a form of associating partners with Allah and conflating what Allah has distinguished. This is why the advocates of divine union have sanctioned every form of polytheism in the world.

A parallel to this association of partners with Allah—whereby His servants are made His vicegerents and deputies, by analogy with those who act as vicegerents and deputies of kings—is found among many who associate partners with Him: they liken petitioning Allah, supplicating to Him, and worshipping Him to petitioning kings. They tell someone, “If you wish to approach the ruler and petition him, begin with the intermediaries between you and him, such as chamberlains, deputies, and assistants. For approaching the ruler at his door shows him little courtesy and little respect or honor, and that is not proper for you.” Thus they instruct him to humble himself and associate created beings with Allah.

This is one of the causes that led to the worship of the stars, angels, prophets, righteous people, and their graves. All of this is