created beings or seeking their aid; rather, it is supplication to Allah and seeking His aid. It does, however, involve asking Him by virtue of the Prophet’s standing, as related in Sunan Ibn Mājah from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, who taught a person setting out for prayer to say:

‘O Allah, I ask You by the right that those who ask You have upon You, and by the right of this walk of mine. I have not set out in insolence or arrogance, to show off or to gain a reputation. I have set out to avoid Your wrath and seek Your pleasure. I ask You to save me from the Fire and forgive my sins, for none forgives sins but You.’”

They argued that, in this hadith, he asked by the right that those who ask Allah have upon Him, and by the right of his walk to prayer. Allah Most High has imposed a right upon Himself. Allah Most High says:

“It was incumbent upon Us to help the believers.”

And similarly:

“It is a promise binding upon your Lord, whose fulfilment may be requested.”

In the two Sahīhs, Muʿādh ibn Jabal narrated that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, said to him:

“O Muʿādh, do you know what Allah’s right over His servants is?”

He replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”

He said, “Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him and associate nothing with Him. Do you know what the servants’ right upon Allah is if they do that? Their right upon Him is that He should not punish them.”

More than one hadith contains the words, “It is incumbent upon Allah to do such-and-such,” as in his saying:

“Whoever drinks wine, none of his prayers will be accepted for forty days. If he repents, Allah will accept his repentance. If he returns to drinking it for the third or fourth time, it is incumbent upon Allah to give him the mire of corruption to drink.”

He was asked, “What is the mire of corruption?”

He replied: