Shaykh al-Islām also said:

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Allah called the deities they worshipped besides Him intercessors, just as He called them partners in several passages. He said in Surah Yūnus:

“They worship besides Allah what neither harms nor benefits them, and say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’ Say, ‘Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on earth?’ Glory be to Him! Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.”

He also said:

“Or have they taken intercessors besides Allah? Say, ‘Even though they possess nothing and have no understanding?’”

“Say, ‘All intercession belongs to Allah.’”

“On the Day the Hour comes, the evildoers will despair.”

“None of those they associated with Allah will be intercessors for them.”

He mentioned both associating partners with Him and intercession in His words:

“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim to be gods besides Allah. They do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or on earth, nor do they have any share in either, nor does He have any helper among them. Intercession with Him benefits none except those for whom He gives permission.’”

These are the four grounds on which they might rely. The first is ownership of anything, however small. The second is their having a share in any part of dominion. Thus, there is neither ownership, nor partnership, nor assistance by which one could become a rival to Him.

When these three are ruled out, intercession remains; He therefore made it dependent on His will.