? Say, ‘I do not testify to that.’”

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“Their gods, whom they called upon besides Allah, were of no benefit to them whatsoever.”

And He, Exalted is He, says of them:

“Has he made the gods into one God? This is indeed an astonishing thing!”

They acknowledged that their gods had no share with Allah in creating the heavens and the earth, or in creating anything at all. Rather, they took them as intercessors and intermediaries, as He, Exalted is He, says:

“They worship besides Allah what can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’”

And He says of the man mentioned in Surah Yā-Sīn:

“Why should I not worship the One who created me, and to whom you will be returned? Should I take gods besides Him? If the Most Merciful intends harm for me, their intercession will be of no benefit to me whatsoever, nor can they rescue me.”

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“Warn with it those who fear being gathered before their Lord: they will have neither protector nor intercessor besides Him.”

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“Allah is the One who created the heavens and the earth and everything between them in six days, then rose over the Throne. You have neither protector nor intercessor besides Him. Will you not then take heed?”

And He says:

“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim to be gods besides Allah. They possess not 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 with Him is of no benefit except for one to whom He has given permission.”

He thus denied to all besides Him everything to which the polytheists cling. He denied that anyone besides Him possesses dominion, has any share in that dominion, or is a helper to Allah. Only intercession remained, so He explained that it is of no benefit except for one to whom the Lord has given permission, as He, Exalted is He, says:

“Who can intercede with Him except by His permission?”

And He, Exalted is He, says of the angels:

“They intercede only for those with whom He is pleased.”

And He says:

“How many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession is of no benefit whatsoever, unless Allah has first given permission for whom He wills and is pleased with.”

Thus, this “intercession” that the polytheists imagine will not exist on the Day of Resurrection, just as it is denied by