from evil consequences. Whoever You protect from evil consequences that Day, You have indeed shown mercy.’”

He, glory be to Him, has thus stated that the angels pray for the believers to be forgiven, protected from punishment, and admitted to Paradise. Yet the angels’ supplication is not an act performed by the servant himself.

Allah Most High says:

“Seek forgiveness for your sin, and for the believing men and believing women.”

Abraham, Allah’s intimate friend (peace be upon him), said:

“My Lord, forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day the Reckoning takes place.”

Noah (peace be upon him) said:

“My Lord, forgive me, my parents, whoever enters my house as a believer, and the believing men and believing women.”

Thus, Allah has mentioned the messengers’ seeking forgiveness for the believers, both by commanding them to do so and by recounting their doing so.

Among the practices of the Sunnah established through mass transmission, the denial of which constitutes disbelief, are the Muslims’ funeral prayer for the deceased and their supplication for him during that prayer. The same applies to the intercession of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the Day of Resurrection: the reports concerning it are mass-transmitted. Indeed, none but the people of religious innovation have denied his intercession for those who commit major sins. On the contrary, it is established that he intercedes for those who commit major sins, and his intercession consists of his supplicating and petitioning Allah, Blessed and Most High.

This and similar evidence is found in the Quran and the mass-transmitted Sunnah. Whoever denies such matters is a disbeliever once the proof has been established against him.

There are many authentic hadiths on this subject, such as the report in the authentic hadith collections from Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father): “A man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘My mother has died. Will it benefit her if I give charity on her behalf?’

He replied, ‘Yes.’