And the Almighty says: “Say, ‘All intercession belongs solely to Allah.’” [Al-Zumar: 44].

And He says: “Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?” [Al-Baqara: 255].

li-llāhi al-shafāʿah (To Allah belongs intercession): it is Allah’s exclusive possession; those from whom you seek it own nothing of it.

jamīʿan (all of it): an emphatic qualifier.

man dhā alladhī (who is it that…): meaning, “there is no one.”

yashfaʿu ʿindahu illā bi-idhnih (can intercede with Him except by His permission): no one will speak—whether to intercede or for any other purpose—unless Allah, exalted is He, authorises him to speak.

Overall meaning of the two verses: Allah commands His Prophet to declare to those who cling to the saints and the righteous, seeking their intercession, that those you invoke possess no share of intercession whatsoever. It is entirely Allah’s domain; no one can intercede for anyone else except with His leave, and no one will utter a word on the Day of Resurrection until Allah, glorified is He, grants permission.

Relevance of the two verses to this chapter: they refute the idolaters who have taken angels, prophets, and idols fashioned after the righteous as intercessors besides Allah, imagining that they hold some power of intercession and can plead with Allah without His permission.

Lessons derived from the two verses:

1. A rebuttal of the polytheists who seek intercession from created beings.
2. Intercession is Allah’s exclusive possession and therefore must be sought from Him alone.