in His recompensing them for their deeds with reward or punishment, nor in His answering their supplications and granting their requests. Rather, He alone is the Creator of all things. He is the One who answers the distressed when they call upon Him. All who are in the heavens and the earth ask of Him; every day He is attending to some affair.

“Whatever blessing you have is from Allah. Then, when adversity touches you, it is to Him that you cry for help.”

And He, Most High, says:

“Allah has said, ‘Do not take two gods. He is but One God, so fear Me alone.’”

“To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him alone is constant obedience due. Will you then fear anyone other than Allah?”

As He, Most High, says:

“Say, ‘Call upon those you claim to be gods besides Him. They have no power to remove your affliction or divert it.’”

“Those whom they invoke themselves seek a means of nearness to their Lord, striving to be nearest to Him. They hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, your Lord’s punishment is something to beware of.”

And He, Most High, says:

“Say, ‘Call upon those 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 is of no avail with Him except for one whom He permits.”

Thus, He makes clear that all those invoked besides Allah—angels, prophets and others—do not possess even an atom’s weight. None has any share with Him, nor does He have any helper among them. Only intercession remains:

“Intercession is of no avail with Him except for one whom He permits.”

The matter of intercession therefore rests with Him alone, as He, Most High, says:

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

And He says:

“Those whom they invoke besides Him have no power of intercession.”

And His words, “Except those who