As for the Lord’s will, it depends on no one besides Him, and nothing can thwart it. Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass.

He, glorified be He, is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child. He shows them kindness and mercy and relieves their distress, although He has no need of them and they are utterly dependent on Him:

“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”

The Lord has thus ruled out all these possibilities, leaving only intercession. He says:

“Intercession does not benefit with Him except for those to whom He gives permission.”

And He says:

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

He is the One who permits intercession, and He is the One who accepts it; it all comes from Him alone. The more sincere a person’s devotion to Allah, the nearer he is to receiving the Messenger’s intercession. Abū Hurayrah asked him: “Who will be most blessed by your intercession, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Whoever says, ‘There is no god worthy of worship except Allah,’ seeking thereby Allah’s Countenance.”

As for those who place their trust in someone besides Allah Most High to intercede for them, and attach themselves to that person, they are of the same kind as the polytheists who took intercessors besides Allah Most High. Allah Most High says:

“Or have they taken intercessors besides Allah? Say, ‘Even though they possess nothing and do not understand?’”

“Say, ‘All intercession belongs to Allah.’”

Allah Most High also says:

“Then He rose over the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor besides Him.”

And He says:

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

“Those whom they invoke themselves seek