My understanding is that if someone calls on Muhammad Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÂáå æÓáã, or Ali (a.s) or any of the Ahlul Bayt with the intention that they will personally help, independent from Allah then this would be considered wrong. However, my understanding of the Shia concept of Tawassul is that we do not call upon them with this notion. Rather we call upon them because they are the most loved to Allah, and Allah is more likely to help us if they pray to Him on our behalf. When I say Ya Ali, I know that Ali (a.s) is not independent of Allah. But if Hazrat Ali (a.s) beseeches Allah on my behalf,