We say, “You [alone] do we worship, and to You [alone] do we turn for help.” Does this mean that we should not seek help from anyone or anything else? Well, we get help from other people, human beings, our brothers [in faith], and our friends. The Quran itself advises us to receive help and to provide help to others. “Cooperate in piety and Godwariness …” [Quran 5:2]. This means that a monotheist considers all forces and strength to be from God. Even the person who is helping you is not capable of anything. The one who is capable is God. True strength belongs to Him. The strength that we have is an artificial strength. If you seek help from someone other than God while considering them to be the source of strength, that is polytheism.
Imam Khamenei
April 24, 1991
Comment