on that Day, intercession will benefit neither an intercessor nor someone for whom intercession is made, “except one whom the Most Merciful permits and who speaks rightly.”

Thus, an authentic hadith reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“O descendants of ‘Abd Manāf, I can do nothing for you against Allah. O Safiyya, aunt of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, I can do nothing for you against Allah. O ‘Abbās, uncle of the Messenger of Allah, I can do nothing for you against Allah.”

Another authentic hadith states:

“Let me not find any of you coming on the Day of Resurrection carrying on his neck a bellowing camel, a bleating sheep, or fluttering sheets, saying, ‘Help me! Help me!’ I will say, ‘I conveyed the message to you. I can do nothing for you against Allah.’”

It is thus clear that His words,

“Those whom they invoke besides Him possess no power of intercession,”

and,

“They have no power to address Him,”

retain their full force. His words in the verse, “They have no power before Him,” are like the Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “I can do nothing for you against Allah.” They are also like Abraham’s words to his father:

“I can do nothing for you against Allah.”

This verse resembles the words of the Most High:

“Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them, the Most Merciful—they have no power to address Him.”

“On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks