Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 57

57. 1. In the mentioned verse, مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہِ refers to the images and idols of angels and elders that were worshipped, or to Hazrat Uzair and Masih عليهما السلام whom the Jews and Christians call the son of Allah and consider them to possess divine attributes, or to those jinn who had become Muslim and the polytheists worshipped them. Because in this verse it is being explained that these themselves are in search of nearness to their Lord, hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment, and this attribute cannot be found in inanimate objects (stones). From this verse, it becomes clear that مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہ (those besides Allah who were worshipped) were not only stone idols, but also those servants of Allah among whom were some angels, some righteous people, some prophets, and some jinn. Allah Almighty has said about all of them that they can do nothing, neither can they remove anyone's distress nor can they change anyone's condition. The meaning of 'they seek nearness to their Lord' is that they seek closeness to Allah through righteous deeds. This is the الوسیلۃ that the Quran has mentioned; it is not what the grave-worshippers describe, that you make vows and offerings in the names of deceased persons, cover their graves with cloths, hold fairs and gatherings, and seek help and aid from them, because this is not الوسیلۃ, rather this is their worship, which is shirk. May Allah Almighty protect every Muslim from this.