This second question weakens the answer of those who interpret the denial of intercession as referring to intercession for disbelievers, and who take the wrongdoers to be the disbelievers. . . (1)

The response is as follows:

The intercession being denied is what people ordinarily understand by intercession when the term is used without qualification: an intercessor approaches another on his own initiative, and that person accepts his intercession. But if that person gives him permission to intercede, and he then intercedes, he is not acting independently. Rather, he is obeying that person—that is, following his direction in interceding. His intercession is accepted, while the entire matter rests with the one who gives the command and to whom the petition is addressed.

The explicit text of the Quran establishes in several verses that no one intercedes with Him except by His permission. As He, the Exalted, says:

“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”

And He says:

“Intercession does not benefit with Him except for one to whom He gives permission.”

And He says:

“They do not intercede except for those with whom He is pleased.”

There are other verses to the same effect.

What makes clear that this is the intercession being denied is His statement:

“And warn with it those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord—with no protector or intercessor apart from Him—so that they may become mindful of Him.”

And He, the Exalted, says:

“Allah is the One who created the heavens and the earth and everything between them in six days, then rose above the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor apart from Him.”

Thus, He states that they have no protector or intercessor apart from Allah.

As for the denial of intercession without His permission, intercession performed with His permission is not apart from Him, just as guardianship exercised with His permission is not apart from Him. As He, the Exalted, says:

“Your guardian is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe—those who establish prayer, give zakah, and bow down. Whoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe as guardians—then indeed, the party of Allah will prevail.”

He also says:

“Or have they taken intercessors apart from Allah? Say, ‘Even though they do not possess