And when this has been produced; and it must be; it is appropriate to say - as a warning to them -: "Did they not know that nothing can stand in its place; and nothing exists except by His permission; and no one approaches the ability to do anything of His doing; so how about approaching His rank?! Let alone resembling Him; so did they return from their misguidance?"; He countered them with His saying: ﴿Or have they taken﴾; meaning: they have burdened themselves; after the clarity of the evidence was established with them; that they took ﴿besides Allah﴾; meaning: the one who has no equal; nor rival; ﴿intercessors﴾; meaning: they bring them closer to Him as a means; in this world; and in the Hereafter; according to the extent of its being; while the evidential proofs were established with them that no one intercedes except with the one who is worthy to be matched in some way; and for this reason, He alerted to the meaning with His saying - turning away from them; indicating their lowliness in understanding -: ﴿Say, even if﴾; meaning: do they take them for that; even if ﴿they do not possess anything﴾; meaning: this attribute does not renew for them; ﴿and they do not understand﴾; as is observed from the state of your idols.