How sound is the Hadith: "Indeed, Allah has angels other than the حافظة (guardian angels) who record every leaf that falls from a tree. So, if one of you experiences a limp in a land, let him call out: O servants of Allah, help me!" and what are its sources of authentication, and how can it be reconciled with the Hadith: "If you ask, ask Allah"?

The Hadith, "If you ask, then ask Allah; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah," is authentic. What it signifies about asking Allah Almighty and not asking the creation applies to matters that none but Allah can accomplish. Istighathah (seeking aid/succour) is a form of du'a (supplication), and du'a is a form of worship. Directing worship to other than Allah is shirk (polytheism), as Allah Almighty says: "And do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be among the wrongdoers." Allah has informed us that the polytheists devote their supplications purely to Him during adversity, but associate partners with Him during ease. And whoever associates partners with Him during adversity is more deserving of condemnation.