It is reported that one of the Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, is our Lord near, so that we may speak to Him quietly, or far away, so that we must call out to Him?” Allah Most High then revealed this verse.

He, glorified is He, is All-Hearing, Near, Responsive, and Merciful. He is more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child. He knows of His servants’ circumstances what no one else knows; He can meet those needs of theirs that no one else can meet; and He shows them a mercy that no one else can show them.

The spiritual guides who are followed as examples point people towards Him and guide them to Him. They are like imams in prayer: they pray, and people pray behind them. They are also like a guide who leads pilgrims to the Sacred House: he directs them to it, while he and they all make pilgrimage to it. They have no share in divinity. Rather, anyone who assigns them any such share is like the Christian polytheists concerning whom Allah said:

“They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Mary, though they were commanded only to worship one God. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him!”

Noah, peace be upon him, said:

“Say: I do not tell you that I possess Allah’s treasuries, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel.”

Allah likewise commanded Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to say this. Thus, no one may call upon a dead or absent spiritual guide. Indeed, no one may call upon any dead or absent person, whether a prophet or anyone else. One must not say to any of them, “O my master so-and-so, I am in your keeping,” or “under your protection.” Nor may one say, “I seek your help and your protection.” Nor, upon stumbling, may one say, “O so-and-so!” Nor may one say, “Muhammad and ‘Alī,” or “Lady Nafīsah,” or “my master Shaykh Ahmad,”