indeed obeyed ALLAH (SWT).