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Two Aspects of Intercession in the Holy Qur’an
So far we have seen the different aspect of intercession. We give below the gist, in Qur’an there are two different types of intercession, (a) Non-acceptable intercession and (b) acceptable intercession.
(A) Non-Acceptable Intercession
(1) In the eyes of Jews and Christians those person who are in the progeny of the prophets will be forgiven in spite of continues sinning, the prophets will intercede for them, and by giving ‘some share’ to their Priests will be free from sins. Qur’an has refuted this concept and rejected this kind of intercession
(2) Intercession of that person who have no relation with Him and also with that intercessor on the day of judgement. Is it possible that anybody can intercede for idol-worshippers, oppressors and tyrants? Qur’an has stated this clearly that such person will not eligible for intercession.
(B) Acceptable Intercession
(1) Only that intercession will be accepted by Him who is by His permission.
(2) Only those persons having faith in Him and His Prophets are eligible. And their sins may not be to such an extent that the link between them is cut off and if it is such then the question of intercession does not arise. If at the time of his death the person repents with pure intention it is possible that Lord by His grace allow on the day of judgement the intercessor to plead his case.
The Prophet Of Lord – Intercessor On The Day Of Judgement
Verily among the Muslims there would not be any who does not recognize the prophet as intercessor on the day of Qiyamat, the reason is that Lord Himself has nominated Him for this purpose and selected him.
“And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory.” (Surah Bani Israel, 17:79)
This status that Lord has given him will be praised by all the prophets, as this position is only allotted to him exclusively. All the exegesists are unanimous on this point that by the word ãÞÇã ãÍãæÏ is ãÞÇã ÔÝÇÚÊ which is the status of an intercession, is there any position greater than this which will be beneficial on the day of judgement. In Tafsir al-Majmul Bayaan it is written that prophet will stand with a banner (Úóáóãú) and all the prophets will gather around him, and Lord will accept his intercession.
“And surely what comes after is better for you than that which has gone before. And soon will your Lord give you so that you shall be well pleased.” (Surah Zoha, 93:4-5)
Most exergists are narrating with reference to Ibne Abbas that he said: Prophet will only be pleased when his nation will enter Paradise.
Prophet has suffered and borne hardship and continuous struggle till his last breath, to save the people from going astray, Lord be the witness that he always prayed for his nation as he is ÑÍãÉ áöáÚóÇáóãöíúä. But reciprocate in another way by harassing, usurping the rights, lowering their position and tried all means to injure them. By Lord this point is worth contemplating by the intellectuals.
Intercession In The Light Of Traditions
Regarding intercession there are so many traditions that if you collect them they will take a ‘book form’ that is why the belief in intercession forms a basic peg in Islam. We have taken the support of traditions and narrations from exegesis of Jafar Subhani ‘Manshoor Javed’. Forty five traditions are from ‘Sehah Sitta’ and fifty five are from Shiite sources, but we only relate here ten from Ahlul Sunnat and fourteen from ‘Shiite’ sources. We have taken care that the chosen traditions are complicit, clear and useful; we will first throw light on the tradition of the Holy Prophet (S) from the books of Ahlul Sunnah.
Few Traditions From The Books Of Ahlul Sunnat
Holy Prophet (S) said: “Lord has made some prayers of Prophets which are answered. All have used them in this world but I have kept my prayer for the intercession of my nation which is only for the true believers of my nation who have not associated anybody with Allah.”1
Holy Prophet (S) said: “Allah has blessed me with five superiority one of which is my intercession which I have kept for the believers of my Ummat who have not associated anybody with Allah.”2
Holy Prophet (S) said: “This praiseworthy position which is in Surah Bani Israel : verse 79, is that status by which I will do intercession of my nation.”3
Holy Prophet (S) said: “The foremost of the intercessor will be myself and my intercession will be accept before everybody.”4
Holy Prophet (S) said: “On the day of judgement my intercession will be for those of my Ummat those who have done major sins.”5
Holy Prophet (S) said: “My intercession will be exclusively for those who bear witness of His oneness with a pure heart of whose tongue testify the heart and vise versa.”6
Holy Prophet (S) said: “Surely one group will be extracted from hell by intercession.”7
Holy Prophet (S) said: “On the day of judgement first to do intercession will be the prophets, learned people and then martyrs.”8
Holy Prophet (S) said to attendant: “Do you have any need?”
“He said my need is that you do intercession on the day of judgement.”
“Prophet asked from whom you have learnt to seek intercession from me?”
He replied: From my Lord.
Holy Prophet (S) said: “Then you help me in my intercession by your prostration.”9
Holy Prophet (S) said: “One who sends blessing on Muhammad (S) and prays to Lord to appoint you (Holy Prophet (S)) on the position near to You and my intercession becomes obligatory. (one should bear in my, that blessing on me will be complete only when he sends blessings on my progeny too.)” 10
The above traditions are mostly from the companions of Holy Prophet (S) now we quote below few traditions from the reliable books of the Shias on the subject of intercession.
Few Traditions From The Books Of Shias
Holy Prophet (S) said: “Undoubtedly I will intercede on the day of judgement and it will be accepted, Hazrat ‘Ali (a.s.) will also intercede and it will be also accepted, and my progeny will also intercede and it will be also accepted.”11
Holy Prophet (S) said: “There are such people in my Ummat, by whose intercession persons more than the Tribe of Mazhar (the biggest tribe of Arabia) will enter Heaven.”12
Hazrat ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “We will do intercession and also those who love us will intercede.”13
Ameerul Momeneen ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.) narrates that the Holy Prophet (S) said: “There are three groups who will intercede and it will be accepted: (a) Prophets, (b) Learned man of religion and (c) Martyrs (who have laid their lives on the path of Lord.”14
Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) has advised his son Mohammad bin Hanafia thus: “Accept the excuse of those who plead so that, intercession for you will be accepted.”15
It is clear from the saying of Hazrat ‘Ali (a.s.) one who will not forgive the faults of brother in faith in spite of his asking forgiveness that person’s intercession is not possible, the reason being that if he does not forgive the fault of others how can he expect the Lord to forgive him on the day of judgement. Perhaps even Holy Prophet (S) must have mentioned thus: “Those who withhold mercy, mercy will not be showered on them.”
Hazrat ‘Ali (a.s.) has narrated from Holy Prophet (S) thus: “When I will be placed on Maqamul Mahmud (ãÞÇãæ ÇáãÍãæÏ) I will intercede that person of my nation who has committed greater sins. Surely Lord will not accept my intercession for those people who have harassed and inflict my progeny.”16
Imam Husain (a.s.) narrates that when he left Madina for Karbala he saw the prophet in his dream who said: “My dear Husain I see you bathed in your blood and a group of my Ummat has slaughtered you in a state of thirst, in spite of this they hope for my intercession (no my son) Lord will never accept my intercession for them on the day of judgement.”17
Forth Imam Zainul Aabedin narrates in one of his dua, “I come not before Thee trusting in a righteous work I have sent ahead, nor in the intercession of any creature in whom I have hope, except the intercession of Muhammad and the Folk of his House(upon him and upon them be Thy peace).”
And in another dua he says, “O Lord sends blessing on Muhammad (S) and is progeny (a.s.), and on the day of judgement accept recommendation of intercession which will be beneficial to me, surely You are most Merciful.”
Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) narrates: “Every person (believer) will do intercession for others on the strength of his good action it is possible that he alone can intercede for a tribe, or for his family members or for a single person and the right to intercede is termed “ãÞÇã ãÍãæÏ” (as referred in Qur’an).”18
A Tradition relates that a person named Abu Aiman came to Imam Baqir (a.s.) and said that few people from deviate the others saying that will be receive the intercession of Holy Prophet (S) on the day of judgement (and will be forgiven) but the fact is every body will receive punishment or reward according to their actions. Imam became angry and the expression on his face changed and he said, “Woe be unto you, O Abu Aiman! Do you think that by saving yourself from the sins of hunger and lust your become proud. By Allah when you witness the intensities and the calamites of day of judgement you will really know the importance of the Prophet’s intercession (and you will need his intercession), woe on you will anybody who deserve hell can except to get intercession?”
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) narrates: “By Allah he will intercede for our Shias, by Allah we will surely intercede for our Shias, till that extent (our enemies) they will shout that there is nobody to do our intercession or help us.”19
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “On the day of judgement five hours are fixed for a believer so that he can intercession for others.”20
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “One who refutes this three things he is not from our Shias: (1) Ascension (Meraj) of our Holy Prophet (S), (2) Questioning in the grave and (3) Intercession.”
Imam ‘Ali al-Reza (a.s.) narrated from Ameerul Momineen ‘Ali (a.s.) that he said that: “Person who negates the intercession of Holy Prophet (S) he will never be interceded.”
Two Important Points Regarding Above Mentioned Traditions
It is evident that the concept of intercession is not the idea of a particular sect but is found in the all Muslim Ummat.
This is also evident from the above traditions that everybody has not the right to do or receive intercession, but with special conditions. One must not deduce that a person becomes careless in committing sins as there will be no punishment for the sin, definitely it is not as the think but those who have faith in intercession, their faith is well-founded and his helplessness and hopelessness is change into hope, thus he take the step not towards evil but towards good. So let us examine those personalities who are a termed as “Intercessor of the day of judgement”
1. Refer Sunan Ibn Maajah, vol. 2, p. 1440; Musnad Ibn Ahmad, p. 281, Muta Malik, p. 166, Sunan Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 238; Sahih Muslim p. 31; Sahih Bhukhari, vol. 8-9, p. 170.
2. Musnad Ibn Ahmad, vol. 1, p. 1301 and vol. 4, p. 246; Sunan Sanai, vol. 1, p. 172; Sahih Bhukhari, vol. 1, p. 92 and p. 119.
3. Musnad Ibn Ahmad, vol 2, p. 528; Sunan Tirmidhi, vol. 4, p. 325.
4. Sunan Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 238; Sunan Dareme, vol. 1 p. 126 and p. 67.
5. Sunan Maajah, vol. 2, p. 441.
6. Musnah ibn Ahmad, vol. 6, p. 428.
7. Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, p. 122; and Sahih Bhukhai, vol. 8, p. 143.
8. Sunan Ibn Maajah vol. 2, p. 1443.
9. Musnad Ibn Ahmad, vol. 3, p. 500.
10. Musnad Ibn Ahmad, vol. 4, p. 108.
11. Manaqib Ibn Shahar Aashub, vol. 2, p. 15; and Majmul Bayaan, vol. 1, p. 104
12. Majmul Bayaan, vol. 1, p. 392
13. Khesaal al-Suduq, p. 624
14. Khesaal al-Suduq, p. 156
15. Manla Yazharal Faqhi, vol. 4, p. 279
16. Aamali al-Suduq, p. 177
17. Makatebul Aimah, vol. 2, p. 41
18. Usul al- Kafi, vol. 8, p. 101
19. Manaqib Ibn Shahar Aashub vol. 2, p. 14
20. Sifaat us-Shia by Shaikh Saduq, p. 181
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