and the earth. Then to Him you will be returned.’”

And He, exalted is He, said:

“You have no protector or intercessor besides Him. Will you not then take heed?”

And He, exalted is He, said:

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

Thus He made clear the distinction between Himself and His creation.

People customarily seek the intercession of someone held in esteem by one of their leaders. That intercessor then makes a request of the leader, who fulfils the petitioner’s need out of desire, fear, embarrassment, affection, or some other motive. But no one intercedes with Allah, glorified is He, until He Himself grants the intercessor permission. He does only what He wills, and the intercessor’s intercession itself depends on His permission. Thus the entire matter belongs to Him.

For this reason, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said in the hadith narrated by Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, and recorded by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim:

“None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will; O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.’ Rather, let him be resolute in his request, for no one can compel Allah.”

He thus explained that the Lord, glorified is He, does whatever He wills. No one compels Him in what He chooses to do, whereas an intercessor may compel the person with whom he intercedes, and a petitioner may compel the person he petitions by persisting and troubling him with his requests.

Longing must therefore be directed to Him, as He, exalted is He, said:

“So when you have finished, strive hard, and direct your longing to your Lord.”

And fear must be of Allah, as He, exalted is He, said:

“And fear Me alone.”

And He, exalted is He, said:

“So do not fear people, but fear Me.”

He has commanded us to invoke blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, when supplicating, and has made this one of the means by which our supplications are answered.