Sahih Muslim 3030
Sahih Muslim · Book 56: The Book of Commentary on the Qur'an · Allah's Saving: "Those Whom They Call Upon Desire Means Of Access To Their Lord (Allah)"
Abdullah b. Mas'ud said in connection with the verse:
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِيِّ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ، مَسْعُودٍ { أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ} قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَأَسْلَمَ الْجِنِّيُّونَ وَالإِنْسُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ فَنَزَلَتْ { أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ}
" Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord," that that verse was revealed in connection with a party of Arabs who used to worship a group amnogst the jinn; the jinn embraced Islam but the people kept worshipping them without being conscious of it. Then this verse was revealed:" Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the means of access to their Lord."