The point to be emphasized here is that the unbelief manifested among them, in both word and deed, is even graver than the unbelief of the Jews, the Christians, and the Arab idol-worshippers—the very first people to whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent, and about whose disbelief and deserved punishment in the Fire the Qur’an was revealed.

Idolatrous intercession that is rejected and legitimate intercession that is affirmed

Among the proofs of this is that those polytheists used to appoint the beings they associated with Allah as intercessors, pleading for them before Allah, and they imagined that He would accept their intercession. Thus they offered prayers and supplications to them, believing that all of this was effective only by Allah’s power and will. Allah has mentioned this in several places in His Book, saying:

"They worship, instead of Allah, what can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’ Say, ‘Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?’” (10:18)

Because of this, Allah has categorically denied that anyone may intercede except with His permission, in many verses of the Qur’an:

"Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?" (2:255)

"And warn with it those who fear that they will be gathered to their Lord; they will have no protector and no intercessor apart from Him." (6:51)

"Leave alone those who have taken their religion as play and pastime and whom the life of this world has deluded. Remind them with it lest a soul be doomed for what it has earned: it will have no protector and no intercessor besides Allah, and though it offer every ransom, it will not be accepted from it. Such are the ones delivered over for what they earned; for them is scalding drink and a painful punishment because they used to disbelieve." (6:70)

"Allah is the One who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, then He rose over the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor apart from Him. Will you not then take heed?" (32:4)

"They say, ‘The All-Merciful has taken a son.’ Highly exalted is He! No, they are but honored servants. They do not precede Him in speech and they act only on His command. He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they intercede only for those He approves, and they stand in awe of Him. Whoever among them says, ‘I am a god besides Him,’ that one We shall repay with Hell—thus do We recompense the wrongdoers." (21:26-29)

And He, the Exalted, also says: "Say, ‘Call upon those you claim…’"