Chapter on Intercession

And the saying of Allah, the Exalted: “And warn with it those who fear that they will be gathered to their Lord; they will have no protector and no intercessor besides Him.” [Al-Anʿām 6:51]

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Relevance of this chapter to The Book of Monotheism: The idolaters used to justify their worship of angels, prophets, and saints by claiming, “We know they are created beings, but they enjoy standing with Allah, and we only seek their intercession before Him.” The author—may Allah have mercy on him—devoted this chapter to establishing proofs that such a practice is precisely the form of polytheism Allah has forbidden, and to refuting every avenue that leads to it.

al-Shafāʿah (intercession): a verbal noun from shafaʿa, “to pair one thing with its like.” You say, “I made it shafaʿ,” meaning, I attached it to the lone item to form a pair. To “intercede for someone” is to aid him in obtaining his request from the one who possesses it.

wa-andhir (and warn): al-indhār is to inform someone of a point of danger and caution him against it.

bi-hi (with it): that is, with the Quran.

yakhāfūn (they fear): they dread.

an yuhsharū (that they will be gathered): that they will be assembled and resurrected.

laysa lahum min dūnihi waliyyun wa-lā shafīʿ (they will have no protector and no intercessor besides Him): a circumstantial clause, meaning: devoid of every patron who could aid them and every intercessor who could plead on their behalf.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah, Exalted is He, says to His Prophet ﷺ: Warn the people with the Quran