discerning scholars as cutting the tree of polytheism off at its roots. It is the saying of Allah Most High:

“Say, ‘Call upon those you claim to be gods besides Allah.’ They possess not an atom’s weight in the heavens or on the earth, nor do they have any share in either, nor does He have any helper among them. Intercession with Him is of no avail except for one to whom He grants permission. When at last terror is removed from their hearts, they will say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They will say, ‘The truth.’ And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” 1

This noble passage uproots the tree of polytheism, cuts it off at its foundations, and invalidates every basis upon which those who invoke others besides Allah rely. Whoever invokes anyone or anything besides Allah—whether an angel brought near to Him, a prophet sent by Him, a righteous friend of Allah, a tree, a stone, or anything else—is required to establish that the one he invokes possesses one of four attributes. If he could establish all or any one of them—and how far he is from doing so—he would be justified in invoking that being. Otherwise, his invocation is falsehood and misguidance. These are important conditions that must be met by the one invoked for him to be able to answer whoever calls upon him:

First: ownership. Allah negates this by saying: “They possess not an atom’s weight in the heavens or on the earth.”

Second: if he is not an owner, he might be a partner of the owner. Allah negates this by saying: “Nor do they have any share in either.”

Third: if he is neither an owner nor a partner of the owner, he might be a helper and assistant to the owner. Allah negates this by saying: “Nor does He have any helper among them.”

Fourth: if he is neither an owner, nor a partner of the owner, nor a helper, he might be an intercessor. But Allah—glorified and exalted is He—has ruled out intercession with Him except by His permission. He Himself first grants the intercessor permission, and then the intercessor intercedes2.