Two words he said when people came asking on behalf of others
The permission is given before the outcome is known.
The opening words
اشْفَعُوا تُشَفَّعُوا وَيَقْضِي اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ مَا شَاءَ
Ishfaʿū tushaffaʿū, wa yaqḍi-Llāhu ʿalā lisāni nabiyyihi mā shāʾ
The pronunciation above covers the opening of this passage, not all of it
“Intercede, and your intercession will be accepted. And Allah decides on the tongue of His Prophet whatever He wills.”
Where this comes from
Someone would come needing something and he would turn to the people around him and tell them to speak up for the person. The reward was in the asking. The outcome was never theirs to determine, and he said so in the same breath.
The full narration
It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophet said:"Intercede and your intercession may be accepted, and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, decrees on the lips of His Prophet whatsoever He will
Source
Sunan an-Nasā'ī · 2556
- Abu Ghuddah: Sahih
- Al-Albani: Sahih
- Zubair Ali Zai: Sahih - Agreed Upon