the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Whoever intercedes to prevent the enforcement of one of Allah’s prescribed punishments has opposed Allah in His command.”

As for what he fears—the “enemy” and others like him taking action concerning the written statement he brought from Syria to Ibn Makhlūf about seeking aid from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—if they make it public, its evil consequences will fall upon them, and it will demonstrate that they are polytheists who do not distinguish between the religion of the Muslims and that of the Christians. For Muslims agree on what is necessarily known to be part of Islam: a servant may worship, invoke, seek aid from, and place his trust in none but Allah. Whoever worships an angel brought near to Allah or a prophet sent as a messenger, invokes him, or seeks his aid is a polytheist.

Thus, no Muslim considers it permissible for anyone to say, “O Gabriel,” “O Michael,” “O Abraham,” “O Moses,” or “O Messenger of Allah,” followed by “Forgive me,” “Have mercy on me,” “Provide for me,” “Grant me victory,” “Come to my aid,” “Protect me from my enemy,” or anything similar. Rather, all these are exclusive prerogatives of divinity.

These are weighty, well-known matters that scholars have explained, distinguishing between Allah’s rights, which belong exclusively to Him [rather than to] (1) the messengers, and the rights due to both Him and His messengers. He, glorified be He, distinguishes between these in such statements as:

“And support him and honour him, and glorify Him morning and evening.”

Supporting and honouring are due to the Messenger, whereas glorification morning and evening is due to Allah.