And this affirmation of Allah’s oneness is what distinguishes those who worship Him alone from those who associate partners with Him. It is the basis of recompense and reward in this life and the Hereafter. Whoever fails to fulfil it is among the polytheists who will remain in Hell forever. For Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills.

As for affirming Allah’s oneness in lordship, the polytheists acknowledged it, yet they worshipped others alongside Allah and loved them as they loved Him. Thus, that affirmation of His oneness—His oneness in lordship—was evidence against them. If Allah is the Lord and Sovereign of everything, and none creates or provides except Him, why do they worship another alongside Him, when that other has neither created nor provided for them and has no power to withhold anything from them or grant them anything? Rather, he is a servant like themselves, with no power even over his own harm or benefit, death, life, or resurrection.

If they say, “So that he may intercede,” Allah has said:

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

Thus, even those angels and prophets who are granted intercession cannot intercede except by His permission. As for their graves—and the domes and monuments erected over them—or representations made in their likeness, whether three-dimensional or pictorial, to regard seeking intercession through these as seeking intercession through those persons is invalid according to both reason and revelation. These things cannot intercede under any circumstances, nor can any of the other idols made to represent celestial bodies, jinn, righteous people, or others.