Thus, invoking a created being in an oath addressed to Allah—and petitioning Him by that being when this amounts to an oath—belongs to the same category. As for petitioning by a created being when the preposition bi- indicates a cause rather than an oath—and there is a difference between the two:
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was commanded to honor oaths. It is established in the two Sahīh collections that he said:
“Among Allah’s servants are those who, if they swore an oath calling upon Allah, He would fulfill it for them.”
He said this when Anas ibn al-Nadr asked, “Will you break al-Rubayyi‘’s front tooth?” He declared, “No, by Him who sent you with the truth, you shall not break her tooth!” The Prophet replied, “O Anas, Allah’s Book prescribes equal retribution.” The people were then satisfied and pardoned her, whereupon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Among Allah’s servants are those who, if they swore an oath calling upon Allah, He would fulfill it for them.”
He also said:
“Many a disheveled, dust-covered person, turned away from people’s doors, would have his oath fulfilled by Allah if he swore an oath calling upon Him.”
Muslim and others narrated this. He also said:
“Shall I tell you who the people of Paradise are? Every weak and lowly person who, if he swore an oath calling upon Allah, would have it fulfilled by Him. Shall I tell you who the people of Hell are? Every harsh, overbearing, arrogant person.”
This is in the two Sahīh collections, as is the hadith of Anas ibn al-Nadr; the other is narrated by Muslim alone of the two. It has also been reported that, when saying, “Among Allah’s servants are those who, if they swore an oath calling upon Allah, He would fulfill it for them,” he added, “Among them is al-Barā’ ibn Mālik.”
Whenever fighting between the Muslims and the unbelievers grew fierce, they would say, “O Barā’, swear an oath calling upon your Lord!” He would do so, and the unbelievers would be routed.
When they were at a bridge in al-Sūs, they said, “O Barā’, swear an oath calling upon your Lord!” He said, “O Lord, I adjure You to grant us victory over them and make me the first martyr.” Allah fulfilled his oath: the enemy was routed, and al-Barā’ ibn Mālik was martyred that day.
He was the brother of Anas ibn Mālik. He killed a hundred men in single combat, apart from those in whose killing he shared. On the day of the battle against Musaylima, he was lifted upon a shield and thrown into the garden, where he opened the gate.