سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 23
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ﴿23﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits. So much so that when fear is banished from their (angels’) hearts, they (angels) say: "What is it that your Lord has said?" They say: "The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And not
تَنفَعُ
tanfaʿu
benefits
ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ
l-shafāʿatu
the intercession
عِندَهُۥٓ
ʿindahu
with Him
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِمَنْ
liman
for (one) whom
أَذِنَ
adhina
He permits
لَهُۥ ۚ
lahu
for him
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
Until
إِذَا
idhā
when
فُزِّعَ
fuzziʿa
fear is removed
عَن
ʿan
on
قُلُوبِهِمْ
qulūbihim
their hearts
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they will say
مَاذَا
mādhā
What is that
قَالَ
qāla
your Lord has said
رَبُّكُمْ ۖ
rabbukum
your Lord has said
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They will say
ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ
l-ḥaqa
The truth
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلْعَلِىُّ
l-ʿaliyu
(is) the Most High
ٱلْكَبِيرُ
l-kabīru
the Most Great
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
23. No intercession is of any benefit with Him except for the one to whom He gives permission [37]. When fear is removed from their hearts, they will ask, “What did your [38] Lord say?” They will reply, “The truth.” And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
[37]
The Principle of Intercession with Allah:
Most polytheists also hold this belief about their deities that they intercede for them with the Supreme God, that is, Allah, even though it is Allah alone who fulfills the needs. These deities or saints, by interceding with Allah, become the means for their needs to be fulfilled by Allah. Therefore, Allah Almighty has also stated His principle regarding intercession. And this principle has already been mentioned several times in the Quran. In brief, it is as follows:
(1) Only that person will be able to intercede with Allah who is granted permission by Allah. Who knows whether the one you consider an intercessor will even be granted permission or not.
(2) Intercession can only be made for that person about whom Allah wills, and how can you know whether anyone is granted permission from Allah to intercede on your behalf or not?
(3) And intercession can only be made for the forgiveness of that sin about which Allah wills. This restriction makes the concept of intercession even more limited. Then why are you so attached to these deities or saints? Take care of your own affairs in time and do not rely on anyone’s intercession.
[38]
The Majesty and Awe of Allah Almighty:
You speak of intercession with Allah, whose majesty and greatness are such that when a command is revealed from Him, the close angels who are with Him begin to tremble and become anxious. As is made clear by the following hadith: Hazrat Abu Hurairahؓ says that the Prophetﷺ said: When Allah Almighty decides upon a matter, the angels, out of humility for Allah’s word, beat their wings, and a sound is heard like that of a chain being dragged over a smooth stone. Then, when they regain their senses, they ask one another: What did your Lord say? The other replies: Whatever He said is true, and He is the Most High, the Most Great. The Prophetﷺ said: And the devils gather one above another between the earth and the sky (so that they may steal heavenly news) [ترمذي۔ كتاب التفسير]
Could anyone dare to intercede with such a majestic and awe-inspiring Allah without His permission? And what kind of delusions are you people under? The scholars of hadith have brought this hadith in the explanation of this verse because a group among the Arabs considered the angels to have authority in the workings of the universe and worshipped them, and those among them who believed in the Hereafter to some extent thought that even if there was accountability on the Day of Judgment, these angels would intercede for them with Allah and save them. And some commentators have related this verse to those saints and spiritual leaders who promise their disciples salvation through intercession and keep advising them to remain attached to the cloak of some saint. That is, both the intercessor and the one for whom intercession is sought will be extremely anxious on the Day of Judgment, both waiting to see whether permission to intercede is granted or not. Then, if Allah Almighty grants the intercessor permission to intercede, his anxiety is somewhat relieved, which the one for whom intercession is sought perceives and asks him what answer was received. The intercessor replies that the matter is fine, permission has been granted, and only then does the one for whom intercession is sought feel at ease. In this, both the intercessor and the one for whom intercession is sought are warned that the concept you have formed regarding intercession is absolutely incorrect. The court of Allah is so exalted and great that neither the close angels nor any other great personality dares to utter a word without Allah’s permission. No one will have the courage to say to Allah that this person is attached to my cloak, so You must forgive him. For the intercessor himself does not know what will become of him; how then can he take responsibility for others?
[37]
The Principle of Intercession with Allah:
Most polytheists also hold this belief about their deities that they intercede for them with the Supreme God, that is, Allah, even though it is Allah alone who fulfills the needs. These deities or saints, by interceding with Allah, become the means for their needs to be fulfilled by Allah. Therefore, Allah Almighty has also stated His principle regarding intercession. And this principle has already been mentioned several times in the Quran. In brief, it is as follows:
(1) Only that person will be able to intercede with Allah who is granted permission by Allah. Who knows whether the one you consider an intercessor will even be granted permission or not.
(2) Intercession can only be made for that person about whom Allah wills, and how can you know whether anyone is granted permission from Allah to intercede on your behalf or not?
(3) And intercession can only be made for the forgiveness of that sin about which Allah wills. This restriction makes the concept of intercession even more limited. Then why are you so attached to these deities or saints? Take care of your own affairs in time and do not rely on anyone’s intercession.
[38]
The Majesty and Awe of Allah Almighty:
You speak of intercession with Allah, whose majesty and greatness are such that when a command is revealed from Him, the close angels who are with Him begin to tremble and become anxious. As is made clear by the following hadith: Hazrat Abu Hurairahؓ says that the Prophetﷺ said: When Allah Almighty decides upon a matter, the angels, out of humility for Allah’s word, beat their wings, and a sound is heard like that of a chain being dragged over a smooth stone. Then, when they regain their senses, they ask one another: What did your Lord say? The other replies: Whatever He said is true, and He is the Most High, the Most Great. The Prophetﷺ said: And the devils gather one above another between the earth and the sky (so that they may steal heavenly news) [ترمذي۔ كتاب التفسير]
Could anyone dare to intercede with such a majestic and awe-inspiring Allah without His permission? And what kind of delusions are you people under? The scholars of hadith have brought this hadith in the explanation of this verse because a group among the Arabs considered the angels to have authority in the workings of the universe and worshipped them, and those among them who believed in the Hereafter to some extent thought that even if there was accountability on the Day of Judgment, these angels would intercede for them with Allah and save them. And some commentators have related this verse to those saints and spiritual leaders who promise their disciples salvation through intercession and keep advising them to remain attached to the cloak of some saint. That is, both the intercessor and the one for whom intercession is sought will be extremely anxious on the Day of Judgment, both waiting to see whether permission to intercede is granted or not. Then, if Allah Almighty grants the intercessor permission to intercede, his anxiety is somewhat relieved, which the one for whom intercession is sought perceives and asks him what answer was received. The intercessor replies that the matter is fine, permission has been granted, and only then does the one for whom intercession is sought feel at ease. In this, both the intercessor and the one for whom intercession is sought are warned that the concept you have formed regarding intercession is absolutely incorrect. The court of Allah is so exalted and great that neither the close angels nor any other great personality dares to utter a word without Allah’s permission. No one will have the courage to say to Allah that this person is attached to my cloak, so You must forgive him. For the intercessor himself does not know what will become of him; how then can he take responsibility for others?
