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wa-yaʿbudūna min dūni llāhi mā lā yaḍurruhum wa-lā yanfaʿuhum wa-yaqūlūna hāʾulāʾi shufaʿāʾunā ʿinda llāhi qul ʾa-tunabbiʾūna llāha bi-mā lā yaʿlamu fī s-samāwāti wa-lā fī l-ʾarḍi subḥānahū wa-taʿālā ʿammā yushrikūna
They worship besides Allah that which neither causes them any harm, nor brings them any benefit, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you inform Allah about something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?’ Immaculate is He and exalted above [having] any partners that they ascribe [to Him]!
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yunus – Verse 18
18. “And they worship, besides Allah, what can neither hurt them nor profit them, and they say: ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’ Say: ‘Will you inform Allah of what He knows not either in the heavens or in the earth?’ Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above what they associate (with Him).”
The issue of monotheism is also continued in this verse by negating the claim that these idols are associated with divinity, and it has been proved as groundless by offering clear reasons. They used to worship icons and idols which neither did any harm to them nor any good. They were neither feared by the idol worshippers nor did the idols provide them with any profit so that they were worshipped for gaining benefit thereof. The verse says:
“And they worship, besides Allah, what can neither hurt them nor profit them...”
The Qur’an deals with the groundless and unfounded claims of the idol worshippers when it implies that they claim that these idols serve as mediators between them and Allah which was one of the motives for worshipping them. The verse says:
“…and they say: ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’…”
The Qur’an, in response to such a way of thinking, tells the Prophet (S) to ask them a question, as follows:
“…Say: ‘Will you inform Allah of what He knows not either in the heavens or in the earth?’...”
Allusion is here made to the fact that if the Almighty had such mediators who would protect them, and wherever on the earth or in the skies they might have existed, He would have been well aware of their existence.
At the end of the verse it stresses emphatically on the fact that Allah is pure and superior to those partners whom they envisage for Him. The verse says:
“…Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above what they associate (with Him).”