✦ Intercession, Intermediaries, and Relations with Disbelievers in Islam ✦
"Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allah, calls upon them, seeks intercession from them, and relies upon them—he is, by consensus, a disbeliever."
– Polytheists in every era believed that calling upon saints or holy figures as intermediaries does not constitute shirk.
– They did not believe these figures had intrinsic power, but only saw them as means of intercession with Allah.
Even the idolaters of Makkah didn’t believe their deities had control over harm or benefit; they merely considered them intercessors before Allah.
“And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allah.'”
(Yunus: 18)
“Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him say: 'We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.'”
(Az-Zumar: 3)
– Many people today make saints and deceased figures intermediaries between themselves and Allah.
– They request their help in times of need and hardship.
– According to the consensus of the Ummah, this belief constitutes disbelief (kufr).
– Calling upon the dead in graves is an act of shirk.
– Allah sent messengers and scriptures so that people may worship Him alone.
– Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
– Comparing Allah to a king who cannot be addressed directly is to liken the Creator to creation, which is disbelief.
“Call upon those whom you claim besides Allah; they do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth, nor do they have any share therein, nor is there for Him among them any assistant. And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.”
(Saba: 22–23)
This clearly proves that calling upon others besides Allah is futile, as they own nothing, nor can they intercede without His permission.
– On the Day of Judgment, intercession will only occur with Allah’s permission.
“Say: To Allah belongs all intercession.”
(Az-Zumar: 44)
① Permission from Allah:
“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”
(Al-Baqarah: 255)
② Approval of the Interceded One:
“And they cannot intercede except for one whom He is pleased with.”
(Al-Anbiya: 28)
“My intercession will benefit only those who did not associate anything with Allah.”
(Sahih Muslim: 199, Bukhari: 6304)
– The belief that saints can compel Allah is false.
“And warn those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord—there is no protector or intercessor for them besides Him—that they might become righteous.”
(Al-Anʿām: 51)
– Though angels carry out commands by Allah’s will, praying to them is still shirk.
“Whoever does not declare the polytheists as disbelievers, or doubts their disbelief, or considers their religion correct, is himself a disbeliever.”
– Phrases like “All religions are beautiful” or hesitating to say that polytheistic religions lead to Hell are falsehoods.
“All religions other than Islam are misguidance and paths to Hell.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever hears of me and does not believe in me will be among the people of Hell.”
(Sahih Muslim: 153)
– Previous scriptures such as the Torah, Gospel, and Vedas are abrogated.
– No one can attain salvation after the coming of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ except by following Islam.
– Those who:
– Believe in another prophet after Muhammad ﷺ (e.g., Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani)
– Engage in major shirk
And those who do not declare them disbelievers, are guilty of apostasy.
“Whoever says ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ and disbelieves in everything worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and life become inviolable, and his account is with Allah.”
(Sahih Muslim: 23)
– Mere utterance of the kalimah is not enough; one must reject all forms of shirk to attain sanctity.
“Indeed, there has been an excellent example for you in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people: We disassociate from you and from whatever you worship besides Allah. We reject you. And enmity and hatred has appeared between us and you forever—until you believe in Allah alone.”
(Al-Mumtahanah: 4)
– Muslims must maintain hatred and disassociation from polytheists and disbelievers.
“O you who believe! Do not take your fathers or brothers as allies if they prefer disbelief over faith. And whoever does so among you—it is they who are the wrongdoers.”
(At-Tawbah: 23)
– Even if parents or siblings are disbelievers, it is forbidden to maintain love for them if they prefer disbelief.
– Scholars, preachers, and imams must warn the public about the dangers of associating with disbelievers.
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger—even if they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred.”
(Al-Mujādilah: 22)
– True faith and love for disbelievers cannot coexist in the same heart.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I disown every Muslim who lives among the polytheists.”
(Abu Dawood: 2645, Tirmidhi: 1604 – Authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albani)
Meaning: Muslims living among polytheists are outside the protection of the Prophet ﷺ.
Another Hadith:
“Allah will not accept the deed of a polytheist after embracing Islam until he leaves the polytheists and joins the Muslims.”
(Ibn Majah: 2536 – Hasan according to Al-Albani)
– Separation from polytheists is essential for one's deeds to be accepted after embracing Islam.
“Whoever mixes with the polytheists and lives among them is like one of them.”
(Abu Dawood: 2787 – Sahih according to Al-Albani)
– Many so-called Muslims today have befriended polytheists and turned against the devout believers.
“O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. Whoever takes them as allies is surely one of them. Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
(Al-Ma'idah: 51)
“Let not the believers take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. And whoever does that has nothing to do with Allah.”
(Aal-e-Imran: 28)
❖ Compiled by: Tawheed.com – Link to the Full Book
❀ Ruling on Relying on Intermediaries: Islamic Perspective on Tawheed, Intercession, and Mediation
◈ Consensus on the Ruling of Making Intermediaries
"Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allah, calls upon them, seeks intercession from them, and relies upon them—he is, by consensus, a disbeliever."
❀ The Misconception of Intercession Among the Polytheists
– Polytheists in every era believed that calling upon saints or holy figures as intermediaries does not constitute shirk.
– They did not believe these figures had intrinsic power, but only saw them as means of intercession with Allah.
❖ Belief of the Polytheists of Makkah
Even the idolaters of Makkah didn’t believe their deities had control over harm or benefit; they merely considered them intercessors before Allah.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allah.'”
(Yunus: 18)
“Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him say: 'We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.'”
(Az-Zumar: 3)
❀ Contemporary Reality
– Many people today make saints and deceased figures intermediaries between themselves and Allah.
– They request their help in times of need and hardship.
– According to the consensus of the Ummah, this belief constitutes disbelief (kufr).
❀ Grave Worship and Denial of Tawheed
– Calling upon the dead in graves is an act of shirk.
– Allah sent messengers and scriptures so that people may worship Him alone.
❀ Directly Turning to Allah
– Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
– Comparing Allah to a king who cannot be addressed directly is to liken the Creator to creation, which is disbelief.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“Call upon those whom you claim besides Allah; they do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth, nor do they have any share therein, nor is there for Him among them any assistant. And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.”
(Saba: 22–23)
This clearly proves that calling upon others besides Allah is futile, as they own nothing, nor can they intercede without His permission.
❀ The Reality of Intercession (Shafāʿah)
– On the Day of Judgment, intercession will only occur with Allah’s permission.
“Say: To Allah belongs all intercession.”
(Az-Zumar: 44)
◈ Types of Intercession:
- Prohibited Intercession:
– Requested from other than Allah. - Permissible Intercession:
– Sought from Allah alone and reserved for the people of Tawheed.
◈ Conditions for Valid Intercession:
① Permission from Allah:
“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”
(Al-Baqarah: 255)
② Approval of the Interceded One:
“And they cannot intercede except for one whom He is pleased with.”
(Al-Anbiya: 28)
◈ Beneficiaries of Intercession:
“My intercession will benefit only those who did not associate anything with Allah.”
(Sahih Muslim: 199, Bukhari: 6304)
❀ Denial of Intercession for Disbelievers
– The belief that saints can compel Allah is false.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“And warn those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord—there is no protector or intercessor for them besides Him—that they might become righteous.”
(Al-Anʿām: 51)
❀ Seeking Help from Angels: Also Shirk
– Though angels carry out commands by Allah’s will, praying to them is still shirk.
❀ The Ruling on Not Declaring Polytheists as Disbelievers
“Whoever does not declare the polytheists as disbelievers, or doubts their disbelief, or considers their religion correct, is himself a disbeliever.”
❀ Misconception of Religious Tolerance
– Phrases like “All religions are beautiful” or hesitating to say that polytheistic religions lead to Hell are falsehoods.
“All religions other than Islam are misguidance and paths to Hell.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever hears of me and does not believe in me will be among the people of Hell.”
(Sahih Muslim: 153)
❀ Islam: The Only Path to Salvation
– Previous scriptures such as the Torah, Gospel, and Vedas are abrogated.
– No one can attain salvation after the coming of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ except by following Islam.
❀ Declaring Opponents of Islam as Disbelievers
– Those who:
– Believe in another prophet after Muhammad ﷺ (e.g., Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani)
– Engage in major shirk
And those who do not declare them disbelievers, are guilty of apostasy.
Prophetic Statement:
“Whoever says ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ and disbelieves in everything worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and life become inviolable, and his account is with Allah.”
(Sahih Muslim: 23)
– Mere utterance of the kalimah is not enough; one must reject all forms of shirk to attain sanctity.
❀ Obligation to Show Enmity to Disbelievers
Qur’anic Evidence:
“Indeed, there has been an excellent example for you in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people: We disassociate from you and from whatever you worship besides Allah. We reject you. And enmity and hatred has appeared between us and you forever—until you believe in Allah alone.”
(Al-Mumtahanah: 4)
– Muslims must maintain hatred and disassociation from polytheists and disbelievers.
❀ Prohibition of Heartfelt Bonds with Disbelievers
“O you who believe! Do not take your fathers or brothers as allies if they prefer disbelief over faith. And whoever does so among you—it is they who are the wrongdoers.”
(At-Tawbah: 23)
– Even if parents or siblings are disbelievers, it is forbidden to maintain love for them if they prefer disbelief.
❀ Duty to Warn Muslims
– Scholars, preachers, and imams must warn the public about the dangers of associating with disbelievers.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger—even if they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred.”
(Al-Mujādilah: 22)
– True faith and love for disbelievers cannot coexist in the same heart.
❀ Clear Teachings of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I disown every Muslim who lives among the polytheists.”
(Abu Dawood: 2645, Tirmidhi: 1604 – Authenticated by Shaykh Al-Albani)
Meaning: Muslims living among polytheists are outside the protection of the Prophet ﷺ.
Another Hadith:
“Allah will not accept the deed of a polytheist after embracing Islam until he leaves the polytheists and joins the Muslims.”
(Ibn Majah: 2536 – Hasan according to Al-Albani)
– Separation from polytheists is essential for one's deeds to be accepted after embracing Islam.
❀ Grave Warning by the Prophet ﷺ
“Whoever mixes with the polytheists and lives among them is like one of them.”
(Abu Dawood: 2787 – Sahih according to Al-Albani)
❀ Returning to the True Religion: The Path to Success
– Many so-called Muslims today have befriended polytheists and turned against the devout believers.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. Whoever takes them as allies is surely one of them. Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”
(Al-Ma'idah: 51)
“Let not the believers take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. And whoever does that has nothing to do with Allah.”
(Aal-e-Imran: 28)
