As for seeking help from a created being in matters that only Allah can accomplish—such as bringing provision or removing harm—this is to be directed solely to Him. Thus, appealing to the dead, turning to the jinn or devils, or calling upon those who are absent and cannot even hear you as you invoke their names is major shirk, because you are asking someone who has no power to help you.

Hence His saying, “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help” (Qur’an 1:5).

In the phrase “You we worship,” the object precedes the verb: the object “You” stands in the accusative case, while “we worship” is the governing verb. This inversion indicates exclusivity.

Accordingly, “You we worship” means that we worship none but You, confining all worship to Allah.

Likewise, “You we ask for help” restricts seeking assistance to Allah in matters that only He can bring about.

Within the words “You we ask for help” is a repudiation of any independent power or might: a human being possesses no strength except through Allah and can achieve nothing except by His leave. When a person disavows shirk and abandons any claim to personal power or might, he attains the highest level of devotion to Allah.