making the religion purely His—surely, to Allah alone belongs the pure religion—
up to His words:

“Say, ‘It is Allah that I worship, devoting my religion solely to Him; so worship whatever you please besides Him,’”

and on to His words:

“Is it other than Allah that you order me to worship, O ignorant ones?” (az-Zumar 64).

Allah, exalted be He, also said:

“It is not for any human being to whom Allah has given the Scripture, judgment, and prophethood to then say to the people, ‘Be servants of me instead of Allah.’ Rather, be rabbāniyyīn (people of the Lord) because you teach the Book and because you study it. Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelief after you have submitted?” (Āl ʿImrān 79).

He further said:

“Say, ‘Call upon those you claim besides Him; they have no power to remove affliction from you or to shift it.’ Those whom they invoke themselves seek a means of approach to their Lord—who among them is nearest—hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.” (al-Isrāʾ 56). (1)

(2) A group of the early generations said: (3) Certain people used to call upon the angels and the prophets, such as the Messiah and ʿUzayr (Ezra), (4) so Allah the Exalted revealed this verse (5).