polytheism. Even if a polytheist loves and reveres him, his intercession will not save that person from the Fire. Only affirming Allah’s oneness and believing in him can save a person from the Fire. Thus, although Abū Tālib and others loved him, they did not acknowledge the oneness of Allah that he proclaimed, so they could not be brought out of the Fire through his intercession or by any other means.
In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Abū Hurayrah relates:
“I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who will be most fortunate in receiving your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?’ He replied, ‘The person most fortunate in receiving my intercession on the Day of Resurrection is the one who says, “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,” sincerely from his heart.’”
He also relates in Sahīh Muslim that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Every prophet has a supplication that is answered. Every prophet hastened to offer his supplication, but I have reserved mine as intercession on the Day of Resurrection. Allah willing, it will reach those of my community who die without associating anything with Allah.”
In the Sunan collections, ʿAwf ibn Mālik relates that the Messenger of Allah said:
“Someone came to me from my Lord and gave me the choice between half of my community entering Paradise and intercession. I chose intercession, and it is for those who die without associating anything with Allah.”
In another wording, he said:
“Whoever meets Allah without associating anything with Him will be included in my intercession.”
This principle—affirming Allah’s oneness—is the foundation of the religion. Allah accepts no other religion from the earlier or later generations. With this He sent the messengers and revealed the scriptures, as He, the Most High, says:
“And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We appoint any deities besides the Most Merciful to be worshipped?”
He, the Most High, also says:
“And We sent no messenger before you except that We revealed to him: ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’”
He, the Most High, also says:
“And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, saying, ‘Worship Allah and shun false objects of worship.’ Among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom misguidance became inevitable.”
Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has mentioned that each of the messengers began his call by saying to his people:
“Worship Allah; you have no deity worthy of worship except Him.”