Fourth Aspect: the fourth misconception—likening the Creator to His creation.

The objectors contend that seeking tawassul through the very persons of the righteous and the weight of their standing is both commendable and permissible, because, they say, it rests on plain logic and real-life experience. When any one of us needs something from a king, a minister, or a senior official, he does not approach him directly, fearing that the dignitary might pay him no heed—if he is not rebuffed altogether. Hence, it is only natural that whenever we require a favour from someone of high rank, we look for a person who knows him, who is close to him and beloved by him, and we appoint that person as an intermediary between us. Once we do that, the dignitary responds to us and our need is met. By their reckoning, the same holds true in our relationship with Allah, exalted is He: Allah is the Greatest of the great and the Most Majestic of the majestic, while we are sinful transgressors, distant from the Divine Presence, and there is no—