INTERCESSION IN THE QURAN

[Taqavi]

How Does Intercession Manifest in the Quran?

 

The Holy Quran contains numerous verses regarding intercession. Some verses attribute intercession exclusively to Allah, while others establish its station for created beings through Divine permission and will. Therefore, the Quranic verses on this matter are divided into two parts, which are examined separately below.

Part One: Verses that Attribute Intercession Exclusively to Allah

1. "So the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them."[1]

This verse negates any type of intercession for this specific group—whether it be the intercession of Prophets and their successors, Angels, the truthful, martyrs, or the righteous—in general.

However, the use of the term "shafi‘in" (intercessors), which implies the actual existence of those who intercede, indicates that on that Day, there will indeed be intercessors and those for whom intercession is sought. Nevertheless, intercession will not benefit those who denied the Day of Judgment and abandoned prayer and feeding the poor.

The phrase "fa-ma tanfa‘uhum" (will not benefit them) indicates that their theological and practical state is the cause of their deprivation from the benefits of intercession. Thus, although the literal meaning of the verse places it among the verses negating intercession, implicitly and subtly, it affirms the principle of intercession itself. [2]

2. "And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will they be aided." [3]

 Scholars of Tafsir (exegesis) have stated that the negation of intercession in this verse is specific to the Jews; because they claimed that since they were descendants of prophets, their ancestors would assist them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah disappoints them of this false notion through this verse. Although the wording of the verse is general, its intent is to refute the incorrect belief of the Jews, not to absolutely negate intercession; because the principle of the intercession of the Prophet (SAW) is a well-known and undeniable fact for all Muslims, and the difference of opinion lies only in its quality and details. [4]

3. "It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor. So will you not be reminded?" [5]

4. "Say: To Allah belongs [all] intercession. The earth and the heavens belong to Him. Then to Him you will be returned." [6]

5. "There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord, so worship Him. Will you not be reminded?" [7]

6. "For the wrongdoers there is no friend and no intercessor who would be obeyed." [8]

The verses negating intercession by others besides Allah highlight two key points beautifully. First, what the polytheists considered as their deities and Gods possesses no power and will be incapable of any intercession on the Day of Resurrection. Second, polytheists, due to their disbelief and disobedience, will be deprived of the intercession of those whom Allah has permitted; for they have forfeited the worthiness and eligibility for it. [9]

Part Two: Verses that Establish the Station of Intercession for Some Created Beings by Divine Permission and Will

1. "Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?..." [10] 

2. "That Day, intercession will not benefit except for one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word." [11]

3. "And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will not avail at all except after Allah has permitted [it] for whom He wills and approves." [12]

4. "Those you invoke besides Allah do not possess [power over] intercession, except for those who testify to the truth and they know [it]." [13]

5. "They do not intercede except for one who is accepted, and they are from fear of Him apprehensive." [14]

6. "They do not have [power of] intercession except for he who has taken a promise with the Most Merciful." [15]

This collection of verses clearly indicates that intercession only acquires meaning in the light of Divine permission and pleasure. No created being, not even Angels and those Awliya’, has independence in the face of Allah’s will, and their intercession is conditional upon His permission and pleasure.

Thus, it becomes clear that what is attributed exclusively to Allah regarding intercession actually signifies that the True Owner of intercession is only Allah the Exalted, and no one can intercede except by His permission.

Based on this, intercession is of two kinds: first, intercession that belongs directly to Allah, and second, intercession that Allah – by His permission and allowance – has delegated to some of Awliya’ in His divine presence. [16]

Therefore, in understanding the topic of intercession, all related verses must be viewed together. A superficial approach without careful attention to all related verses leads to incomplete and deviant interpretations. Correct knowledge of it is only possible through a comprehensive, harmonious, and holistic view of all relevant verses; otherwise, the result will be an ignorant distortion of the true meaning of intercession.

Conclusion:

The Quran establishes that intercession belongs solely to Allah and is contingent upon His permission and pleasure. Verses of the Quran on the topic of intercession fall into two categories: 1. Verses of Negation: These declare that true intercession is exclusive to Allah and deem any intercession without His permission as void. 2. Verses of Affirmation: These establish the station of intercession for certain created beings, provided it is by Allah’s permission and will. This means that no one, not even the Prophets and Angels, possesses the power to intercede independently. Their intercession is strictly bound by Divine permission. Furthermore, intercession only benefits those who are theologically and practically worthy and who have earned Allah’s pleasure.

 

 

 

 

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[1] . Al-Muddaththir: 48 «فَمَا تَنْفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشَّافِعِينَ»

[2] . Payam-e Quran (Message of the Quran), Naser Makarem Shirazi, Vol. 6, p. 385.

[3] . Al-Baqarah: 48 «وَاتَّقُوا يَوْماً لاتَجْزى نَفْسٌ عَنْ نَفْسٍ شَيْئاً وَ لا يُقْبَلُ مِنْها شَفاعةٌ وَ لا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْها عَدْلٌ وَ لا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ‌»

[4] . Majma‘ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran, Sheikh al-Tabarsi, Vol. 1, p. 201.

[5] . As-Sajdah: 4 «‌اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ۖ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ»

[6] . Az-Zumar: 44 «قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ»

[7] . Yunus: 3 «مَا مِنْ شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ»

[8] . Al-Mu’min: 18 «ما لِلظَّالِمينَ مِنْ حَميمٍ وَ لا شَفيعٍ يُطاعُ»

[9] . Al-Shafa‘ah Haqiqah Islamiyyah, Muhammad Hadi al-Asadi, p. 17.

[10] . Al-Baqarah: 255 «للَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ»

[11] . Ta-Ha: 109 «يَوْمَئِذٍ لَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَنُ وَرَضِيَ لَهُ قَوْلًا»

[12] . An-Najm: 26 «وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى»

[13] . Az-Zukhruf: 86 «وَ لا يَمْلِكُ الذَّينَ يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ الشَّفاعَةَ الّا مَنْ شَهِدَ بِالحَقِّ وَ هُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ»

[14] . Al-Anbiya: 28 «وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ وَهُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ»

[15] . Maryam: 87 «لايَمْلِكُونَ الشّفاعَةَ الّا مَنْ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمنِ عَهْداً»

[16] . Al-Shafa‘ah, Sheikh Ja’far Subhani, p. 21.