The hadeeth “O slaves of Allah, help me” is not saheeh
Question

                How sound is the hadeeth “O slaves of Allah, help me”?
Praise be to Allah.
    This hadith was narrated by at-Tabaraani 
    in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabeer (17/117) via ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan ibn Shurayk who 
    said: My father told me, from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Eesa, from Zayd ibn ‘Ali, from 
    ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwaan, from the Prophet of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah 
    be upon him) who said: “If one of you loses something, or one of you wants 
    help, and he is in a land in which there are no people, then let him say, ‘O 
    slaves of Allah, help me; O slaves of Allah, help me,’ for Allah has slaves 
    whom we do not see.” 

    There are three problems with this hadeeth 
    which mean that it must be da‘eef. They are: 

    1.‘Abd ar-Rahmaan 
    ibn Shurayk ibn ‘Abdullah an-Nakha‘i al-Kufi

    Abu Haatim said: He is weak in narration 
    of hadeeth.

    End quote from al-Jarh wa at-Ta‘deel 
    (5/244) 

    Ibn Hibbaan mentioned him in 
    ath-Thiqaat (8/375) and said: He sometimes makes mistakes. 

    Al-Haafiz said in at-Taqreeb (p. 
    342): He is sadooq (honest) but makes mistakes. 

    See also: Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb 
    (6/176). 

    2.Shurayk ibn 
    ‘Abdullah an-Nakha‘i

    The scholars highlighted his poor memory 
    and lack of precision. Al-Haafiz said concerning him: He is sadooq (honest) 
    but makes many mistakes; his memory changed after he was appointed as a 
    judge in Kufah.

    End quote from Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb 
    (p. 266) 

    3.Zayd ibn ‘Ali ibn 
    al-Husayn did not meet ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwaan or hear from him. Between the 
    death of ‘Utbah and the birth of Zayd there were approximately sixty years.

    See: Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb (2/249, 
    4/64) 

    Hence al-Haythami said concerning the 
    hadeeth: It was narrated by at-Tabaraani and its men were regarded as 
    trustworthy even though some of them were somewhat da‘eef (weak). But Zayd 
    ibn ‘Ali did not meet ‘Utbah.

    End quote from Majma‘ az-Zawaa’id 
    (10/93) 

    There is corroborating evidence for this 
    hadeeth in the marfoo‘ hadeeth of Ibn Mas‘ood: “If the mount of one of you 
    disappears in the wilderness, let him call out: ‘O slaves of Allah, bring it 
    back to me,’ for Allah has (angels) present on earth who will bring it back 
    to you.” 

    This was narrated by at-Tabaraani in 
    al-Mu‘jam al-Kabeer (10/217); Abu Ya‘la in his Musnad (9/177). It 
    is also da‘eef; it was classed as such by al-Haythami in Majma‘ 
    az-Zawaa’id (10/132), al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar in Sharh al-Adhkaar 
    (5/150); al-Haafiz as-Sakhkhaawi in al-Ibtihaaj bi Adhkaar al-Musaafir 
    wa’l-Haaj (p. 39). 

    Shaykh al-Albaani discussed this hadeeth 
    in detail in as-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah, where he (may Allah have mercy 
    on him) said: 

    In addition to the fact that this hadeeth 
    is da‘eef (weak), there is nothing in the text to suggest that it is 
    permissible to seek the help of the dead, such as the awliya’ (“saints”; 
    close friends of Allah) and the righteous, because it clearly indicates that 
    what is meant by the slaves of Allah here is some creation other than human 
    beings. 

    This is based on the fact that in the 
    first hadeeth he says: “for Allah has (angels) present on earth who will 
    bring it back to you,” and in this hadeeth he says: “Allah has slaves whom 
    we do not see.” 

    This description can only apply to the 
    angels or the jinn, because they are the ones who we do not usually see. … 
    So it is not permissible to include with them Muslims among the jinn or 
    humans whom they call “men of the unseen,” such as the awliya’ and the 
    righteous, whether they are alive or dead. Seeking help from them and 
    seeking their aid is blatant shirk, because they cannot hear the 
    supplication, and even if they could hear it, they would not be able to 
    respond and fulfil the request. 

    This is clearly stated in many verses, 
    including the passage in which Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, says 
    (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And those, whom you invoke or call 
    upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmeer (the thin membrane over the date 
    stone).

    If you invoke (or call upon) them, they 
    hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant 
    it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown 
    your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad SAW) like Him Who 
    is the All-Knower (of each and everything)”

    [Faatir 35:13-14]. 

    End quote from Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth 
    ad-Da‘eefah wa’l-Mawdoo‘ah (656). 

    And Allah knows best.