ibn Jubayr ibn Mut‘im, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, people are exhausted, our dependants are hungry, our wealth is depleted, and our livestock have perished. Pray for rain for us, for we seek your intercession with Allah, and Allah’s intercession with you.’

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Woe to you! Do you know what you are saying?’ He then glorified Allah and continued doing so until the effect of this could be seen on his Companions’ faces. Then he said, ‘Woe to you! Allah’s intercession is not to be sought with any of His creation. Allah’s majesty is far greater than that. Woe to you! Do you know who Allah is? Allah is above His Throne, His Throne is above His heavens, and His heavens are above His earth, like this.’ He gestured with his fingers in the shape of a dome. ‘And it creaks beneath Him as a saddle creaks beneath its rider.’”

Ibn Khuzaymah said: “It was read out to Abū Mūsā in my hearing that Wahb had narrated to them precisely the same report through this chain.”

Among those who cited it as evidence was the hadith scholar Abū Muhammad ibn Hazm, on the question of