The phrase ‘Min Dun-Allah’… ‘besides Allah’… (5:116) is often repeated in the Qur’an. Some people have misunderstood these verses to mean that the polytheists of Makkah considered Allah to be… ‘something gone, forgotten’… (19:23) and turned to deities (other than Allah) and that they used to present gifts to these deities (other than Allah) or turn to them for seeking assistance (isti’anah) and that is why they were polytheists (mushriks). This is a fatal mistake as we have previously quoted clear and unambiguous verses of the Qur’an and narrations that they considered these deities mere intercessors to get their requests to Allah. In fact, we have elaborated explicitly that in the time of extreme need the polytheists used to call upon Allah Most High.....

http://barelwism.wordpress.com/2012/...-of-dun-allah/