neither of them owes any expiation for it. If he says, “I adjure you by Allah: you must do this,” or, “By Allah, you must do this,” and the other person does not fulfil his oath, then the person who swore must make expiation.

When someone supplicates in the form of a request, this falls under asking by Him. But if he adjures Allah Most High—for example, saying, “I adjure You, my Lord: You must do such-and-such,” as al-Barā’ ibn Mālik and others among the early generations used to do—it is established in the authentic collection that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Many a dishevelled, dust-covered man, wearing two threadbare garments and turned away from people’s doors, would have his oath fulfilled by Allah if he adjured Him.”

It is also reported in the authentic collection that when Anas ibn al-Nadr said, “By Him who sent you with the truth, do not break al-Rubayyi‘’s front tooth,” the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, “Anas, Allah’s Book prescribes retaliation.” The people then pardoned her, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Among Allah’s servants are those whose oath Allah would fulfil if they adjured Him.”

This is a matter of swearing by Allah, saying, “You must do this.” It is therefore adjuring Allah Most High by Himself, not adjuring Him by a created being.

People should supplicate using the prescribed supplications found in the Quran and Sunnah. There is no doubt about their merit and excellence, or that this is the straight path: the path of those whom Allah has blessed—the prophets, the steadfastly truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. What excellent companions they are!

It has already been explained that the saying some ordinary people attribute to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,

“If you have a need, ask Allah by my standing with Him,”

is a false hadith. No scholar has transmitted it, nor does it appear in any hadith collection. What is prescribed, rather, is to invoke blessings upon him during supplication. Thus, when scholars discussed supplication when seeking rain and on other occasions, they mentioned invoking blessings upon him. Among the practices prescribed for Muslims in this situation, they did not mention seeking a means of approach to Allah through him, just as none of the scholars mentioned