So, people, do not invoke anyone alongside Allah. Do not cry out for rescue to anyone with Allah, such as saying, “O Allah, O Muhammad,” “O Allah, O ʿAbd al-Qādir,” or, “O ʿAbd al-Qādir, O Muhammad,” or anything of that sort. Allah is not pleased with this and will not accept it.

As for the phrase “anyone” in His statement, it is an indefinite noun placed in the context of prohibition, which makes it all-encompassing. No one is exempted: not a near angel, not a commissioned prophet, not an idol, a statue, a grave, a shaykh, a saint, nor any living or dead person whatsoever.

Thus the verse covers every being who might be called upon besides Allah: “So do not call upon anyone alongside Allah.” It shows that worship brings benefit only when accompanied by tawḥīd (pure monotheism); if it is tainted by shirk, it is nullified and turns into a calamity for its doer.

Then comes His saying, “And the mosques belong to Allah.” They must be built with a sincere intention: not for show, reputation, or the perpetuation of someone’s name under the pretext of preserving “Islamic relics.” All of this is invalid.

Mosques are erected for worship, with worship as their sole purpose, and the intention behind them must be purely for Allah. They must also be built from lawful earnings, not from