And when his people took the calf for worship, Allah explained to them the attributes of deficiency that are incompatible with divinity, saying:

“After Moses had gone, his people made from their ornaments a calf—a bodily form that lowed. Did they not see that it neither spoke to them nor guided them to any way? They took it for worship and were wrongdoers.”

He also said:

“They said, ‘This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot.’”

“Did they not see that it could give them no answer and had no power to harm or benefit them?”

“Aaron had already told them, ‘My people, you are only being tested by it. Your Lord is indeed the Most Merciful.’”

Thus He described it as something that, although it made a lowing sound, neither spoke to them nor answered them, neither guided them to any way nor had any power to harm or benefit them.

Likewise, Allah, glorified be He, spoke through Muhammad concerning the association of partners with Him, both generally and specifically, saying:

“Do they associate with Him those who create nothing and are themselves created?”

“They can neither help them nor help themselves.”

“If you call them to guidance, they will not follow you. It makes no difference whether you call them or remain silent.”

“Those you invoke besides Allah are servants like you. So invoke them, and let them answer you, if you are truthful.”

“Do they have feet with which to walk, hands with which to grasp, eyes with which to see, or ears with which to hear? Say, ‘Call upon your partners, then plot against me and give me no respite.’”