His commands and what He has made known.
He, the Exalted, says:
“Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among humankind.”
Whoever denies these intermediaries is a disbeliever by the consensus of all the religious communities.
The surahs that Allah revealed in Mecca, such as al-Anʿām, al-Aʿrāf, those beginning with (Alif Lām Rā), (Hā Mīm), and (Tā Sīn), and others like them, contain the foundations of religion, such as belief in Allah, His messengers, and the Last Day. Allah has recounted the stories of the disbelievers who rejected the messengers, describing how He destroyed them and granted victory to His messengers and those who believed.
He, the Exalted, says:
“Our word has already gone forth to Our servants, the messengers:
They will surely be given victory,
And Our forces will surely prevail.”
And He says:
“Indeed, We will support Our messengers and those who believe in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses arise.”
These intermediaries are to be obeyed and followed, and their example emulated. As He, the Exalted, says:
“We sent no messenger except to be obeyed by Allah’s permission.”
And He, the Exalted, says:
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah.”
And He, the Exalted, says:
“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.’”
And He says:
“So those who believe in him, honour him, support him, and follow the light sent down with him—it is they who will prosper.”
And He, the Exalted, says:
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example, for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.”
But if by an intermediary he means that an intermediary is necessary to bring benefits and ward off harm—for example, someone who serves as an intermediary in providing sustenance, victory, and guidance to people, whom they ask for these things and to whom they look in hope of obtaining them—then this is among the gravest forms of polytheism, on account of which Allah declared the polytheists to be disbelievers. They took protectors and intercessors besides Allah, seeking through them to obtain benefits and avoid harm. Yet intercession is only for those to whom Allah grants permission for it. He even says:
“Allah is the One who created the heavens