What does Islam say about Intercession (Shafa'a)?
In Islam, intercession (Shafa'a) is a significant concept that refers to the ability of certain individuals to plead on behalf of others before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The Qur'an and Hadith literature outline the conditions and the process of intercession, emphasizing its divine authorization.
One key verse from the Qur'an states: On that day no intercession availeth save (that of) him unto whom the Beneficent hath given leave and whose word He accepteth.
20:109. This verse highlights that intercession is only granted to those whom Allah permits, establishing that it is not a universal right but a privilege bestowed by Allah.
Numerous hadith also elaborate on this concept. For instance, Sahih al-Bukhari narrates: On the Day of Resurrection, the believers will gather and say, 'If only we could intercede with our Lord.' They will first go to Adam and say, 'You are the father of mankind; Allah created you with His hand, His angels prostrated to you, and He taught you the names of everything. Intercede with your Lord to relieve us from this place.' Adam will say, 'You are not my followers,' and he will mention his sin and be ashamed. Then they will go to Noah, the first messenger Allah sent to the people of the earth. He will say, 'You are not my followers,' and mention how he asked his Lord something he had no knowledge of, thus being ashamed. Then they will come to Abraham, the friend of Allah, who will also say, 'You are not my followers.' Then to Moses, Allah’s servant who spoke to Him and was given the Torah. Moses will say, 'You are not my followers,' and mention the killing of a soul unjustly, being ashamed before his Lord. Then to Jesus, Allah's servant and messenger and His word and spirit. He will say, 'You are not my followers.' Finally, they come to Muhammad, Allah’s servant whom He has forgiven all his past and future sins. He will come to me, and I will go to seek permission to approach my Lord. When permitted and I see my Lord, I will prostrate. My Lord will allow me to rise and ask for whatever I desire, and I will intercede and be granted intercession. I enter Paradise with those I interceded for, then return to my Lord and intercede again, and so on until all except those restrained by the Qur'an remain in the Fire forever, as Allah says: 'They will abide therein forever.'
Sahih al-Bukhari 65:3.
Similarly, Sahih Muslim provides an account where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) explains: Allah will gather the people on the Day of Resurrection and they will be anxious about that. Ibn 'Ubayd said: They are inspired by that and say: If only we were to intercede with our Lord to relieve us of our place here. They will go to Adam and say: O Adam, father of mankind, Allah created you with His own hand, breathed into you of His spirit, and commanded the angels to prostrate to you; intercede for us with your Lord to relieve us here. He will say: I am not responsible for you; mention my sin and I am ashamed before my Lord because of it. Go to Nuh, the first to be sent by Allah. They will say the same to Nuh, who will say the same as Adam. Then to Ibrahim, the friend of Allah, who will say the same. Then to Musa, who will say the same. Then to 'Isa, the Spirit of Allah and His Word, who will say the same. Then to Muhammad (ﷺ), a servant forgiven for what came before and after. He will say: I am responsible for them. I go and ask permission from my Lord and am allowed. When I see Him, I prostrate and praise Him with praises that only Allah teaches me. Then I intercede and a measure is set, and I bring them out of the Fire and into Paradise. I prostrate again and am allowed to continue. Then it is said: Raise your head and say: He hears you, so ask and you will be given; intercede and you will be granted. Then I say: My Lord, my people, my people. It is said: Go, whoever has the weight of a barley grain or goodness in their heart, bring them out. I do so, then return to my Lord and praise Him again, then intercede a second time for those with the weight of a mustard seed of faith. Then a third time for those with the least amount of faith; I do so and then I do not know whether it is the third or fourth time. Then I say: My Lord, there remains in the Fire only those whom the Qur’an has kept there, meaning those who must remain forever.
Sahih Muslim 1:381.
Through these teachings, it becomes clear that intercession is a mercy from Allah, with specific guidelines on who may intercede and under what circumstances, reinforcing the notion of individual responsibility and the importance of faith.
Sources
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20:109 · Taa-Haa
20:109 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُۥ قَوْلًۭا
On that day no intercession availeth save (that of) him unto whom the Beneficent hath given leave and whose word He accepteth.
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Sahih al-Bukhari 65:3
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 65, Hadith 3 · Narrated by Anas
On the Day of Resurrection, the believers will gather and say, 'If only we could intercede with our Lord.' They will first go to Adam and say, 'You are the father of mankind; Allah created you with His hand, His angels prostrated to you, and He taught you the names of everything. Intercede with your Lord to relieve us from this place.' Adam will say, 'You are not my followers,' and he will mention his sin and be ashamed. Then they will go to Noah, the first messenger Allah sent to the people of the earth. He will say, 'You are not my followers,' and mention how he asked his Lord something he had no knowledge of, thus being ashamed. Then they will come to Abraham, the friend of Allah, who will also say, 'You are not my followers.' Then to Moses, Allah’s servant who spoke to Him and was given the Torah. Moses will say, 'You are not my followers,' and mention the killing of a soul unjustly, being ashamed before his Lord. Then to Jesus, Allah's servant and messenger and His word and spirit. He will say, 'You are not my followers.' Finally, they come to Muhammad, Allah’s servant whom He has forgiven all his past and future sins. He will come to me, and I will go to seek permission to approach my Lord. When permitted and I see my Lord, I will prostrate. My Lord will allow me to rise and ask for whatever I desire, and I will intercede and be granted intercession. I enter Paradise with those I interceded for, then return to my Lord and intercede again, and so on until all except those restrained by the Qur'an remain in the Fire forever, as Allah says: "They will abide therein forever."
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Sahih Muslim 1:381
Sahih Muslim · Book 1, Hadith 381 · Narrated by Anas
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Allah will gather the people on the Day of Resurrection and they will be anxious about that. Ibn 'Ubayd said: They are inspired by that and say: If only we were to intercede with our Lord to relieve us of our place here. They will go to Adam and say: O Adam, father of mankind, Allah created you with His own hand, breathed into you of His spirit, and commanded the angels to prostrate to you; intercede for us with your Lord to relieve us here. He will say: I am not responsible for you; mention my sin and I am ashamed before my Lord because of it. Go to Nuh, the first to be sent by Allah. They will say the same to Nuh, who will say the same as Adam. Then to Ibrahim, the friend of Allah, who will say the same. Then to Musa, who will say the same. Then to 'Isa, the Spirit of Allah and His Word, who will say the same. Then to Muhammad (ﷺ), a servant forgiven for what came before and after. He will say: I am responsible for them. I go and ask permission from my Lord and am allowed. When I see Him, I prostrate and praise Him with praises that only Allah teaches me. Then I intercede and a measure is set, and I bring them out of the Fire and into Paradise. I prostrate again and am allowed to continue. Then it is said: Raise your head and say: He hears you, so ask and you will be given; intercede and you will be granted. Then I say: My Lord, my people, my people. It is said: Go, whoever has the weight of a barley grain of faith or goodness in their heart, bring them out. I do so, then return to my Lord and praise Him again, then intercede a second time for those with the weight of a mustard seed of faith. Then a third time for those with the least amount of faith; I do so and then I do not know whether it is the third or fourth time. Then I say: My Lord, there remains in the Fire only those whom the Qur’an has kept there, meaning those who must remain forever.
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