Shaykh al-Islām said concerning the words, “I ask You by the right that those who ask of You have over You,” and expressions of similar meaning:

Answer:

As for the words, “I ask You by the right that those who ask of You have over You,” they occur in a hadith attributed to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and narrated by Ibn Mājah. However, its chain of transmission is insufficient to establish it as proof.

If this is authentically established from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, its meaning would be that the right of those who ask Allah is that He answer them, and the right of those who worship Him is that He reward them. He has prescribed this for Himself, as He says:

“When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed near. I respond to the call of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.”

Thus, this is asking Allah by what He has made binding upon Himself, like the words:

“Our Lord, grant us what You have promised us through Your messengers.”

It is also like the supplication of the three men who took shelter in the cave, when they asked Him by their righteous deeds, for which He had promised to reward them. End of quotation.