Some of the Companions pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) not to ask people for anything. What is the meaning of this hadith?

The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took a pledge from some of the Companions not to ask people for anything. What is the meaning of this hadith? Is it general or specific? If it is specific, what is excluded from it?

The Shaykh : He took their pledge not to ask people for anything, meaning anything, except in cases of dire necessity. The Companion said: This covers the original principle of generality. Therefore, some scholars said that when a person says to his brother, "O so-and-so, call upon Allah for us" or "Do not forget us in your supplication," this is a blameworthy form of asking, because he asked him. There is no doubt that for a person to say, "Do not forget us in your supplication," is not the way of the righteous predecessors, as far as we know, and it is not befitting for a person to say this. First, you deprive yourself of supplication, and Allah says: He did not say: Ask others to supplicate for you. Second, you deprive yourself of the worship of supplication, which is a form of worship. Third, you attach yourself to this man from whom you requested supplication. Fourth, this man may become arrogant and swell up, saying, "Who am I that people ask me to supplicate?" Yes, if you ask a righteous man whose supplication you hope Allah will answer, yes, regarding the Muslims in general, there is no harm. For example, you come to a righteous man and say, "By Allah, the people are now in drought and famine, and the rain has been delayed." Yes, if the rain is delayed for a year or years, call upon Allah for them. This is permissible. Did you understand? Therefore, it is not befitting for a person to say to anyone, "Call upon Allah for me." Even the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) made those who seek healing while sick, who say, "O so-and-so, recite for us," considered as having no description of the descriptions that, if realized, cause a person to enter Paradise without reckoning or punishment. But if the person you are asking is someone who is indebted to you, if you say, "O so-and-so, give me this watch, this pen," and it does not harm him, but you know he is pleased, because some people are pleased to say to so-and-so, "O so-and-so, my father is such and such," this is permissible. Yes, indeed.