A second group went to extremes concerning the prophets and the righteous, and the angels as well. They made them intermediaries in worship, worshipping them so that they might bring them nearer to Allah. They made images of them and remained in devotion at their graves. This is widespread among Christians and those misguided people who face the qiblah and resemble them. For this reason, Allah mentions this group in the Quran, in Sūrat Āl ʿImrān and Sūrat Barāʾah, within His discussion of the Christians. He, Most High, says:

“It is not for a human being to whom Allah has given the Scripture, sound judgment and prophethood to then tell people, ‘Be worshippers of me rather than Allah.’ Rather, ‘Be devout scholars because of your teaching of the Scripture and your study of it.’ Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelieve after you have become Muslims?”

He, Most High, also says:

“They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and the Messiah, son of Mary, though they were commanded only to worship one God. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Glory be to Him! Exalted is He above what they associate with Him!”

And He, Most High, says:

“Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, come to a common word between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, associate nothing with Him, and do not take one another as lords besides Allah.’ But if they turn away, say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’”

These words, which Allah commanded him to say to them, are what he wrote to Heraclius, ruler of the Romans. These people may suppose that if they seek their intercession, they will intercede for them, and that whoever approaches a revered angel or prophet and seeks his intercession will have him intercede with Allah on his behalf, just as the close associates of kings intercede with them. Allah has refuted this kind of intercession in more than one