Accordingly, the point is that the angels and others do not possess the power of intercession. Your taking them as patrons and seeking their intercession does not oblige them to intercede for you. None of those invoked besides Allah possesses the power of intercession. But as for “those who bear witness to the truth knowingly,” Allah accepts intercession on their behalf.

Intercession is therefore attained through bearing witness to the truth: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. It is not attained by taking anyone besides Allah as a patron—neither angels, nor prophets, nor righteous people.

Whoever takes any of these as a patron, invokes him, makes a pilgrimage to his grave or a place associated with him, makes vows to him, swears by him, and presents offerings to him so that he will intercede for him, will gain no protection whatsoever from Allah through these acts. Rather, he will be among those furthest removed from receiving his intercession or that of anyone else. For intercession is only for those who worship Allah alone and devote their hearts and their religion sincerely to Him. Whoever takes anyone besides Allah as a patron associates partners with Him.

Thus, the words and acts of worship through which the polytheists seek intercession actually deprive them of it. Those who worshipped angels, prophets, the friends of Allah, and righteous people so that they would intercede for them were deprived of their intercession by the very worship and association of partners with their Lord through which they sought it. They were punished with the opposite of what they intended, because they associated with Allah that for which He had sent down no authority.

Many of those who have gone astray suppose that intercession