5. We worship (6) You alone, and beg You alone for help (7).
6. The word "We worship" collectively suggests that Fard Salaah should be performed, in congregation, for if one person's prayer in the congregation is accepted, everybody's Fard Salaah, too, will be accepted.
7. From this it can be understood that the actual or the absolute Help comes from or is provided by Allah, just as absolute praise - direct or indirect is due to Allah. But it should be remembered, that just as all forms of worship are for Allah alone, absolute the actual help, too, is sought from Allah.
However, worldly or outward assistance can be sought from His Pious Servants. It is for this purpose that "we worship" and "we seek help" are expressed as separate entities. It should also be borne in mind that there is a distinct difference between 'worship' and 'help'. Outward or worldly help can be sought from those other than Allah. The Almighty Allah Himself says in the Qur'aan "Without doubt Allah and His Prophets are your helpers (S5 V55). In another verse Allah says: "And help eact one another in righteousness and piety (55 V2)”. But none can be worshipped besides Allah, neither directly or indirectly or in any way if the true meaning of worship would be to accept someone as a creator then worship and obey him like a creator.
To give this status to anyone besides Allah is an act of Shirk - polytheism. But if seeking help from others was an act of Shirk like worship then Allah would have expressed as a single entity meaning: You alone do we worship and ask for help. Furthermore, it should also be remembered that it is for this reason that in times of one's material or religious needs, seeking of assistance from the sources or means provided by Allah is in reality, seeking from Allah's help.
Thus for the ill person to seek the help of a doctor, for the oppressed people to lodge their complaint to the governing authority or for the sinner t صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم entreat the Holy Prophet certainly not against this verse. As by praising a human being for doing a meritorious deed are we really interfering with the Divine verse "All praise is due to Allah alone"? It should also be remembered that the pious servants of Allah do give assistance after their demise also. On the Night of Me'raj did Musa Alaihe Salaam not help to reduce the 50 prayers to just 5? To this day non-believers enter the fold of Islam by reciting the Kalimah through the blessed name of the Holy Prophet. Thus, in the light of the above discussion seeking the help of the pious servants after their demise is in no way going against this verse.
