Thus, the Prophet’s words (peace and blessings be upon him), “When you ask, ask Allah; and when you seek help, seek Allah’s help,” command that asking and seeking help be devoted sincerely to Allah Most High: none is to be asked but Allah, and no help is to be sought except from Him. This is incumbent upon every Muslim, “because asking entails the petitioner’s display of humility, helplessness, need, and dependence. It also entails acknowledging that the one being asked has the power to remove harm, grant what is sought, secure benefits, and ward off harms. Such humility and dependence are fitting for Allah alone, for they are the very essence of servitude.”1

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Among the gravest forms of transgression, aggression, humiliation, and abasement is calling upon anyone other than Allah. That constitutes associating partners with Allah, and Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him. ‘Indeed, associating others with Allah is truly a grievous wrong.’2 ‘So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and associate no one in the worship of his Lord.’3 Making requests of a created being is forbidden unless there is a need [that is, concerning something within that being’s power]. This is established in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibiting begging from him or from anyone else, such as the hadiths of Hakīm, Qabīsa, and others. In the hadith of Hakīm ibn Hizām, he said: ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he gave me something. Then I asked him again, and he gave me something. Then I asked him again, and he gave me something. He then said, “O Hakīm, this wealth is enticing and sweet. Whoever takes it without greed will be blessed in it, but whoever takes it greedily will not be blessed in it and will be like one who eats but is never satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower hand.”’ Both al-Bukhārī and Muslim narrated it.4