because He did not say, “It benefits only one to whom He gives permission,” nor did He say, “Intercession brings benefit only in the case of one to whom He gives permission.” Rather, He said:

“Intercession benefits only one to whom He gives permission.”

Thus, intercession brings benefit, is benefited from, and proves beneficial only for those for whom permission has been given. As He Most High says in the other verse:

“Intercession will not benefit anyone with Him except those for whom He gives permission.”

It does not say, “It benefits only an intercessor who has been given permission.” Had this been intended, it would have said, “Intercession brings no benefit with Him except from one to whom He gives permission.” Instead, He says, “except for one to whom He gives permission,” meaning the person on whose behalf intercession is made and who benefits from it.

In His words, “Until, when fear is removed from their hearts,” the pronoun does not refer back to “the intercessors.” Rather, it refers to those mentioned in His words:

“They have no share in either, nor does He have any helper from among them.”

Then He says:

“Intercession will not benefit anyone with Him.”

He then makes clear that this is ruled out:

“Until, when fear is removed from their hearts, they say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They say, ‘The truth.’”

They do not know what He has said until fear is removed from their hearts, so how could they intercede without His permission?

When He, glorified be He, gives permission concerning the person on whose behalf intercession is made, He has thereby given permission to the intercessor. This, then, is comprehensive permission, unlike permission given only to the intercessor: that does not necessarily mean that He has given permission concerning the person on whose behalf intercession is made, for He may give the intercessor a limited permission.