Isn't it permissible to ask Muhammad for help since he is a mediator between us and Allah?

The Islamic tradition presents contradictory teachings regarding the permissibility of invoking Muhammad for help. On one hand, there are narrations suggesting that followers can pray to him, while on the other hand, the Quran emphasizes that all supplication should be directed to Allah alone, warning against shirk, or associating partners with Him. This contradiction leads to confusion among Muslims, as some accept the practice while others condemn it as idolatry. Such irreconcilable differences highlight the flawed nature of the sources that claim divine authority, suggesting that they cannot be trusted as true revelations from God. Furthermore, the Quran itself states that finding contradictions within its text would disqualify it as a divine revelation. The presence of these conflicting teachings not only challenges the prophetic status of Muhammad but also raises questions about the authenticity of the Quran. By encouraging his followers to pray to him, Muhammad seems to have taken on a role similar to that of the idols worshiped by pre-Islamic pagans, thus replacing one form of idolatry with another. Ultimately, the call to pray to Muhammad contradicts the fundamental Islamic principle of monotheism, which holds that worship should be directed exclusively to Allah. This raises significant theological concerns about the nature of intercession and the role of prophets in Islam, further complicating the beliefs of those who follow these teachings.