To Be Forgiven Through Intercession
Our Lord would like to forgive His servants, so He has given them various ways they can be forgiven. For Example, He will allow some of His servants to intercede for others in the Hereafter. This way, He will have created a way to forgive those He wants to forgive, emphasizing the value He places on the servants He loves.
In Islam, intercession refers to the Prophets and other servants being permitted to intercede for others by praying to Allah. Their dua could be for a sinful believer to be forgiven or for a pious believer to attain higher degrees. Intercession also occurs in everyday life. In worldly affairs, we sometimes try to find a mediator who can help us. When in difficulty, we seek someone’s help and support. A person will be in the greatest difficulty and need the most support on the Day of Judgment on the plane of great gathering where people will swelter from heat and shake in fear, seeking help from friends and family and looking for a helping hand.
We have learned from the Qur’an and Sunnah there will be intercessors in the Hereafter as there are in this world. “That Day, no intercession will benefit except (that of) one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word” (At-Taha, 109). This verse states Allah Almighty will grant some of His servants permission to intercede.
Modern Objections
In our day, some reject the notion of intercession, saying there is no such thing in our religion. They claim that believing in intercession is polytheism. However, no person in their right mind has ever asserted that asking someone for something equals worshipping that person. That is simply illogical.
Here intercession refers to a sinful and fraught person asking another who has a high standing, in the esteem of Allah Almighty, for help. The intercessors can only intercede if Allah Almighty gives permission. Therefore, the intercessors cannot be equal to the Power of Allah. Everything happens with the Will and Power of Allah.
The Holy Qur’an and many hadiths encourage people to be kind to others, help them, pray for them to be forgiven, and choose them over one’s self. Intercession is nothing but praying to Allah to forgive someone. It is a behavior praised and encouraged in the Holy Qur’an:
“So pardon them, ask Allah’s forgiveness for them.” (Ali Imran, 159)
“O Prophet! When the believing women come to you, … then accept their pledge, and ask Allah to forgive them.” (Mumtahina, 12)
“And seek forgiveness for your shortcomings and for the believing men and women.” (Muhammad, 19)
Intercession Is True
The Qur’an, hadiths, and consensus of Islamic scholars have established the truth of intercession. Hence, anyone that denies it becomes a disbeliever. Those who believe intercession is true will receive it with the permission of Allah Almighty. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says: “I will intercede on the Day of Judgment. Those who do not believe it do not deserve it.” (Suyuti, Jami-al-Saghir, 4896)
Our Lord would like to forgive His servants in various ways. For this reason, He will give some of them permission to intercede in the Hereafter. This way, He will have created a way to forgive some of the servants He wants to forgive and a way to show the value of the servants that He loves.
In the Qur’an and hadiths, it is said that the Prophets, awliya, martyrs, and pious believers will have permission to intercede according to their level and to the extent that Allah Almighty allows them. Intercession will happen only with Allah Almighty’s approval and to the measures that He dictates. The following verse mentions this meaning:
“None can intercede except by His permission.” (Yunus, 3)
Intercession is not preferential treatment; on the contrary, it is a way of conveying Allah’s will to the people, extending them a helping hand of friendship. Furthermore, intercession is not meddling in the work of Allah Almighty. As a result, asking for intercession from a person who has been granted permission to intercede by Allah is not polytheism. It is an honor and authorization bestowed by Allah Almighty to those He loves, a way for them to ask for mercy and forgiveness in favor of their loved ones.
The Intercession of Our Prophet
On the Day of Judgment, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will intercede for the entirety of humanity. This is because he was granted the greatest intercession.
The Intercession of Our Prophet
On the Day of Judgment, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will intercede for the entirety of humanity. This is because he was granted the greatest intercession.
The first prophet to intercede on that day and the first whose intercession will be accepted is our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). His first intercession will be at the beginning of judgment for the entire humanity so that the agony of the wait in the great gathering will end for them. The reason for this is likely to show them the value of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in the esteem of Allah Almighty. All prophets will fall on their knees and plead to Allah Almighty in the agony of the great gathering and assault of Hell, “O Allah! Save me!” (Bukhari). The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will save the whole of humanity from this situation by interceding and asking Allah Almighty for mercy for them.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has stated that one of the five things given to him but not to other prophets is the permission for the greatest intercession. In a hadith, it is said that “Allah has given me five attributes that are not given to anyone before me. One of them is intercession. I will intercede for everyone who has not died in polytheism.” (Ibn Majah)
According to authentic narrations, at a time when everyone will plead for their own survival under the immense fear and anguish of the great gathering, the Messenger of Mercy (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will pray for Muslims and seek to protect them. In one hadith, it is written:
“Every prophet has a prayer that will be accepted. All prophets hurried to make their prayers (in this world). But I saved my prayer for the Day of Judgment to intercede in favor of my followers. I will intercede for my followers who have died without polytheism.” (Bukhari)
The largest intercession of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will be for his followers. This will happen differently for each believer, depending on their situation. With this intercession, those with few sins will be forgiven entirely, while the sins of others will be discounted to varying degrees. Even those who commit major sins will benefit from this mediation, provided they have not died in a state of polytheism. In a hadith, it is said, “My intercession is for those of my followers who have committed major sins.” (Abu Dawud)
Other Intercessors
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has told us that others will also be allowed to intercede, including the Holy Qur’an, those who memorize the entire Qur’an, angels, martyrs, scholars, awliya, good deeds, and children.
The Holy Qur’an: There are multiple hadiths about the intercession of the Holy Qur’an. One of them is as follows: “Read the Holy Qur’an. For the Qur’an will intercede in favor of those who read it on the Day of Judgment.” (Muslim)
Those who Memorize the Whole Qur’an: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has placed great importance on those who memorize the entire Qur’an and obey its commandments, calling them distinguished servants of Allah Almighty. A hadith narrated by Tirmidhi corroborates this:
“Whoever reads the Qur’an, memorizes it, regards its prohibitions as haram and its permissions as halal, Allah will put that person in paradise. In addition, that person will be permitted to intercede in favor of ten people from his family.”
Angels: The angels will intercede in favor of people according to the pleasure of Allah Almighty. They cannot intercede without being commanded by Allah and will do so only for the believers. “How many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession cannot benefit (anyone) at all, but after Allah allows (it) for whomsoever He wills and pleases.” (Najm, 26)
Martyrs: There are hadiths about martyrs being granted permission to intercede. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “On the Day of Judgment, three groups of people will intercede: Prophets, scholars, and martyrs.” (Ibn Majah) In another hadith, it is said: “A martyr will intercede in favor of seventy of his relatives” (Abu Dawood)
Believers: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has said that some awliyas and scholars will be granted permission to intercede in favor of their relatives. In one hadith, it is said: “There are some of my followers who will intercede for a large crowd, some for an entire tribe, some for a few people, and some for a single person so that they enter Paradise.” (Tirmidhi)
In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has said: “It is commanded that a man be thrown into the fire. On the way, he comes across a passerby to whom he gave water in this world, recognizes him, and asks if he might intercede. The passerby asks who he is. He reminds the passerby that he gave him water on such and such day. The passerby remembers him and intercedes in his favor. This way, the man is turned away from the fire and enters paradise.”
Good deeds: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says the following about a good deed: “Qur’an and fasting become intercessors on the Day of Judgment. The fasting says: ‘O my Lord! I stopped him from eating and lusting during the day. Allow me to intercede.’ The Qur’an says: “O my Lord! I kept him from sleeping at night; allow me to intercede.’ Then both of them intercede in favor of him.” (Ahmed bin Hanbal)
Children: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said in many hadiths that children who die young will intercede in favor of their parents. One such hadith says: “A child who had died young is told to enter Paradise. But the child stops at the gate of paradise and waits and says: ‘I will not enter paradise until my parents are with me.’ Then the angels are told to put the child and the parents in Paradise.” (Muslim, Ibn Majah)
In another hadith, it is said: “Allah Almighty will grant paradise to Muslims who have lost three children before puberty because of His Mercy for the children.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
Who Are We Asking to Intercede?
A person who asks prophets and awliyas for their intercession is actually asking Allah Almighty. A person who says “Intercession of the Messenger of Allah!” means to say, “O my Lord! Please forgive me for the Prophet whom You love and are pleased with!”
Therefore, Allah Almighty is the only true and ultimate intercessor. The Holy Qur’an confirms this: “All intercession belongs to Allah (alone).” (Az-Zumar, 44)
If someone other than Allah Almighty is to intercede, this can only happen with the permission and authorization of Allah Almighty. All intercessors can intercede only within the boundaries set by Allah Almighty because there is a limit to intercession. There is justice and balance in the Acts of Allah Almighty. Similarly, there is justice and balance when He permits intercession. For this reason, Allah Almighty has not given anyone limitless authority to intercede. But everyone who dies with faith in their heart will benefit from the intercessions to varying degrees. However, there is no mediation for the disbelievers and hypocrites.
In short, intercession will not be unlimited and for everyone. One cannot intercede to anyone unconditionally. As in all matters, everything happens based on the will of Allah the Exalted.
Siraceddin Önlüer
