Asking by the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam
Imamul Bayhaqiyy and Ibn Katheer narrated the story of this authentic event:
• During `Umar’s Caliphship there was a time of severe drought and the Muslims in Madinah were strained. One companion, Bilal binul Haarithul Muzaniyy, went to the grave of the Prophet and addressed the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam:
O’ Messenger of Allah, ask Allah rain for your nation; they are about to be perished.
Bilal binul Haarith then saw the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, in the dream who said to him:
– Go to `Umar, give him salam and tell him that they will have rain. Put effort through intelligence (twice).
– Bilal went to `Umar and conveyed the message.
– `Umar cried. He then convened the companions for discussing the matter.
– `Umar said: The thing that I don’t do is because I am unable to do it. Tell me what I should do! He asked the companions for advice.
– The Companions advised him, among other things, to pray with the Muslims the Prayer-for-Rain.
– `Umar prayed the prayer and shortly after rain came down. `Umar said in his speech of the prayer:
O’ Allah we used to make tawassul by our Prophet and now we make tawassul by our Prophet’s uncle (alBukhariyy).
اللهم انا كنا نتوسل اليك بنبينا وإنّا نتوسل إليك بعم نبينا
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to look to al`Abbaas like the son who looks to his father, then take al`Abbaas a means to Allah (alHaakim and Ibn Hajar 2/497).
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يرى للعباس ما يرى الولد لوالده واتخذوه وسيلة الى الله
• Clearly, the companions were informed about the event of visiting the Prophet’s grave by Bilal.
• None of the Companions objected for calling upon the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, after his death by Bilal
• None of the Companions objected that `Umar and other companions made Tawassul to Allah by the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam.
• Hence, the validity of Tawassul, visiting the Prophet’s grave and calling upon the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, is a matter of consensus among the Companions and to them it is an acceptable Islamic practice.
Saying O’ Muhammad
• Just calling upon someone is not a matter of worshipping that person because this is not how worship is defined.
• Calling upon Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, by saying “O’ Muhammad” is valid according to Islam whether one calls upon the Prophet during the Prophet’s life or after his death.
• The same rule applies whether the Prophet is present or not.
• Ibn `Umar’s leg was paralyzed.
– Ibn `Umar was reminded to say the name of the most beloved person to him.
– He then said: O’ Muhammad
Immediately, his leg was relieved of paralysis. (Imamul Bukhariyy in his book alAdabul Mufrad)