that the shaykh himself, whether dead or alive, had done this. He may say: “This is the shaykh’s secret; this is his raqīqa; this is his reality,” or, “This is an angel who has come in his likeness.” In fact, it is a jinn, for angels do not assist in polytheism, falsehood, sin, or aggression.

Allah, the Most High, has said:

“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim besides Him. They have no power to remove your hardship or transfer it elsewhere.’”

“Those whom they invoke seek a means of access to their Lord, each seeking to be closest to Him. They hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, your Lord’s punishment is ever to be feared.”

Some of the early generations said that there were people who invoked angels and prophets, such as Ezra and the Messiah. Allah, the Most High, explained that the angels and prophets are servants of Allah, just as those who worship them are servants of Allah. He also explained that they hope for His mercy, fear His punishment, and draw near to Him, as do all His other righteous servants.

The polytheists among these people may say: “We seek their intercession; that is, we ask the angels and prophets to intercede. When we visit the grave of one of them, we ask him to intercede for us. If we make an image of him”—images being either three-dimensional figures or pictures, like those Christians make in their churches—they say, “our purpose in making these images is to remember those they depict and their lives. We address these images, but our intention is to address those they depict, so that they may intercede for us with Allah.”

One of them says: “O my master so-and-so,” or, “O my master George or Peter,” or, “O my tender-hearted lady Mary,” or, “O my master Abraham, the close friend of Allah, or Moses son of ‘Imrān,” or something similar, “intercede for me with your Lord.”

They may address the deceased at his grave: “Ask your Lord on my behalf.” Or they may address a living person who is absent as they would address him if he were alive and present. They recite poems in which one of them says:

“O my master so-and-so, I rely on you; I am under your protection. Intercede for me with Allah. Ask Allah to grant us victory