Intercession of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is a transcript of discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

What is intercession?  Intercession is the art of intervention by one person on behalf of another.  It can be done by direct pleading or through prayer, in the case of religion.  In this life, the living can intercede on behalf of the dead, mainly by begging for the sins that the particular person would have committed during his or her life on earth be Forgiven.  It can also include the request to help the person achieve a better life either in this world or in the life that is to come.  The word, “intercession,” has its roots in the Latin word, “intercede,” which can be translated as, “to come between.”  It can mean to make a request on behalf of others. 

Intercession really comes from the heart of a person concerning the affairs of another; and is based on the principle of sympathy from one to the other.  It can also be as a result of love, the desire to know that difficulties are removed from the one for whom intercession is made.  Intercession can be in the form of a plea on behalf of one who is guilty of wrongdoing and is liable for punishment.  It can take the forms of prayer for guidance, Forgiveness to the Lord in this life and also for those who are already departed. 

In the Hereafter, intercession will be Permitted by the Merciful Lord from certain people on behalf of others. The Chief Intercessor on that Day will be Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  So, who will be able to intercede?  Intercession can only be possible if the one desirous of doing so is acceptable by the one to whom it is made.  For example, here in this life, if a person is desirous of making a plea on behalf of another, that person must have a good disposition in the eyes of the other before there will be any inclination for mediation or intercession. 

On that Great Day, when the Lord will Manifest Himself as the Master, He will not entertain the plea of any creature on behalf of others, especially those creatures that were worshipped as gods besides Allah (s.w.t.).  Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us about this in the following verse of the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ طٰه

يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُ ۥ قَوۡلاً۬ (١٠٩) 

On that Day, shall no intercession avail except for those for whom Permission has been Granted by (Allah) Most Gracious and whose word is Acceptable to Him. (Surah ThaHa:109) 

All the creatures that were worshipped as gods besides Allah (s.w.t.) in this life will have no powers of intercession for their worshippers on that Day.  In this connection, Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الزُّمَر

أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُفَعَآءَ‌ۚ قُلۡ أَوَلَوۡ ڪَانُواْ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَعۡقِلُونَ (٤٣) قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۖ لَّهُ ۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ (٤٤) 

What!  Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah?  Say, “Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?”  Say, “To Allah Belongs Exclusively (the Right to grant) Intercession: to Him Belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the Earth: in the end, it is to Him that you shall be Brought Back." (Surah az-Zumar:43-44) 

On that Day, Allah (s.w.t.) may Allow intercession to be made on behalf of some people by others.  For example, Allah (s.w.t.) may Allow some angels to dos for some human beings.  He Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّجْم

۞ وَكَم مِّن مَّلَكٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ لَا تُغۡنِى شَفَـٰعَتُہُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن يَأۡذَنَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡضَىٰٓ (٢٦) 

How many so ever be the angels in the Heavens, their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has Given leave for whom He Pleases and that he is Acceptable to Him. (Surah an-Najm:26) 

Idols and jinn, for example, that were worshipped by people of many faiths will have no power to intercede for their worshippers on that Day.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الزّخرُف

وَلَا يَمۡلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَہِدَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ (٨٦) 

And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession; ― only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (Him). (Surah az-Zukhruf:86) 

According to traditions, only the Prophet (s.a.w.) will be the chief intercessor on the Day of Judgement.  On that Day, those who will be in distress will gladly accept any pleading on their behalf because of the distressful situation in which they would have found themselves.  About it Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is reported to have said, “How will you be when Allah Gathers you together like arrows in a quiver for fifty thousand years and Allah will not look at you?”