The idols are treated like the first of knowledge in His saying, "And they are created" based on their belief in them and their naming them gods. The meaning is: Do they associate with Allah what cannot create anything as Allah creates, while they are created? Because Allah, the Exalted, is their Creator. Or cannot they create anything, because they are inanimate, while they are created, since their worshippers create them? They are weaker than their worshippers, and they cannot provide them with victory, nor can they help themselves to repel what befalls them from calamities. Rather, their worshippers are the ones who defend them and protect them. And if you call upon them, or if you call these idols to guidance, meaning to what is guidance and righteousness, and to guide you. The meaning is: And if you seek from them as you seek from Allah goodness and guidance, they will not follow you to your desires and requests, nor will they answer you as Allah answers you. This is indicated by His saying, "So call upon them; let them respond to you if you are among the truthful." It is the same for you whether you call upon them or remain silent about calling them, in that there is no success with them. If you say: Why was it not said: "Or did you remain silent?" And why was the nominal sentence placed instead of the verbal? I say: Because when a matter troubled them, they would call upon Allah instead of their idols, as in His saying, "And when harm touches people, they invoke Allah." Their continuous state was to be silent about their calling them, so it was said: If you call upon them, the state does not differ between your initiating their call and what you are upon in your habit of silence about their calling.