"They are but names you have named, you and your forefathers"—meaning: al-Lat, al-'Uzza, and Manat—"Allah has sent down no authority for them," that is, no proof that they are deities. "They follow only conjecture," meaning: their doing so is merely conjecture, "and what the souls desire, although there has come to them from their Lord the guidance," namely, the Quran. Al-Kalbi said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was praying near the House (the Ka'bah) while the polytheists were sitting. He recited: "By the star when it descends," and kept reflecting until he reached: "Have you considered al-Lat and al-'Uzza and Manat, the third one, another?" The Devil cast upon his tongue: 'Verily, they are the exalted cranes'—meaning: the angels—'and their intercession is to be hoped for,' i.e., they are the ones whose intercession is hoped for. When the Prophet finished his prayer, the polytheists said: 'Muhammad has mentioned our gods in a good way,' so the Prophet said: 'By Allah, that is not how it was revealed to me.' Then Gabriel descended to him, and the Prophet informed him. He said: 'By Allah, I did not teach you that, nor did I bring it to you like that,' so Allah revealed: 'And We did not send before you...'