In the name of Allah
the Beneficent the Merciful
INTERCESSION OF
PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PB0H)
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/her life on earth. 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 wrong doing 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 (pboh).
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.
Allah tells us about this in the following verse of the Holy
Qur’an:
On that Day no intercession shall avail except for those for
whom permission has been granted by (Allah) Most Gracious, and whose word is
acceptable to Him. (20:109).
All the creatures that were worshipped as gods besides Allah
in this life will have no powers of intercession for their worshippers on that
Day. In this connection Allah says:
What do they take for intercessors other besides Allah? Say,
even if they have no power whatsoever and no intelligence? Say: to Allah belongs
exclusively (the right to grant) intercession. To Him belongs the domination of the skies
and the earth; in the end, it is to Him you shall be brought back. (89:41-42)
On that Day Allah may allow intercession to be made in behalf
of some people by others. For example, Allah may allow some angels to dos for
some human beings. He says:
And how many angels from the skies who intercession will
avail them nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases and
that he (the angel) is acceptable to Him. (53:26)
Idols and Jinns , etc. that were worshipped by people of many
faiths will have no power to intercede for their worshippers on that Day. Allah
says:
And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of
intercession. (43:86)
The Chief Intercessor:
According to Traditions, only the Prophet (pboh) will be the
Chief Intercessor on the Day of Judgment. 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 (pboh) 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 yo
