حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، ‏[quran sura="17" aya_start="2" aya_end="2"]{‏إِلَى رَبِّهِمِ الْوَسِيلَةَ‏}‏ قَالَ كَانَ نَاسٌ مِنَ الإِنْسِ يَعْبُدُونَ نَاسًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ، فَأَسْلَمَ الْجِنُّ، وَتَمَسَّكَ هَؤُلاَءِ بِدِينِهِمْ‏.‏ زَادَ الأَشْجَعِيُّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ‏.‏ ‏[quran sura="17" aya_start="56" aya_end="56"]{‏قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ‏}‏

باب ‏<a href="https://quran.com/17/56-56">{‏قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلاَ يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَحْوِيلاً‏}</a>‏

Narrated `Abdullah:

Regarding the explanation of the Verse: 'Those whom they call upon (worship) (like Jesus the Son of 
Mary, angels etc.) desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allah) as to which of them 
should be the nearer and they hope for His Mercy and fear His torment.' (17.57) They themselves (e.g. 
Angels, saints, Apostles, Jesus, etc.,) worshipped Allah, Those Jinns who were worshipped by some 
Arabs became Muslims (embraced Islam), but those human beings stuck to their (old) religion. Al- 
A`mash said extra: 'Say, (O Muhammad): Call unto those besides Him whom you assume (to be 
gods).' (17.56)