relief from their distress and the descent of mercy, to the three hundred, who pass them on to the seventy, the seventy to the forty, the forty to the seven, the seven to the four, and the four to the ghawth, is a liar, misguided and a polytheist. For the polytheists themselves were as Allah Most High described them when He said:

“When distress befalls you at sea, all those you call upon fail you except Him.”

And He, glorified and exalted be He, said:

“Who is it that answers the distressed when he calls upon Him?”

How, then, could believers subsequently submit their petitions to Him through intermediary gatekeepers, when He, Most High, says:

“When My servants ask you about Me, I am indeed near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, that they may be rightly guided.”

And Abraham, peace be upon him, said, praying for the people of Mecca:

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in a barren valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer. So make the hearts of some people incline towards them, and provide them with fruits, that they may be grateful.”

“Our Lord, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on earth or in heaven is hidden from Allah.”

“Praise be to Allah, who has granted me Ishmael and Isaac in old age. Indeed, my Lord hears all prayers.”

And the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to his Companions when they raised their voices in remembrance of Allah: “O people, be easy on yourselves! You are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent; rather, you are calling upon