Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
◈ The word “Shafā‘ah” is derived from the Arabic root “Shaf‘”, which is the opposite of “Witr” (odd).
◈ It means to pair something with another, such as making one into two, or three into four.
◈ To act as a means for obtaining benefit or removing harm on behalf of another.
◈ It involves three parties:
This is the intercession mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah, reserved exclusively for the monotheists (Muwaḥḥidīn) and the sincere believers.
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) asked:
❀ “O Messenger of Allah! Who will be the most fortunate of people to benefit from your intercession?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied:
«مَنْ قَالَ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلاَّ اللّٰهُ خَالِصًا مِنْ قَلْبِهِ»
(“The one who says ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh’ sincerely from his heart.”)
(Sahih al-Bukhārī, al-‘Ilm, Bāb al-Ḥirs ‘alā al-Ḥadīth, ḥadīth no. 99)
Conditions for this intercession:
➊ Allah must be pleased with the intercessor.
➋ Allah must be pleased with the one for whom intercession is sought.
➌ Allah must grant permission to intercede.
Qur’anic Evidences:
◈ Granted to righteous servants whom Allah wills to permit.
◈ Includes the Prophet ﷺ, other Prophets, the truthful (Ṣiddīqīn), martyrs, and righteous believers.
◈ This is for sinful believers, so they may be saved from Hellfire.
◈ Granted solely to the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ On the Day of Judgment, when humanity will be in severe distress, they will go to Adam, then Nūḥ, then Ibrāhīm, then Mūsā, then ‘Īsā (عليهم السلام) seeking intercession.
◈ Each Prophet will decline, until the people come to the Prophet ﷺ, who will intercede with Allah.
◈ This is the “Maqām Maḥmūd” mentioned in the Qur’an:
Sūrat al-Isrā’, 79: ﴿وَمِنَ الَّيلِ فَتَهَجَّد بِهِ نافِلَةً لَكَ عَسى أَن يَبعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقامًا مَحمودًا﴾
Another aspect of this intercession:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ will intercede for the people of Paradise to enter it.
◈ After crossing the Ṣirāṭ, people will have their hearts cleansed, and through the Prophet’s ﷺ intercession, the gates of Paradise will be opened.
This is the intercession believed in by the polytheists — that their false deities will intercede with Allah on their behalf.
Allah says:
Reasons why it will not benefit:
◈ Allah is not pleased with the polytheists.
◈ Allah will not grant anyone permission to intercede for them.
◈ Intercession is only for those with whom Allah is pleased.
Polytheists say:
This belief is false and will bring no benefit. In fact, it will draw them further away from Allah, as they expect intercession from idols to attain closeness to Him — a delusion and misguidance.
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Definition of Intercession
Linguistic Meaning
◈ The word “Shafā‘ah” is derived from the Arabic root “Shaf‘”, which is the opposite of “Witr” (odd).
◈ It means to pair something with another, such as making one into two, or three into four.
Terminological Meaning
◈ To act as a means for obtaining benefit or removing harm on behalf of another.
◈ It involves three parties:
- Shāfi‘ (the one interceding),
- Mashfū‘ ilayh (the one to whom the intercession is made),
- Mashfū‘ lah (the one for whom the intercession is made).
Types of Intercession
① Valid and Established Intercession
This is the intercession mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah, reserved exclusively for the monotheists (Muwaḥḥidīn) and the sincere believers.
Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) asked:
❀ “O Messenger of Allah! Who will be the most fortunate of people to benefit from your intercession?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied:
«مَنْ قَالَ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلاَّ اللّٰهُ خَالِصًا مِنْ قَلْبِهِ»
(“The one who says ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh’ sincerely from his heart.”)
(Sahih al-Bukhārī, al-‘Ilm, Bāb al-Ḥirs ‘alā al-Ḥadīth, ḥadīth no. 99)
Conditions for this intercession:
➊ Allah must be pleased with the intercessor.
➋ Allah must be pleased with the one for whom intercession is sought.
➌ Allah must grant permission to intercede.
Qur’anic Evidences:
- Sūrat al-Najm, 26: ﴿وَكَم مِن مَلَكٍ فِى السَّمـوتِ لا تُغنى شَفـعَتُهُم شَيـًٔا إِلّا مِن بَعدِ أَن يَأذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيَرضى﴾
- Sūrat al-Baqarah, 255: ﴿مَن ذَا الَّذى يَشفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلّا بِإِذنِهِ﴾
- Sūrat Ṭāhā, 109: ﴿يَومَئِذٍ لا تَنفَعُ الشَّفـعَةُ إِلّا مَن أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحمـنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُ قَولًا﴾
- Sūrat al-Anbiyā’, 28: ﴿وَلا يَشفَعونَ إِلّا لِمَنِ ارتَضى﴾
1.1 General Intercession
◈ Granted to righteous servants whom Allah wills to permit.
◈ Includes the Prophet ﷺ, other Prophets, the truthful (Ṣiddīqīn), martyrs, and righteous believers.
◈ This is for sinful believers, so they may be saved from Hellfire.
1.2 Exclusive Intercession
◈ Granted solely to the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ On the Day of Judgment, when humanity will be in severe distress, they will go to Adam, then Nūḥ, then Ibrāhīm, then Mūsā, then ‘Īsā (عليهم السلام) seeking intercession.
◈ Each Prophet will decline, until the people come to the Prophet ﷺ, who will intercede with Allah.
◈ This is the “Maqām Maḥmūd” mentioned in the Qur’an:
Sūrat al-Isrā’, 79: ﴿وَمِنَ الَّيلِ فَتَهَجَّد بِهِ نافِلَةً لَكَ عَسى أَن يَبعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقامًا مَحمودًا﴾
Another aspect of this intercession:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ will intercede for the people of Paradise to enter it.
◈ After crossing the Ṣirāṭ, people will have their hearts cleansed, and through the Prophet’s ﷺ intercession, the gates of Paradise will be opened.
② Invalid Intercession
This is the intercession believed in by the polytheists — that their false deities will intercede with Allah on their behalf.
Allah says:
- Sūrat al-Muddaththir, 48: ﴿فَما تَنفَعُهُم شَفـعَةُ الشّـفِعينَ﴾
Reasons why it will not benefit:
◈ Allah is not pleased with the polytheists.
◈ Allah will not grant anyone permission to intercede for them.
◈ Intercession is only for those with whom Allah is pleased.
Polytheists say:
- Sūrat Yūnus, 18: ﴿هـؤُلاءِ شُفَعـؤُنا عِندَ اللَّهِ﴾
This belief is false and will bring no benefit. In fact, it will draw them further away from Allah, as they expect intercession from idols to attain closeness to Him — a delusion and misguidance.
ھٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
