“So the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them. (48)”

“In Gardens, they will ask one another about the criminals”—that is, the polytheists—“What has brought you into Saqar?” that is, caused you to enter it. They will answer: “We were not among those who prayed [to Allah] (1), nor did we feed the needy. We used to engage in falsehood along with those who engaged in it, and we used to deny the Day of Recompense, until certainty came to us”—that is, death.

Allah, exalted is He, says: “So the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them.” Ibn Mas‘ud said: “The angels, the Prophets, the martyrs, the righteous, and all the believers will intercede, and none will remain in the Fire except four.” Then he recited, “They will say, ‘We were not among those who prayed,’” up to His words, “the Day of Recompense.” (2)

‘Imran ibn al-Husayn said: “Intercession benefits every person except those whom you have heard mentioned.”

Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Salihi informed us, 179/b; Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Hiri informed us; Hajib ibn Ahmad al-Tusi informed us; Muhammad ibn Hammad narrated to us; Abu Mu‘awiyah narrated to us, from al-A‘mash, from Yazid al-Raqashi, from Anas, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, describing the people of the Fire and how they are punished, said: “Then a man from the people of Paradise passes among them, and a man says …”