A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “O Messenger of Allah, people are suffering hardship, families are destitute, and livestock have perished. Ask Allah to send us rain, for we seek your intercession with Allah, and we seek 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?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, glorified Allah and continued doing so until its effect could be seen on his Companions’ faces. Then he said, “Woe to you! Do you know what you are saying? Allah’s intercession is not sought with any of His creation. Allah is far too exalted for that. Woe to you! Do you know who Allah is? His Throne is above His heavens like this”—and he gestured with his fingers to indicate a dome overhead—“and it creaks beneath Him as a saddle creaks beneath its rider.”

Abū Dāwūd said, “In his narration, Ibn Bashshār said, ‘Allah is above His Throne, and His Throne is above His heavens,’” and he related the rest of the hadith.

The wording transmitted by ‘Uthmān ibn Sa‘īd from Ibn Bashshār is: “Allah is above His Throne, above His heavens, above His earth, like a dome”—and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gestured with his hand to indicate a dome—“and it creaks beneath Him