Praying to saints is not the same as praying to God. It is asking them to pray with us and pray for us. It is the same as asking someone on earth to pray for you.
Good point. This issue has been one of the issues the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabi have raised. They believe seeking intercession is idolatory but i agrre with you. The scriptures says we should not worship other gods besides God.
However there are people who consider Jesus as God.
I see it your way since asking people to pray for us when they are alive is the same as doing so when they are dead. Its not a theological issue since the asker has the same intention but a question of whether the dead can hear and respond. Even if he can’t then at most the asker is wasting his time, but I don’t see why this would be idolatory.
Of course we know the story of Abraham in Luke 16:
Verses 19 to 31
[19] “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
[20] And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz’arus, full of sores,
[21] who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried;
[23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz’arus in his bosom.
[24] And he called out,
Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz’arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
[26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
[27] And he said,
Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, [28] for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' [29] But Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
[30] And he said,
No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' [31] He said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.’”
I found this verse in the Koran also:
2.247. Their Prophet said to them: “(Allah) hath appointed Talut as king over you.” They said: “How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted, with wealth in abundance?” He said: “(Allah) hath Chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess: Allah Granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth. Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things.”
2.248. And (further) their Prophet said to them: "
A Sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the covenant, with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you if ye indeed have faith
So if the relics left over by Moses and Aaron and the Arc can have influence over events on Earth then why shouldn’t asking Aaron and Moses themselves. Some might say that this verse is about a sign rather than an intercession, i however see it can interpreted both ways.
