DISCLAIMER: In writing this article, the author has taken the context of each ayah in consideration during discussion. If you disagree with anything please leave a comment and I will try to respond to the best of my ability. This is not a verdict on something, ONLY ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST. Rather this is an open minded analysis of ayahs on Shafaat without any bias, by the author to the best of their knowledge and ability at the current time (may ALLAH forgive me if anything misleading has gone in this article)
Introduction
Dear brothers and sisters, there are very few things which
have divided opinion and have been misinterpreted more than the concept of shafaat in Islam. Not only this, the ayah's on shafaat are used by opponents of islam to prove that there are contradictions in Quran and hence this cannot be word of God Almighty.
On one hand a group of us believes that Prophet Mohammad
(PBUH) will intercede on the behalf of all Muslims and save us from the fire of
hell and on the other hand some of us say that intercession is not possible for
anybody.
The former opinion draws a parallel with the Christian
concept of salvation by Jesus and it is goes completely against the Allah’s
doctrine of judgement on the balance of our good and bad deeds as in the
following ayahs from Al Qari'ah (101:6-9) and innumerable other ayahs in the Holy Quran.
Then as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be heavy (101:6)
He will live a pleasant life (in Paradise) (101:7)
But as for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be light (101:8)
He will have his home in Hawiyah (pit, i.e. Hell) (101:9)
While the later opinion goes
against ayahs like in Taha (20:109) where Allah says intercession will be possible. These same ayahs are used by
the first group as a basis to claim that Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),
Auliyah, and Ahl-e-Bayt will intercede on our behalf.
That Day,
no intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most Merciful has
given permission and has accepted his word (20:109)
At the same time this opinion is based on numerous ayahs which say categorically that there is no
possibility of intercession in front of Allah, like the following ayah of surah
Baqarah(2):48.
And fear a
Day (of Judgement) when a person shall not avail another, nor will intercession
be accepted from him nor will compensation be taken from him nor will they be
helped (2:48)
Understanding the concept of Shafaat
I am a student of religion, and let me share with you what I
have understood. To grasp what is intercession and who will intercede on the
behalf of whom; we need to take a logical and deductive step by step approach
after a thorough study of this subject in Holy Quran.
Step 1: Is there a contradiction in Quran?
If anybody believes that there is a contradiction in Quran
then they need to look at this ayah from surah Nisa (4:82) categorically
saying that there cannot be contradictions in the words of Allah
Do
they not then consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than Allah,
they would surely have found therein much contradictions (4:82)
Step 2: If there are no contradictions in Quran then why are there some ayahs saying there is no intercession and others saying there is intercession ONLY when Allah allows?
As in step 1 we have concluded that there could be no
contradiction in the words of Allah, then surely Allah is talking about two
different types of Intercession or shafaat.
1. Unconditional intercession - by deities, Allah’s partners (idols) and anybody we believe might intercede on our behalf like Auliyah etc.
2. Conditional intercession - by those on the day of judgement: who Allah gives permission to, and in the favour of those who Allah is happy with.
Unconditional Intercession - by deities, Allah’s partners (idols) and anybody we believe might intercede on our behalf like auliyah etc.
If we believe that somebody would intercede on our behalf, then this type of intercession is absolutely not possible. Allah has categorically refuted this concept in numerous ayahs and in various contexts.
A. Allah telling Bani Israel there will be no intercession
Starting with addressing Bani
Israel, in al Baqara (2:48) and (2:123) with slight differences of wording, Allah
is telling them that if they believe somebody will intercede for them to save them
from fire on the day of judgement, it will not be possible at all. This seems
to be refuting some specific belief the Jews might have had then about
intercession.
And
fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, nor will
intercession be accepted from it, nor will compensation be taken from it, nor will
they be aided (2:48)
And
fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, and no
compensation will be accepted from it, nor will any intercession benefit it,
nor will they be aided (2:123)
B. Allah telling Muslims not to rely on any intercession
In
al Baqara (2:254), while specifically addressing Muslims Allah is telling them
not only to do good deeds to earn heaven but also saying that they cannot rely
on any kind of intercession.
O
you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before
there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no
intercession. And the disbelievers - they are the wrongdoers (2:254)
Again
in surah Al Anaam (6:51) Allah is telling holy prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to tell people
to do good deeds and not to rely on any
intercession.
And
warn by the Qur'an those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord
- for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor - that they might
become righteous (6:51)
C. No intercession by deities, idols or any other SHURAKA (partners of ALLAH)
In Yasin (36:23), Zumar (3943), Anaam (6:94), Yunus (10:18),
Rum (30:13), Momin (40:18) and Shu'ara (26:100)
Allah is talking about those who make other deities for worship and
CATEGORICALLY refutes that no such entity or person will be able to intercede on anybody’s behalf.
Should
I take other than Him [false] deities [while], if the Most Merciful intends for
me some adversity, their intercession will not avail me at all, nor can they
save me?(36:23)
Or
have they taken other than Allah as intercessors? Say, "Even though they
do not possess [power over] anything, nor do they reason? (39:43)
[It
will be said to them], "And you have certainly come to Us alone as We
created you the first time, and you have left whatever We bestowed upon you
behind you. And We do not see with you your 'intercessors' which you claimed
that they were among you associates [of Allah]. It has [all] been severed
between you, and lost from you is what you used to claim."(6:94)
Indeed,
your Lord is Allah , who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then
established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation].
There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah , your Lord,
so worship Him. Then will you not remember? (10:18)
And
there will not be for them among their [alleged] partners any intercessors, and
they will [then] be disbelievers in their partners (30:13)
And
warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Approaching Day, when hearts are at the
throats, filled [with distress]. For the wrongdoers there will be no devoted
friend and no intercessor [who is] obeyed (40:18)
So
now we have no intercessors (26:100)
Conditional Intercession - by Allah’s permission
This is the second type of intercession which Allah is permitted.
Things start to get complicated here, but let’s take a step by step approach
again.
A. Why it is only Allah’s prerogative (exclusive right) to allow or disallow intercession
We can find following two reasons
for this exclusive right of almighty in the Holy Quran.
1.
Allah the CREATOR, who else has
the right to intercede or allow intercession
In
surah Zumar(39:44) following on from ayah 43 (as mentioned earlier) denying
that no deity can intercede, ALLAH goes on to say that all rights to allow
intercession only and only belong to him. In Yunus (10:3) and Sajdah (32:4)
Allah as the creator has the absolute power to allow intercession.
Say,
"To Allah belongs [the right to allow] intercession entirely. To Him
belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Then to Him you will be
returned."(39:44)
Indeed,
your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then
established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation].
There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord,
so worship Him. Then will you not remember? (10:3)
It
is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in
six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides
Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded? (32:4)
2. Absolute knowledge of present and past needed for SHAFAAT
In order for anybody to intercede
it is ESSENTIAL that they have a complete and absolute knowledge of EVERTHING
(all the good and bad deeds) about the person they would like to intercede for.
All Muslims believe without a doubt that it is only Allah who has this
knowledge hence it is only HIM who can allow intercession. Baqara (2:255),
Taha (20:109 – 110) and Anbiya (21:28) are three places in Holy Quran where
Allah’s prerogative to allow intercession is linked with ‘ya lamu ma baina
aidihim wa ma khalfahum’.
God
exists. There is no God but He, the Everlasting and the Guardian of life.
Drowsiness or sleep do not seize him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens
and the earth. No one can intercede with Him for others except by His
permission. He knows about people's present and past. No one can grasp anything
from His knowledge besides what He has permitted them to grasp. The heavens and
the earth are under His dominion. He does not experience fatigue in preserving
them both. He is the Highest and the Greatest (2:255)
That Day, no intercession will
benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and
has accepted his word (20:109)
Allah knows what is [presently] before them and what
will be after them, but they do not encompass it in knowledge (20:110)
He
knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede
except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him (21:28)
Conclusions
so far
1.
There is no unconditional intercession
2.
There is conditional intercession
Step 3. Understanding Conditional intercession
In order to understand this we need to find out what Allah
has indicated in Holy Quran about who is allowed to intercede for whom
(beneficiaries).
1. Who is allowed to intercede (Shafayeen)
In surah Anbiyaaa (21:26-28), while
Allah is talking about a prophet who people believe is son of Allah, most likely
Jesus. Allah says that such prophet has no right to intercede on his own, but
might be granted such a right by Allah. To the best of my knowledge these ayahs
seems to be exclusive to the prophet who people believe is son of Allah and
does not include others but ONLY ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST.
They said, "The Beneficent God has given birth to
a son. He is too Exalted to give birth to a son." (Those whom they think
are God's sons) are only His honorable servants (21:26)
These servants do not speak before He speaks. They
simply act according to His orders (21:27)
He
knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede
except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him
(21:28)
Further,
in surah Maryam (19:87) Allah is saying that somebody might be able to intercede
only if Allah had promised them to do so. It is not clear who that might be but
immediately next ayah speaks about Christians, and ONLY ALLAH KNOWS THE
ACCURATE MEANING OF THIS AYAH.
None
shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission
(or promise) from the Most Beneficent (Allah) (19:87)
They have said that the Beneficent God has given birth
to a son (19:88)
In surah Najm (53:26) Allah says that there will be angels waiting to intercede but they will not be able to do this without Allah’s permission, and, for the person Allah is happy with. This is more easily understandable as Angels are living and they might have the knowledge about the deeds of a person, compared to a belief that somebody who has died before our times would have any knowledge about our deeds.
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail
at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and
approves (53:26)
I
have not been able to find any further specific indications in Quran about who else
might be allowed to intercede and ALLAH in all his wisdom has full right to
Allow any of be Prophets or Angels to intercede, and ALMIGHTY KNOWS
THE BEST.
But
in surah Zukhruf (43:86) Allah is saying that nobody people ask for intercession could help,
because to be able to intercede one has to have true knowledge and be
able to give a true testimony. Again only ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST who he judges to
have true knowledge to give a true testimony.
And those they invoke besides Him do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know (43:86)
2. Who can benefit from intercession
It is absolutely clear from the
following ayahs in Surah Anbiyaa (21:28), Saba (34:23),
Najam (53:26) that Allah would need to be happy with the person who
would be a beneficiary of intercession by somebody who Allah has allowed to
intercede.
He
knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede
except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him
(21:28)
And
intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And
those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to
one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The
truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand (34:23)
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession will not avail
at all except [only] after Allah has permitted [it] to whom He wills and
approves (53:26)
3. Who cannot benefit from intercession
Contrary to a popular belief that any prophet will be able
to save his people once they have been punished in hell, it is clear in Holy
Quran that this is not possible as stated in Zumr (39:19)
Is,
then one against whom the Word of punishment justified (equal to the one who
avoids evil). Will you (O Muhammad SAW) rescue him who is in the Fire? (39:19)
In surah Mudhatir (74:48) Araaf (7:53) Allah is saying that
the wrongdoers in hell will not benefit from any intercession.
So
there will not benefit them the intercession of [any] intercessors (74:48)
Do
they await except its result? The Day its result comes those who had ignored it
before will say, "The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth, so
are there [now] any intercessors to intercede for us or could we be sent back
to do other than we used to do?" They will have lost themselves, and lost
from them is what they used to invent (7:53)
In surah Anaam (6:70) Allah is asking Holy Prophet (PBUH) to teach people Quran without which any intercessor will not be able to save them, if they continued their wrongdoings.
And
leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the
worldly life has deluded. But remind with the Qur'an, lest a soul be given up
to destruction for what it earned; it will have other than Allah no protector
and no intercessor. And if it should offer every compensation, it would not be
taken from it. Those are the ones who are given to destruction for what they
have earned. For them will be a drink of scalding water and a painful
punishment because they used to disbelieve (6:70)
Step 4. Is it permissible to
pray for intercession to somebody?
To the best of my understanding this falls under the
category of shirk as Allah has clearly said in above Ayah’s that it is only his
prerogative to allow somebody to intercede and he has not named any prophet or
angel in particular (except an indication about Jesus). Such a prayer is like
holding somebody equal to Allah. Shirk will never be forgiven by Allah is
proven by the following ayahs Bani Israel (17:56-57) and Nisa (4:116)
(Muhammad),
tell them, "Seek help from those whom you consider equal to God. They are
not able to remove or change your hardships (17:56)
Those
whom they worship seek to find intercessors for themselves with God. (They try
to find out which of the intercessors) are closer to God. They have hope for
His mercy and fear of His punishment; the punishment of your Lord is awesome (17:57)
God will not forgive the sin of considering something
equal to Him, but He may forgive the other sins of whomever He wants. One who
considers anything equal to God has certainly gone far away from the right path
(4:116)
Final
Conclusions
Dear brothers and sisters, Allah asks us to think about our
religion and Holy Quran, with this in mind and the above ayahs I leave you to
decide who can do shafaat for whom. When you are thinking of getting shafaat by
somebody please keep the following in mind.
1.
Are my deeds good enough that Allah will be
happy ‘RAAZI’ with me and allow somebody to intercede for me?
2.
If weight of my deeds is such that I might end
up in Fire then there will be nobody to save me!
3.
Surely I cannot pray to somebody directly for
shafaat as this is a sin equivalent to SHIRK, which is unforgiveable.
4.
So if I cannot pray for shafaat to anybody directly
and leave it as an exclusive right of Allah to allow shafaat for me (if at all
I deserve it) then I should spend my life making Allah happy rather than trying
to get somebody’s shafaat.
5.
Finally, if I come across ahadith about shafaat,
I should cross check them against the Quranic verses above as the only test of
authenticity of any hadith is Quran and Quran only.
