Intercession

Linguistically, shafaʿah denotes mediation and petition, while in religious usage it means asking that good be conferred upon another. Some scholars trace it to the root shafʿ, the opposite of witr (odd), for the intercessor, as it were, adds his plea to the plea of the one on whose behalf he intercedes.

Intercession is real when its conditions are fulfilled: it must occur with Allah’s permission and with His approval of the person on whose behalf it is made. The Almighty says, “How many an angel there is in the heavens whose intercession will avail nothing until after Allah gives permission to whom He wills and is pleased with.” ⦗1⦘

This noble verse makes clear that intercession is effective only when two conditions are met:

1. Allah grants the intercessor leave to intercede, for intercession belongs solely to Him: “Say: To Allah belongs all intercession.” ⦗2⦘

2. Allah is pleased with the one for whom intercession is sought, meaning he must be among the people of tawḥīd (pure monotheism); a polytheist gains no benefit from intercession, as the Exalted says, “The intercession of the intercessors will not profit them.” ⦗3⦘

This shows the futility of the present-day grave-worshippers who seek intercession from the dead and try to draw near to them with various offerings. Concerning their predecessors Allah said, “They worship, apart from Allah, things that can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’” ⦗4⦘ And He, Most High, also said, “Have they taken intercessors besides Allah? Say: Even though they possess no power and understand nothing? Say: To Allah belongs all intercession; to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.” ⦗5⦘

Our Prophet ﷺ has indeed been granted intercession, and he will intercede for whomever Allah permits.

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) said: “He ﷺ has three kinds of intercession: