and cannot be a lord or an object of worship. He also makes clear that this knowledge is innate and firmly established in people’s hearts.

As in His words concerning His close friend, Abraham:

“Father, why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you in any way?” [Maryam: 42]

And His words:

“In his absence, Moses’ people made from their jewellery a calf in bodily form that lowed. Did they not see that it neither spoke to them nor guided them to any path? They took it as an object of worship and were wrongdoers.” [al-A'rāf: 148]

And His words:

“Did they not see that it could not answer them, nor had any power to harm or benefit them?” [Tā Hā: 89]

And His words:

“Those they invoke besides Allah create nothing, but are themselves created. * They are dead, not alive, and do not know when they will be resurrected.” [al-Nahl: 20–21]

And His words:

“They worship besides Allah what can neither harm nor benefit them, and say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’” [Yūnus: 18]

And His words concerning His close friend, Abraham:

“Do you worship what you yourselves carve, * when Allah created you and what you make?” [al-Sāffāt: 95–96]

And His words also:

“Do they hear you when you call, * or can they benefit or harm you?” [al-Shu'arā': 72–73]

And His words:

“Do you then worship besides Allah what can neither benefit you at all nor harm you? * Fie on you and on what you worship besides Allah! Will you not then use reason?” [al-Anbiyā': 66–67]

There are many similar examples.