This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
The Concept of Intercession Without Allah's Permission and Approval Does Not Exist
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ ﴿٢٢﴾
"O Prophet, say to those who associate others with Allah, 'Call upon those whom you claim as gods besides Allah; they do not possess even the weight of an atom in the heavens or on the earth, nor do they share any ownership of the heavens and the earth. None of them can be a helper to Allah, and no intercession will benefit anyone except for the one for whom Allah has granted permission.'"
Reference: (34-Saba:22-23)
Intercession is Beneficial Only with the Pleasure, Permission, and Command of Allah Almighty
In the interpretation of this verse, the commentators write:
Both the one who intercedes and those for whom intercession is made will be granted permission. Because the Master of Intercessors, peace be upon him, will intend to intercede on the Day of Resurrection, and it is said:
”فإذا رأيت ربي خررت له ساجدا وأحمده بمحامد يفتحها على لا أحسنها الآن - فيقال لي: ارفع رأسك وقل يسمع وسل تعطه واشفع تشفع قال: فيحد لي حدا فأدخلهم الجنة“
"I will prostrate as soon as I see Allah. At that time, Allah will bestow upon my heart praises that it does not currently possess. I will be commanded to raise my head, ask, and say, and I will be answered. If I ask, it will be given. If I intercede, it will be accepted. Then a limit will be set for me within which I will intercede and bring people into Paradise."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Riqaq: Chapter on the Description of Paradise and Hell (Hadith: 2525), Book of Faith: Chapter on the Lowest Rank of the People of Paradise (Hadith: 193)
He will intercede in the same manner a second and third time. Allah Almighty says:
وَلَا يَمْلِكُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٨٦﴾
"Except those who bear witness to the truth out of knowledge, they have no authority of intercession."
Reference: (43-Az-Zukhruf:86)
This noble verse indicates that no one has the right of intercession except Allah. إلا من شهد بالحق This is an absolute exception. That is, those who bear witness to the truth have the right of intercession. Both the one who intercedes and the one for whom intercession is made are included in this ruling.
Intercession will be for sincere Muslims
In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه asked the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
”من أسعد الناس بشفاعتك يا رسول الله؟ فقال: يا أبا هريرة قد طننت أن لا يسألني عن هذا الحديث أحد أولى منك لما رأيت من حرصك على الحديث أسعد الناس بشفاعتي يوم القيامة من قال لا إله إلا الله خالصا من قبل نفسه“
"O Messenger of Allah! Who will be most deserving of your intercession?" The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "O Abu Hurairah! I was certain that no one else would ask this question except you because I saw that you were eager to listen to our words. On the Day of Resurrection, the person most deserving of our intercession will be the one who sincerely testifies to the Kalima لا اله الا اللہ with pure intention."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Knowledge: Chapter on Eagerness for (Hadith: 99)
In this hadith, the person most fortunate and deserving of intercession is described as the one whose sincerity is complete. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
”إذا سمعتم المؤذن فقولوا مثل ما يقول ثم صلوا على فإنه من صلى على مرة صلى الله عليه بها عشرا ثم سلوا الله لي الوسيلة فإنها درجة فى الجنة لا تنبغي إلا لعبد واحد فمن سأل الله لي الوسيلة حلت عليه شفاعتي يوم القيامة“
"When you hear the one who calls to prayer (Adhan), respond in the same way he says, then send blessings upon me. Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send mercy upon him ten times. Then pray for me to be granted Al-Wasilah. Al-Wasilah is the name of a rank in Paradise that is reserved for only one person, and I hope that I am that person. So whoever prays for me to be granted Al-Wasilah, on the Day of Resurrection, his intercession with me will be permitted."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer: Chapter on the Recommendation of Saying Like the Mu'adhdhin (Hadith: 384)
The reward will be according to the deed, such as:
”من صلى عليه مرة صلى الله عليه بها عشرا“
The second case is:
”ومن سأل الله لي الوسيلة حلت عليه شفاعتي يوم القيامة“
In response to the question about Al-Wasilah, ”أسعد الناس بشفاعتي“ said rather he said ”أسعد الناس بشفاعتي يوم القيامة من قال لا إله إلا الله خالصا من قبل نفسه“
The Cause of Intercession is Monotheism and Sincerity of Action
It has been proven that the intercession of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) obtained through monotheism and sincerity cannot be achieved by other deeds, no matter how righteous those deeds may be, such as asking for intercession for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Therefore, how can intercession be obtained through such deeds which are not even commanded, but rather prohibited? Such a person will neither receive goodness in this world nor salvation on the Day of Judgment. Just as the Christians exaggerated regarding our Master Jesus (peace be upon him), this exaggeration will cause harm instead of benefit.
In a hadith narrated in Sahihain, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
”إن لكل نبي دعوة مستجابة وإني احتبأت دعوتي شفاعة لأمتي يوم القيامة فهي نائلة إن شاء الله من مات لا يشرك بالله“
"Every prophet (peace be upon them) had one prayer that was surely answered and accepted in this world. But I have kept my prayer reserved so that I may intercede for my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection. So, this prayer, God willing, will reach every person who dies without associating partners with Allah."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Supplications: Chapter: Every Prophet Has an Answered Prayer (Hadith: 6304, 2305) Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith: Chapter: The Prophet Kept the Intercession Prayer for His Ummah Secret (Hadith: 198, 199) and the wording is his
You, peace be upon him, will intercede only for the people of monotheism
All the ahadith narrated about intercession clearly and prominently state that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) will intercede only for the people of Tawhid (monotheism). The person who is firm in Tawhid and sincere in his deeds will be deserving of intercession according to that standard. The Almighty Lord has linked promises and warnings, rewards and punishments, praise and blame to faith, Tawhid, and obedience to the Messenger (peace be upon him). The one who has faith will be more deserving of Allah’s friendship in this world and the Hereafter.
All of Allah’s creation, whether Muslim or disbeliever, is provided sustenance by Allah alone; He alone removes hardships and difficulties. Allah is the One and Only Being to whom people turn in times of hardship and distress. Allah the Exalted says:
وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾
“Whatever blessing you have is from Allah; then when adversity touches you, to Him you cry aloud for help.”
Reference: (16-An-Nahl:53)
قُلْ مَنْ يَكْلَؤُكُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ
“O Prophet (peace be upon him)! Say to them, ‘Who is it that watches over you by night and by day, other than the Most Merciful?’ We appoint angels to be guardians over you.”
Reference: (21-Al-Anbiya:42)
Whoever thinks that calamities and difficulties do not descend upon a certain place because the graves of Prophets and righteous people are there is mistaken. The best place on earth is Makkah Mukarramah, whose greatness and sanctity are established. Despite this, the people of Makkah were subjected to the severest punishment from Allah. Allah explains this as follows:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ﴿٣٨﴾ إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْئًا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٣٩﴾
“Allah sets forth the example of a town which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear because of what they used to do. There came to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him. So the punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers.”
Reference: (9-At-Tawbah:38-39)
