Intercession was sought from the greatest messengers, those of firm resolve, and each said:

“My Lord has become angry today as He has never been before and will never be again. I have done such and such. Myself! Myself! Myself!”

If even these do not venture to address Allah Most High in intercession, what, then, of others?

Moreover, this verse comes after the mention of the righteous and the people of Paradise, following the mention of the disbelievers. He says:

“Indeed, the righteous will have triumph: gardens and vineyards, and full-breasted maidens of equal age, and an overflowing cup. There they will hear neither idle talk nor falsehood—a reward from your Lord, an ample gift, from the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between them, the Most Merciful. They have no power to address Him.”

Then He says:

“On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in a row, none will speak except one whom the Most Merciful permits and who speaks what is right.”

He thus tells us that “the Spirit and the angels” will stand in a row without speaking. This explains precisely His words, “They have no power to address Him.” The Arabs say, “I have no power over so-and-so’s affairs,” or “I have no power over so-and-so,” meaning: I can do nothing concerning his affairs.

The utmost a person can do in relation to another is to address him, even if only to make a request. Yet in that setting they have no power in relation to Allah—not even to address Him. No one speaks except by His permission, and none speaks except one whom the Most Merciful permits and who speaks what is right. He, the Most High, says:

“Except for Abraham’s words to his father, ‘I will surely seek forgiveness for you, but I have no power to help you against