Notes ❋ on the Quran
Volume I · PART I

Intercession

وَٱتَّقُواْ يَوۡمٗا لَّا تَجۡزِي نَفۡسٌ عَن نَّفۡسٖ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يُقۡبَلُ مِنۡهَا شَفَٰعَةٞ وَلَا يُؤۡخَذُ مِنۡهَا عَدۡلٞ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ ٤٨

And fear a Day (Day of Judgement) when a person shall not avail another, nor will intercession be accepted from him nor will compensation be taken from him nor will they be helped.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 48

In Holy Qur’an there are six different types of verses regarding intercession and its explanation:

First Category of Verses of Intercession

The verse which totally refute the intercession: 2:48, 2:123, 2:254

Second Category of Verses of Intercession

These are that verses in which it is stated that there will be no intercession for unbelievers and also those who intercede for them will not be accepted: 7:53, 26:99-101, 74:46-48

Third Category of Verses of Intercession

These verses relate intercession of their idols. In the history of illiterate Arabs we find that they prepaid idols of wood and stone and mettles, and they used to worship them so that idols would be pleased with them and may intercede for them. Qur’an has ridiculed them on many occasions, as lifeless things cannot intercede: 6:94. 10:18, 30:13, 36:23

Fourth Category of Verses of Intercession

Lord said that only He is authorised and there is no other to recompense: 6:51, 6:70, 32:4, 39:44

Fifth Category of Verses of Intercession

These verses lay stress on the Supreme Powers acceptant. On the day of Resurrection, the total control and status will be His: 2:255, 10:3, 19:87, 20:109, 34:23, 43:86

Sixth Category of Verses of Intercession

In these verses not only the existence of the intercessor is mentioned but also their attributes and specialties: 21:26-28, 53:26

  1. The first type: intercession that will take place in the Hereafter, on the Day of Resurrection. 

  2. The second type: intercession concerning matters of this world. 

With regard to the intercession that will take place in the Hereafter, it is of two types: 

A1. The first type: exclusive intercession, which will be granted only to the Messenger Muhammad (pbuh), and no one else in creation will have a share in that with him. This is of various kinds: 

A1.1 – The greater intercession. This is the station of praise and glory (al-maqaam al-mahmood) which Allah has promised to him [Al-Isra 17:79]. What this intercession means is that he will intercede for all of mankind when Allah delays the Reckoning and they have waited for so long in the place of gathering on the Day of Resurrection.

A1.2 – Intercession for the people of Paradise to enter Paradise. It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and will ask for it to be opened. The gatekeeper will say, “Who are you?” I will say, “Muhammad.” He will say, “I was commanded not to open it for anyone before you.”. According to another report narrated by Muslim, “I will be the first one to intercede concerning Paradise.” 

A1.3 – The intercession of the Messenger (pbuh) for his uncle Abu Taalib: It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri that mention was made of his uncle Abu Taalib in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He said, ‘Perhaps my intercession will benefit him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be placed in a shallow part of the Fire which will come up to his ankles and cause his brains to boil’.

A1.4 – His intercession so that some people of his ummah will enter Paradise without being brought to account. This kind of intercession was mentioned by some of the scholars, who quoted as evidence the lengthy hadeeth of Abu Hurairah concerning intercession, in which it says: “Then it will be said, ‘O Muhammad, raise you head; ask, it will be given to you; intercede, your intercession will be accepted.’ So, I will raise my head and say, ‘My ummah, O Lord; my ummah, O Lord; my ummah, O Lord.’ It will be said, ‘Admit those among your ummah who are not to be brought to account through the right-hand gate of Paradise. They will share the other gates with the people of other nations.’”

A2. The second type: general intercession. This will be granted to the Messenger (pbuh) and others – angels, Prophets and righteous people – will share in it as Allah wills. This is of various kinds: 

A2.1 – Intercession for some people who have entered Hell, that they might be brought forth from it. There is a great deal of evidence for this, for example: The hadeeth of Abu Saeed al-Khudri: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, none of you can be more insistent in asking Allah to restore his rights against his opponent than the believers who will ask Allah, on the Day of Resurrection, (to grant them the power of intercession) for their brothers who are in the Fire. They will say, ‘Our Lord, they used to fast with us and pray and perform Hajj.’ It will be said to them, ‘Bring out those whom you recognize, so the Fire will be forbidden to burn them.’ So, they will bring out many people… And Allah will say: ‘The angels have interceded, and the Prophets have interceded, and the believers have interceded. There is none left but the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.’ Then He will seize a handful of the Fire and bring forth from it people who never did anything good.” 

A2.2 – Intercession for people who deserve Hell, that they may not enter it. This may be indicated by the words of the Prophet (pbuh): “There is no Muslim who dies and forty men who associate nothing with Allah pray the funeral prayer for him, but Allah will accept their intercession for him.” For this intercession happens before the deceased enters Hell, and Allah will accept their intercession concerning that. 

A2.3 – Intercession for some of the believers who deserve Paradise, that they may be raised in status in Paradise. For example, Muslim narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) prayed for Abu Salamah and said: “O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah and raise his status among those who are guided, and take good care of his family that he has left behind. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Worlds, make his grave spacious for him and illuminate it for him.” 

Conditions of this intercession:

The evidence indicates that intercession in the Hereafter will only happen if the following conditions are met: 

1) Allah must approve of the one for whom intercession is made, because Allah says: “and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased” [al-Anbiya’ 21:28]. This implies that the one for whom intercession is made must be a believer in Tawheed. In Sahih al-Bukhaari it is narrated from Abu Hurairah that he said: “It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who will be the most blessed of people by your intercession of the Day of Resurrection?’ The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “I thought, O Abu Hurairah, that no one would ask me about this hadeeth before you, because I have seen how keen you are to learn hadeeth. The people who will be most blessed by my intercession on the Day of Resurrection are those who say Laa ilaaha ill-Allah sincerely from the heart.’” 

2) Allah must give permission to the intercessor to intercede, because Allah says: “Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?” [Al-Baqarah 2:255]

3)Allah must approve of the intercessor, because Allah says: “…whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with” [Al-Najm 53:26]. And the Messenger (pbuh) has stated that those who curse much will not be intercessors on the Day of Resurrection, as Muslim narrated in his Sahih that Abu-Darda’ said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say, ‘Those who curse much will not be witnesses or intercessors on the Day of Resurrection.’” 

B. The second type of intercession is that which has to do with matters of this world. This is of two types: 

B1 – That which is within a person’s ability to do something. This is permissible, subject to two conditions: 

1)That it should have to do with a permissible thing. It is not correct to intercede concerning something that will result in the loss of people’s rights or in wrong being done to them. It is also not correct to intercede concerning something that is haraam, such as those who intercede concerning those who deserve the hadd punishment, asking that it not be carried out on them. “Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allah is Ever All-Able to do everything”. [Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 85]. According to a hadeeth narrated by Aaishah, Quraysh were concerned about a Makhzoomi woman who had stolen, and they said, “Who will speak to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) concerning her? Who better than Usama, the beloved of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)?” So Usama spoke to him, and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Are you interceding concerning one of the hadd punishments prescribed by Allah?” Then he stood up and addressed the people, and said, “O people, those who came before you were only destroyed because if one of their nobles stole, they would let him off but if one of the weak stole they would carry out the punishment on him. By Allah, if Faatimah the daughter of Muhammad was to steal, I would cut off her hand”. In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim it is narrated that Abu Musa said that if someone came with a need to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he would turn to those who were sitting with him and say, “Intercede, and you will be rewarded, and Allah will decree what He wills through the lips of His Messenger.”  

2)In his heart, the person must depend on Allah alone to realize his aim and ward off what is disliked. He should know that this intercessor is no more than a means which Allah has permitted to us, and that benefit and harm are in the hand of Allah alone. This meaning is expressed clearly in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (pbuh).

If either of these two conditions is not met, then the intercession is not allowed. 

B2 – That which is not within a person’s ability to do something, such as seeking intercession from the dead and occupants of graves, or from a living person who is absent, believing that he is able to hear and meet one’s need. This is the kind of intercession that constitutes shirk, which is clearly forbidden in many verses of the Quran and hadeeths from the Prophet (pbuh), because it ascribes to them attributes which belong only to the Creator, for He is the Ever-living Who never dies. 

However, an incident has been related by Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others: “A blind man came to the Prophet and said: ‘I’ve been afflicted in my eyesight, so pray to Allah for me’. The Prophet said: ‘Go and perform wudu (ablution), perform two rakat salat and then say: “O Allah! I ask you and turn to you through my Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. O Muhammad! I seek your intercession with my Lord for the return of my eyesight, that it may be fulfilled. O Allah! Grant him intercession for me”. The Prophet then said: ‘And if there is some other need, do the same’”.

There are other Hadeeths as well which show that Tawassul can be carried out through a living as well as a dead person, as it refers to the permanent, positive status attached to that person, living or dead. Praying to Allah for a particular need, using some honourable personality, such as the Prophet and other righteous believers, as a wasila or intermediary, without supplicating to that person, or thinking that he has the power to provide, is permitted by the four schools of the Sunni fiqh. If a person supplicates directly to the deceased, believing that the prophets and pious persons are independently in possession of the power to provide, then this would be shirk or polytheism, and would be equal to assigning partners to God in his attribute of Al Razzak or The Provider.

وَٱتَّقُواْ يَوۡمٗا لَّا تَجۡزِي نَفۡسٌ عَن نَّفۡسٖ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يُقۡبَلُ مِنۡهَا عَدۡلٞ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَٰعَةٞ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ ١٢٣

And fear the Day (of Judgement) when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse123

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَ يَوۡمٞ لَّا بَيۡعٞ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٞ وَلَا شَفَٰعَةٞۗ وَٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ٢٥٤

O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Zalimun (wrong-doers).

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 254

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَيُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٞ وَلَا نَوۡمٞۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِي يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦۚ يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيۡءٖ مِّنۡ عِلۡمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَۚ وَسِعَ كُرۡسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۖ وَلَا يَ‍ُٔودُهُۥ حِفۡظُهُمَاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ٢٥٥

Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursee extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Surah 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 255

مَّن يَشۡفَعۡ شَفَٰعَةً حَسَنَةٗ يَكُن لَّهُۥ نَصِيبٞ مِّنۡهَاۖ وَمَن يَشۡفَعۡ شَفَٰعَةٗ سَيِّئَةٗ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كِفۡلٞ مِّنۡهَاۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ مُّقِيتٗا ٨٥

Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allah is Ever All-Able to do everything.

Surah 4 An-Nisa Verse 85

وَأَنذِرۡ بِهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَن يُحۡشَرُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ لَيۡسَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ وَلِيّٞ وَلَا شَفِيعٞ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ ٥١

And warn therewith (the Quran) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allah and keep their duty to Him.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 51

وَذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لَعِبٗا وَلَهۡوٗا وَغَرَّتۡهُمُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ وَذَكِّرۡ بِهِۦٓ أَن تُبۡسَلَ نَفۡسُۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ لَيۡسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيّٞ وَلَا شَفِيعٞ وَإِن تَعۡدِلۡ كُلَّ عَدۡلٖ لَّا يُؤۡخَذۡ مِنۡهَآۗ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُبۡسِلُواْ بِمَا كَسَبُواْۖ لَهُمۡ شَرَابٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمُۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡفُرُونَ ٧٠

And leave alone those who take their religion as play and amusement, and whom the life of this world has deceived. But remind (them) with it (the Quran) lest a person be given up to destruction for that which he has earned, when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allah, and even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him. Such are they who are given up to destruction because of that which they have earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful torment because they used to disbelieve.

Surah 6 Al-An’am Verse 70

وَلَقَدۡ جِئۡتُمُونَا فُرَٰدَىٰ كَمَا خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٖ وَتَرَكۡتُم مَّا خَوَّلۡنَٰكُمۡ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِكُمۡۖ وَمَا نَرَىٰ مَعَكُمۡ شُفَعَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّهُمۡ فِيكُمۡ شُرَكَٰٓؤُاْۚ لَقَد تَّقَطَّعَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَضَلَّ عَنكُم مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَزۡعُمُونَ ٩٤

And truly you have come unto Us alone (without wealth, companions or anything else) as We created you the first time. You have left behind you all that which We had bestowed on you. We see not with you your intercessors whom you claimed to be partners with Allah. Now all relations between you and them have been cut off, and all that you used to claim has vanished from you.

Surah 6 Al-Anam Verse 94

وَلَقَدۡ جِئۡنَٰهُم بِكِتَٰبٖ فَصَّلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ عِلۡمٍ هُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٥٢ هَلۡ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا تَأۡوِيلَهُۥۚ يَوۡمَ يَأۡتِي تَأۡوِيلُهُۥ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ نَسُوهُ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ فَهَل لَّنَا مِن شُفَعَآءَ فَيَشۡفَعُواْ لَنَآ أَوۡ نُرَدُّ فَنَعۡمَلَ غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِي كُنَّا نَعۡمَلُۚ قَدۡ خَسِرُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَضَلَّ عَنۡهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ ٥٣

Certainly, We have brought to them a Book (the Quran) which We have explained in detail with knowledge, - a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe. Await they just for the final fulfillment of the event? On the Day the event is finally fulfilled (i.e., the Day of Resurrection), those who neglected it before will say: “Verily, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth, now are there any intercessors for us that they might intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back (to the first life of the world) so that we might do (good) deeds other than those (evil) deeds which we used to do?” Verily, they have lost their ownselves (i.e., destroyed themselves) and that which they used to fabricate (invoking and worshipping others besides Allah) has gone away from them.

Surah 7 Al-Araf Verses 52-53

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِذۡنِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٣

Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty), disposing the affair of all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His Leave. That is Allah, your Lord; so, worship Him (Alone). Then, will you not remember?

Surah 10 Yunus Verse 3

فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوۡ كَذَّبَ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ١٧ وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَٰٓؤُنَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ قُلۡ أَتُنَبِّ‍ُٔونَ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعۡلَمُ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ ١٨

So, who does more wrong than he who forges a lie against Allah or denies His Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs)? Surely, the Mujrimun (criminals, sinners, disbelievers and polytheists) will never be successful! And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allah”. Say: “Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?” Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!

Surah 10 Yunus Verses 17-18

يَوۡمَ نَحۡشُرُ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ وَفۡدٗا ٨٥ وَنَسُوقُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرۡدٗا ٨٦ لَّا يَمۡلِكُونَ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَهۡدٗا ٨٧

The Day We shall gather the Muttaqoon (pious - see V.2:2) unto the Most Beneficent (Allah), like a delegate (presented before a king for honour). And We shall drive the Mujrimoon (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, etc.) to Hell, in a thirsty state (like a thirsty herd driven down to water); None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from the Most Beneficent (Allah).

Surah 19 Maryam Verses 85-87

يَوۡمَئِذٖ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَرَضِيَ لَهُۥ قَوۡلٗا ١٠٩

On that day no intercession shall avail, except the one for whom the Most Beneficent (Allah) has given permission and whose word is acceptable to Him.

Surah 20 Ta-Ha Verse 109

وَقَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَلَدٗاۗ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥۚ بَلۡ عِبَادٞ مُّكۡرَمُونَ ٢٦ لَا يَسۡبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ وَهُم بِأَمۡرِهِۦ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٢٧ يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡ وَلَا يَشۡفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ٱرۡتَضَىٰ وَهُم مِّنۡ خَشۡيَتِهِۦ مُشۡفِقُونَ ٢٨

And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or children)”. Glory to Him! They [those whom they call children of Allah i.e., the angels, Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), Uzair (Ezra) or the like] are but honoured slaves. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him.

Surah 21 Al-Anbiya Verses 26-28

وَمَآ أَضَلَّنَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ٩٩ فَمَا لَنَا مِن شَٰفِعِينَ ١٠٠ وَلَا صَدِيقٍ حَمِيمٖ ١٠١

[The erring ones say, on the Day of Resurrection:] And none has brought us into error except the Mujrimoon [Iblees (Satan) and those of human beings who commit crimes, murderers, polytheists, oppressors]. Now we have no intercessors; Nor a close friend (to help us).

Surah 26 Ash-Shuara Verses 99-101

وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُم مِّن شُرَكَآئِهِمۡ شُفَعَٰٓؤُاْ وَكَانُواْ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمۡ كَٰفِرِينَ ١٣

No intercessor will they have from those whom they made equal with Allah, and they will (themselves) reject and deny their partners.

Surah 30 Ar-Rum Verse 13

  1. The first category consists of angels, prophets, saints, martyrs and pious people whom the polytheists invest with Divine attributes. On the Day of Judgement, these beings will plainly tell that the actions of polytheists are without consent. They will thus disown them altogether.
  2. Second category consists of objects that are devoid of consciousness or even life – the sun, moon, planets, trees, stones and animals. As things stand, none of these objects will be in a position to intercede with Allah on behalf of their devotees in the Next Life.
  3. Third category consists of those who are notorious for their evil, those who exerted their efforts, had recourse to deception, falsehood and trickery and did not shirk from using force to make Allah’s servants worship them. These include Satan, false religious leaders, and tyrannical and oppressive rulers. In the Next Life they will rather seek to save themselves or secure relief by pleading that their devotees were responsible for the crimes they committed

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا شَفِيعٍۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ ٤

Allah it is He Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in six Days. Then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). You (mankind) have none, besides Him, as a Wali (protector or helper etc.) or an intercessor. Will you not then remember (or be admonished)?

Surah 32 As-Sajdah Verse 4

وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۥۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمۡ قَالُواْ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ ٢٣

Intercession with Him profits not, except for him whom He permits. Until when fear is banished from their (angels) hearts, they (angels) say: “What is it that your Lord has said?” They say: “The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great”.

Surah 34 Saba Verse 23

وَجَآءَ مِنۡ أَقۡصَا ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٞ يَسۡعَىٰ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱتَّبِعُواْ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٢٠ ٱتَّبِعُواْ مَن لَّا يَسۡ‍َٔلُكُمۡ أَجۡرٗا وَهُم مُّهۡتَدُونَ ٢١ وَمَا لِيَ لَآ أَعۡبُدُ ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ ٢٢ ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدۡنِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ بِضُرّٖ لَّا تُغۡنِ عَنِّي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ ٢٣ إِنِّيٓ إِذٗا لَّفِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٍ ٢٤ إِنِّيٓ ءَامَنتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡ فَٱسۡمَعُونِ ٢٥

And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man, saying: “O my people! Obey the Messengers; Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided. And why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned. Shall I take besides Him aliha (gods), if the Most Beneficent (Allah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me? Then verily, I should be in plain error. Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!”

Surah 36 Ya-Sin Verses 20-25

أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُفَعَآءَۚ قُلۡ أَوَلَوۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ ٤٣ قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ جَمِيعٗاۖ لَّهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ ٤٤

Have they taken (others) as intercessors besides Allah? Say: ‘Even if they have power over nothing whatever and have no intelligence?’ Say: ‘To Allah belongs all intercession. His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Then to Him you shall be brought back’.

Surah 39 Az-Zumar Verses 43-44

وَأَنذِرۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡأٓزِفَةِ إِذِ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ لَدَى ٱلۡحَنَاجِرِ كَٰظِمِينَۚ مَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ حَمِيمٖ وَلَا شَفِيعٖ يُطَاعُ ١٨

And warn them (O Muhammad, pbuh) of the Day that is drawing near (i.e., the Day of Resurrection), when the hearts will be choking the throats, and they can neither return them (hearts) to their chests nor can they throw them out. There will be no friend, nor an intercessor for the Zalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers), who could be given heed to.

Surah 40 Al-Ghafir Verse 18

وَلَا يَمۡلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٨٦

And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession – except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly, and they know. Surah 43 Az-Zukhruf Verse 86

  1. Only those who testify to truth out of knowledge will be able to intercede
  2. The ones who intercede will be able to do so only with regard to those who had consciously testified to the truth
  3. Those who claim that their idols/deities enjoy such power and authority that they will secure the deliverance of everyone, irrespective of their belief and deeds, are in gross error
  1. A testimony of truth without knowledge may be acceptable in this life. However, Allah does not admit it. Anyone who utters the Islamic creedal statement testifying the Oneness of Allah and the Messenger ship of the Prophet (pbuh) will be considered a Muslim in this life unless he publicly indulges in acts of unbelief. However, Allah will reckon only those as true believers who consciously recognise the implications and pre-requisites of their faith and of Islam’s basic creedal statement
  2. Knowledge is central to evidence. Without knowledge, one’s testimony will not be admitted. This truth comes out from the Prophet’s observation: ‘If you have witnessed this happening as you see the sun, you may go ahead with your testimony, otherwise you should not’

۞وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٖ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ لَا تُغۡنِي شَفَٰعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡ‍ًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ ٢٦

And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and pleases.

Surah 53 An-Najm Verse 26

إِنَّهَا لَإِحۡدَى ٱلۡكُبَرِ ٣٥ نَذِيرٗا لِّلۡبَشَرِ ٣٦ لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوۡ يَتَأَخَّرَ ٣٧ كُلُّ نَفۡسِۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ رَهِينَةٌ ٣٨ إِلَّآ أَصۡحَٰبَ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٣٩ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ٤٠ عَنِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ ٤١ مَا سَلَكَكُمۡ فِي سَقَرَ ٤٢ قَالُواْ لَمۡ نَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ ٤٣ وَلَمۡ نَكُ نُطۡعِمُ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينَ ٤٤ وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ ٱلۡخَآئِضِينَ ٤٥ وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤٦ حَتَّىٰٓ أَتَىٰنَا ٱلۡيَقِينُ ٤٧ فَمَا تَنفَعُهُمۡ شَفَٰعَةُ ٱلشَّٰفِعِينَ ٤٨

Verily, it (Hell Fire) is but one of the greatest (signs). A warning to mankind. To any of you that chooses to go forward or to remain behind. Every person is a pledge for what he has earned, except those on the Right. In gardens (Paradise) they will ask one another, about Al-Mujrimun (disbelievers, criminals) (and they will say to them): ‘What has caused you to enter Hell?’ They will say: ‘We were not of those who used to offer Salat (prayers), Nor we used to feed Al-Miskin (the needy); And we used to talk falsehood with vain talkers. And we used to deny the Day of Recompense. Until there came to us (death) that is certain’. So, no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them.

Surah 74 Al-Muddaththir Verse 35-48

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