by virtue of something unrelated to him that provides no grounds for benefiting him.

If a man were to say to a person of great authority:

“I ask you by virtue of so-and-so’s obedience to you, your love for him on account of that obedience, and the standing he enjoys before you because of his obedience to you,”

he would be asking by virtue of something unrelated to himself, with which he has no connection. Likewise, Allah’s kindness towards those drawn near to Him, His love for them and His elevation of their standing, together with their worship of Him and obedience to Him, provide no grounds for answering the supplication of someone who asks by virtue of them. Rather, grounds for answering his supplication arise either from something on his part—his obedience to them—or from something on their part—their intercession for him. If neither is present, there are no such grounds.

Indeed, if he were to ask Allah by virtue of his faith in Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his love for him, his obedience to him and his following him, he would be asking by virtue of a powerful cause for his supplication to be answered. Indeed, this is the greatest of all causes and means. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explained that his intercession in the Hereafter benefits those who affirm Allah’s oneness, not those who associate partners with Him, and that those who supplicate for him to be granted al-wasīla (the station in Paradise) are entitled to it. As related in an authentic hadith collection, he said:

“When you hear the caller to prayer, repeat what he says, then invoke blessings upon me. Whoever invokes blessings upon me once, Allah will bless him ten times. Then ask Allah to grant me al-wasīla, for it is a rank in Paradise befitting only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope to be that servant. Whoever asks Allah to grant me al-wasīla will be entitled to my intercession on the Day of Resurrection.”

It is also related in an authentic hadith collection:

“Abū Hurayra said to him, ‘Who will be most blessed by your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?’ He replied, ‘Whoever says, “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,” sincerely from his heart.’”

Thus, he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explained that those most entitled to his intercession on the Day of Resurrection are those whose affirmation of Allah’s oneness and sincerity are greatest. For affirming Allah’s oneness is the sum and substance of religion. Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills. No one can intercede with Him, glorified be He, except by His permission. When Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is permitted to intercede, his Lord sets a limit for him, and he admits them into Paradise. This is according to