over our enemy. Ask Allah to relieve us of this hardship. I complain to you of such and such, so ask Allah to relieve this distress.”

Or one of them says: “Ask Allah to forgive me.” Some of them interpret the words of Allah, the Most High:

“If, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you and asked Allah for forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah ever accepting of repentance, Merciful.”

They say: “If we ask him to seek forgiveness for us after his death, we are in the same position as those Companions who asked him to seek forgiveness for them.” In doing so, they contradict the consensus of the Companions, those who followed them in righteousness, and all other Muslims. None of them asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to intercede for him after his death, nor did they ask him for anything. Nor did any of the imams of the Muslims mention this in their books. It was mentioned only by some later jurists, who recounted a fabricated story attributed to Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him. This story will be related and discussed in detail later, if Allah, the Most High, wills.

These forms of addressing angels, prophets, and righteous people after their death, at their graves and in their absence, and addressing their images, are among the gravest forms of polytheism found among polytheists outside the People of the Book, and among those of the People of the Book and the Muslims who introduce religious innovations—those who have introduced forms of polytheism and worship that Allah, the Most High, has not authorized.

Allah, the Most High, says:

“Or do they have partners who have prescribed for them a religion that Allah has not authorized?”

Invoking angels and prophets after their death and in their absence, making requests of them, seeking their aid and intercession in such circumstances, and setting up their images—with the intention of seeking intercession from them—are religious practices that Allah has not prescribed, for which He has sent no messenger and concerning which He has revealed no scripture. By the consensus of the Muslims, this is neither obligatory nor recommended. None of the Companions or those who followed them in righteousness practised it, nor did any imam of the Muslims command it, even though it is practised by many