Thus, many of them imagine that intercession results from a connection between the soul of the intercessor and the soul of the person on whose behalf he intercedes, as mentioned by Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī and others. They say that whoever sends more blessings upon the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has a greater claim to intercession than others. Likewise, whoever thinks more highly of someone and venerates him more has a greater claim to his intercession. This is mistaken. Rather, this is the very assertion of the polytheists who said: “We take the angels as our allies so that they may intercede for us.” They imagine that loving any of the angels, prophets, or righteous people and pledging allegiance to him is a means of securing his intercession. But this is not the case.

Rather, the basis of intercession is affirming Allah’s oneness and devoting one’s religion and every form of worship exclusively to Him. The more sincere a person’s devotion, the greater his claim to intercession, just as he has a greater claim to every other form of mercy.

Intercession originates with Allah, and its fulfilment rests with Him. No one intercedes except with His permission. He is the One who grants the intercessor permission, and He is the One who accepts his intercession on behalf of the person concerned. Intercession is merely one of the means through which Allah shows mercy to those of His servants upon whom He bestows His mercy.

Those with the greatest claim to His mercy are those who affirm His oneness and devote themselves sincerely to Him. Thus, the more completely a person puts into effect the sincere affirmation “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah”—in knowledge, belief, action, disavowal, allegiance, and enmity—the greater his claim to mercy.