An-Nasa'i recorded that 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "The Messenger of Allah used to fast until we would say, 'He does not want to break fast,' and he would not fast until we would say, 'He does not want to fast.' And he used to recite Bani Isra'il (Al-Isra') and Az-Zumar every night." ... "Surely, the religion is for Allah only." meaning, He will not accept any deed unless it is done purely and sincerely for Him Alone, with no partner or associate. Then Allah tells us that the idolaters say: "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah." meaning what motivates them to worship them is the fact that they made their idols in the image of the angels - or so they claim - and when they worship those images it is like worshipping the angels, so that they will intercede with Allah for them to help and give them provision and other worldly needs. As far as the resurrection is concerned, they denied it and did not believe in it. Qatadah, As-Suddi and Malik said, narrating from Zayd bin Aslam and Ibn Zayd: "only that they may bring us near to Allah." means, "So that they may intercede for us and bring us closer to Him." During Jahiliyyah, they used to recite the following for their Talbiyah when they performed Hajj; "At Your service, You have no partner except the partner You have; he and all that he owns belong to You." This pretentious argument which the idolators of all times, ancient and modern, used as evidence is what the Messengers, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon them all, came to refute and forbid, and to call people to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate. This is something that the idolators themselves invented; Allah did not give them permission for it, nor does He approve of it; indeed, He hates it and forbids it. And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah, and avoid Taghut." And We did not send any Messenger before you but We inspired him (saying): "La ilaha illa Ana, so worship Me.". And Allah tells us that the angels in the heavens, those who are close to Him and others, are all servants who submit humbly to Allah. They do not intercede with Him except by His leave for the one with whom He is pleased. They are not like the ministers of human kings who intercede with them without their permission for both those whom the kings like and those whom they hate. Glorified be He! Nay, they are but honored servants. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His command.. "Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ." means, on the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will judge between His creation and reward or punish them according to their deeds]. "Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever." means, Allah will not guide to His religion the one who deliberately tells lies about Him and whose heart rejects His signs and proofs. Then Allah points out that He does not have a son, as the stubborn Jews and Christians claim concerning 'Uzayr and 'Isa, and the Arab idolators claimed concerning the angels. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: "Had Allah willed to take a son (or offspring), He could have chosen whom He willed out of those whom He created." meaning, the matter would not have been as they claim. This is a conditional sentence which does not imply that this happened or that it is permitted; indeed, it is impossible. The aim is only to point out the ignorance of their claims. It is like the Ayat: [Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that). Say: "If the Most Gracious had a son, then I am the first of worshippers." All of these Ayat are conditional, and it is permissible to form a conditional sentence referring to something that is impossible if it serves the purposes of the speaker. "But glory be to Him! He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible." means, exalted and sanctified be He above the idea that He could have any offspring, for He is the One, the Only, the Unique, the Self-Sufficient Master to Whom everything is enslaved and is in need of. He is the One Who is independent of all else, Who has subjugated all things and they submit humbly to Him. Blessed and exalted be He far above what the wrongdoers and deniers say.