Jesus, Noah and Abraham, the prophets of resolute determination, would never approve of anyone being associated with God, even if that person were the noblest of angels or the best of human beings. He does not accept that any angel or messenger be worshipped beside Him—so how could He possibly be pleased with others such as the awliya (saints) and the salihin (pious)? If partnership is rejected for angels and messengers, it is even more decisively rejected for all others. This demolishes the claim of those who say that they take the righteous and the saints as intercessors in order to draw nearer to God, exactly as the pagans once said: “We worship them only so that they may bring us closer to God” (al-Zumar, 3). They themselves admit that these beings do not create, provide, or possess power over death, life or resurrection; their sole intention is to use them as mediators with God. Consequently, they directed certain acts of worship toward them: they slaughtered animals at graves, made vows at graves, sought relief from them, and called upon the dead. (9) God is not pleased with anyone—whoever he may be—sharing in His worship. This is stated plainly in both the Quran and the Sunnah for those who reason, reflect, and abandon blind imitation and false pretexts. The proof that God does not consent to any partner whatsoever is His saying: