Obviously Asking People to make Du'a is permissible but I was reading ash-Shaatibi's book Al-I’tisaam where he ( Seemingly) Quotes Tabari Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqaas refusing to make Du'a when a crowd gathered and asked if he was a prophet.
وأخرج ابن جرير عن سعد بن أبي وقاص أنه لما قدم الشام أتاه رجل فقال له: "استغفر لي"، وكان سعد مجاب الدعوة، فقال له سعد: "غفر الله لك"، ثم أتاه آخر، فقال: "استغفر لي"، فقال له: "لا غفر الله لك، ولا غفر الله لذاك، أنبي أنا؟"، فلما خرجت فلتة من ذاك الرجل قال: "غفر الله لك"، ولما تزاحم عليه الناس قال: "لا غفر لله لك ولا غفر الله لذاك، أنبي أنا؟"
There's also a similar Narration from Umar where he responds similarly ( Also Quoted from Ibn Jarir) However I looked Online for the orginal source to look at the Isnad but i could not find it so i have come to the conclusion perhaps its from book lost to us, Although i could be wrong.
I have read ash-Shaatibi's explanation where he said they don't someone to think it's a sunnah which makes sense but i am wondering if there is any narrations (With a Isnad) which indicated that asking du'a is best to asked from a prophet as part of their special Status of a Prophet?
