The Bee - 16:35
Those who associate partners, if Allah had not willed, neither we nor our ancestors would have served anything besides Him, nor would we have forbidden anything besides what He has forbidden. So did those before them. Does the messenger have any duty other than to make clear?
The people of Prophet Muhammad were a people who worshipped and served religious leaders, prophets and angels as gods besides Allah:
The Ornaments of Gold/43:57
When the son of Mary was shown as an example, your people immediately rejected.
The Ornaments of Gold/43:58
"They said: "Are our gods better or is he?"They said this only to argue with you. They are indeed a quarrelsome people."
The Family Of Imran/3:59
"For Allah, the example of Jesus is like the example of Adam; He formed him from the dust of the ground, then said to him, "Be,"and he became."
The Family Of Imran/3:60
This is the truth from your Lord; do not be of those who doubt.
The Family Of Imran/3:61
"And whoever disputes with you about this after this knowledge has come to you, say: "Come, let us and you come together, calling our children and your children, and our women and your women, and then let us curse so that the curse of Allah may be upon the liars."
The Table Spread/5:116
"Allah will say: "O Jesus son of Mary, did you say to the people, ´Take me and my mother as gods besides Allah´?"(Jesus) will reply: "You are great, it is not befitting me to say what I have no right to say. You would have known if I had said such a thing. You know what I think, but I do not know what you think. You know all mysteries."
The Repentance/9:30
"The Jews said: "Uzeyr is the son of Allah". And the Christians said: "Christ is the son of Allah". This is the word of their mouths. They imitate the words of those who disbelieved before. Allah will condemn them. How are they being converted?"
The Repentance/9:31
They took the scribes and the religious leaders and the Messiah, the son of Mary, as gods apart from God. But they were commanded to serve only one God. There is no god but Him. And He is Most High from those whom they associate as partners.
The Companies/39:3
"Indeed, to Allah alone belongs religion. Those who take those other than Him as awliya (friends) say: "We serve them so that they may bring us closer to Allah". Allah will decide between them in that in which they differ. Surely Allah guides not the liars and the ungrateful."
The Ornaments of Gold/43:19
They considered the angels, the servants of the Most Merciful, as female! Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded and they will be questioned.
The Ornaments of Gold/43:20
"They even said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have served them". They have no knowledge of this. They are only guessing."
The Star/53:19
Have you seen Lat and Uzza (your female idols)?
The Star/53:20
And Menat, the third of them?
The Star/53:21
Are the males yours and the females His?
The Star/53:22
What an unfair division!
The Star/53:23
They are nothing but names that you and your fathers called them, and Allah has not sent down for them any proof. They follow only their delusions and personal desires, while a guidance has come to them from their Lord.