Imploring Him is the only legitimate supplication, while the idols they implore beside Him, cannot ever respond. Thus, they are like those who stretch their hands to the water, but nothing reaches their mouths. The supplications of the disbelievers are in vain.
لَهُ دَعوَةُ الحَقِّ وَالَّذينَ يَدعونَ مِن دونِهِ لا يَستَجيبونَ لَهُم بِشَىءٍ إِلّا كَبٰسِطِ كَفَّيهِ إِلَى الماءِ لِيَبلُغَ فاهُ وَما هُوَ بِبٰلِغِهِ وَما دُعٰؤُاْ الكٰفِرينَ إِلّا فى ضَلٰلٍ
lahoo da’watul haqq; wallazeena yad’oona min doonihee laa yastajeeboona lahum bishai’in illaa kabaasiti kaffaihi ilal maaa’i liyablugha faahu wa maa huwa bibaalighih; wa maa du’aaa’ul kaafireena illaa fee dalaal