Ibn Majah

(1)
The meaning of meeting with people is that during the days of Hajj, people from every region of Arabia would come to Makkah. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would hope that perhaps among them there would be a person or a tribe who would assist him (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in the work of propagation and would prevent the opponents from their opposition, so that people could understand the truth and accept it.

(2)
In worldly matters, to the extent of means, seeking cooperation and help from someone is not contrary to tawhid (monotheism). The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is:
﴿تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوىٰ﴾ ()
“Help one another in righteousness and piety.” ()

(3)
From this, the attribute of speech (kalam) of Allah is established, and that the Noble Qur’an is the speech (kalam) of Allah, not of Jibril (alayhis salam) or anyone else.
This refutes the Mu’tazilah.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is described with the attribute of Speech (kalam), which the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) expressed in his very first call, and the people also understood its apparent meaning. We have faith in this, but we are not aware of the modality (kayfiyyah) of His Speech, and the Noble Qur’an is also His Speech, which Jibril the Trustworthy (alayhis salam) brought and placed in the heart of Muhammad, the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Muslims recite it, memorize it, and write it on the pages of the mushaf.

➋ Just as the Essence of Allah the Exalted is eternal (qadim), likewise all of His attributes are also eternal. Therefore, since the Noble Qur’an is the Speech of Allah the Exalted, it too is His eternal and uncreated attribute. For this reason, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah) and other hadith scholars (muhaddithin, rahimahumullah) used to say it is uncreated, while the Mu’tazilah declared it to be created. The steadfastness of Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) in this matter, and his enduring of imprisonment and hardship for its sake, is well-known and famous.

➌ In the world of means, even the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) needed the cooperation of individuals who would assist him in this propagation of the truth, and ultimately he found such helpers in the form of the Muhajirun and Ansar. Similarly, every caller (da’i) is in need of this. Truly fortunate are those great people who become the hands and arms of the callers to the truth.

➍ According to apparent means, seeking help from one another is not only permissible, but helping each other in acts of righteousness and piety is obligatory. For this reason, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also sought cooperation from people in the work of propagation and invitation, and the people also cooperated with him. However, seeking help from anyone by means beyond the apparent causes is shirk, because in such a way, no one besides Allah the Exalted is capable of providing help.