Shafa’ah: 'Intercession' in Islam

A. Dead Saints Cannot Intercede 

Intercession (Shafa’ah) in Islam takes many forms. But unfortunately, some people have wrongly interpreted the verses of the Holy Quran to mean that dead saints or prophets can intercede for human beings while they are still alive on earth. And that is why they go forward for saint-worship, by setting up Dargas (mausoleums) of saints everywhere.

[Huzur (atba) then related about an important tabligh he did during the course of this week with a very rich Muslim family who lost everything, yet whenever they incurred losses, instead of turning to Allah, they approached Mullahs, Mawlawis. The latter misguided them, and took fees upon fees from them supposedly to pray for them and instead of advising this family to turn to Allah, they preferred to direct them to pray to dead Pirs on Dargas. Huzur (atba) said that when he heard about this and also about a friend of his who donated lots of money for the construction of a Darga, when he preached to him the right teachings of Islam, guiding him to the worship of Allah, all these people (including his friend) were annoyed. Huzur (atba) said that he had to deliver his message, whether they were annoyed or not, because he himself was very angry (not the fighting type of angry) because they have deviated from the way of Allah to put their trust in others besides Allah. And they wonder why they were still incurring so much losses! They kept on losing their wealth like running water, and those Mullahs were enriching themselves while this Muslim family were getting poorer and accumulating debts. These people did not even pray their five daily prayers, and despite that there is a mosque near their place, they prefer to frequent all kinds of Dargas! They don’t even know what is Tahajjud prayer. Huzur (atba) said that had this family turned sincerely to Allah, Allah would have helped them, but they chose others over Him.]

B. The Requirement of Divine Approval

It is very important to understand that Allah is the Best Interceder/ Intercessor for His servant. He is the Best Being who can waive away all the sins or faults of someone, forgive him and make him taste His pleasure and paradise. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Say: ‘To Allah belongs all intercession’.” (Az-Zumar, 39: 45).

Moreover, Allah shall allow some of His special servants on the Day of Judgement to intercede in the favour of His other servants. The Holy Quran calls our attention to it in the following verse: “And they say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son.’ Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honoured servants. They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, for fear of Him, are apprehensive.” (Al-Anbiya 21: 27-29).