The Prophet's Intercession
There is no doubt that the Quran indicates that Allah Almighty shall grant the privilege of intercession to some of His chosen people. However, a proper understanding of the conditions laid down in the Quran for the administration of intercession should preclude an individual who is genuinely seeking success in the hereafter from pinning his hopes on that arrangement. The conditions laid down in the Quran for the administration of intercession are the following:
1. No one shall dare to speak out on the Day of Judgement without Allah's leave. 2. The intercessor shall be able to intercede only for individuals specified for the purpose.
3. The intercessor shall speak nothing but the truth.
The Quran says:
On the day when the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, they shall not speak, except he whom the Gracious God will grant leave, and who will speak only what is right. (78:38)
The very next verse warns that the Day of Judgement is an undeniable reality; therefore, whosoever wants his real welfare should leave aside the strategy of pinning hopes on false supports and should, instead, adopt the path outlined by God Almighty so as to save himself from the ignominy of that day:
That day is sure to come. So whosoever likes may prepare a way to his Lord. (78:39)
A similar clarification has been offered in another verse of the Quran thus:
And who can intercede with Him except by His leave? (2:255)
Authentically transmitted traditions of the Prophet (sws) also inform that the Prophet (sws) had warned some of his very close relatives individually of the grave consequences they were likely to face if they would not prepare themselves for their accountability, for on the day of judgement no soul shall be able to come to the rescue of another. A tradition mentions that when the verse carrying the message "And warn your near relations" (26:214) was revealed, the Prophet (sws) stood up and said:
O people of Quraysh! save your skins from the Hell-fire because I will not be able to come to your rescue on the Day of Judgement. O 'Abd Munaf! I won't be able to save you an inch from (the wrath of) Allah Almighty. O 'Abbas, son of `Abd al-Muttalib! I will not be able to help you out [from the punishment of] Allah. O Safiyyah, the messenger of Allah's Aunt, I wouldn't be able to help you [on the Day of Judgement] from the punishment of Allah. O Fatimah daughter of Muhammad! You can ask anything from my [worldly wealth; as for the hereafter, however], I will not be able to save you from Allah's grip. (Bukhari, Kitab al-Wasaya)
The Quran has categorically denied in two different passages in Surah al-Baqarah -- one of the two addressing the progeny of Israel, and the other one, Muslims -- all possibilities of intercession coming to the rescue of individuals, in order to emphasize that it is faith and good deeds alone that are going to help one out on the day of judgement. In the absence of these, none shall be allowed to interfere in the Divine proceedings of implementation of justice. The Quran says:
Children of Israel! ... And guard yourselves against the day when no soul shall serve as a substitute for another soul at all, nor shall intercession be accepted for it, nor shall ransom be taken from it, nor shall they be helped. (2:47-8)
The second passage says:
O you who believe! Spend out of what we have bestowed on you before the day comes wherein there shall be no buying and selling, nor friendship, nor intercession, and it is those who disbelieve that do wrong to themselves. (2:254)
After these references from the Quran and Hadith, the only question that remains to be answered is that if there is such categorical negation of intercession in the original sources, what then is the context of those Ahadith which give considerable details of intercession that will be done by the Prophet (sws) for the benefit of his followers. What emerges on reflecting upon the information in the original sources of Islam in this regard is that on the Day of Judgement when the good and the bad deeds will be weighed, some people would succeed with flying colours, while others would face the ignominy of failure. However, it appears, that there would still remain one group of people who would be falling on the margin. Allah's mercy would necessitate that they be spared from punishment. Therefore, the Almighty, in order to elevate the status of some of the noblest people on that day will permit them to intercede for such individuals who will be found on the margin. The intercession, it is reported, will be duly accepted. This intercession will not necessitate the violation of any of the inviolable principles of justice of God Almighty.
…Continued in Part 4
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