those whom you claim besides Allah. They possess not 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 does not benefit with Him except for one to whom He has given permission.”

Thus, He, glorified be He, has made clear that all created beings invoked besides Allah—angels, humans, and others—possess not even an atom’s weight in His dominion, and that He has no partner in His dominion. Rather, to Him alone belongs all dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things. He has no helper to assist Him, as a king has helpers and supporters, and those who intercede with Him intercede only for those with whom He is pleased. He thereby ruled out the grounds for associating partners with Him.

This is because whoever they invoke besides Him either possesses dominion or does not. If he does not possess dominion, he is either a partner or not a partner. If he is not a partner, he is either a helper or a petitioner making a request. The first three possibilities—possession of dominion, partnership, and assistance—are ruled out. As for the fourth, it can occur only after His permission, as the Most High said:

“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”

The Most High also said:

“How many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession avails nothing, except after Allah has given permission for whom He wills and is pleased with.”

The Most High 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. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.’”

The Most High also said: “Allah is the One who created the heavens