Many Muslims today don’t understand the reality and types of intercession. Which is why you find many of them falling into shirk, such as calling upon others with Allah (in matters which only Allah can fulfill), with the claim that they are using them as intermediaries to get closer to Allah. Allah said:
“And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not nor benefit them. And they say: ‘these are our intercessors before Allah.'” (10:18)
“And those who take protectors besides him say: ‘we only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah’ Verily Allah will judge between them Concerning that which they differ in. Verily, Allah does not guide he who is a liar, a disbeliever.” (39:3)
So Allah clarifies that seeking nearness to him in this way is disbelief, even if they didn’t claim that these (intermediaries) have the ability to create and sustain. This is the same disbelief that the polytheists at the time of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to commit, making the exact same claim:
“we only worship them so that they mat bring us closer to Allah” (39:3)
“these are our intercessors before Allah” (10:18)
Intercession has conditions and restrictions and is of two types.
Negated Intercession
This is when intercession is sought without allah’s permission, for no one can intercede for anyone before Allah without his permission. Even the prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) cannot intercede for anyone without the permission of Allah. On the day of judgement he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will fall prostrate before his lord, supplicate to him and praise him, and remain in that state until it is said to him: “Lift up your head and speak, for it will be heard, and intercede, for it will be granted” (Bukhari)
So only after being given permission on the day of judgement will the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) be able to intercede. If that’s the case with the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), then what about those less than him whom the people call upon.
Affirmed Intercession
The intercession that is sought from Allah. For it to be correct:
1)The intercessor must have been granted the honour of being able to intercede (by Allah). Allah says:
“Who is it that will intercede in his presence except with his permission” (2:255)
So no one can attempt to intercede until after they have been granted the permission to intercede by Allah, this is even the case with the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
2) The one who is interceded for is the one whom Allah is pleased with His statements and actions. Allah said:
“And they cannot intercede except for him with who he is pleased” (21:28)
and he said:
“There will be no friend or intercessor for the zalimun (polytheists and wrong doers) that will be given heed to.” (40:18)
So Allah clarifies that the people who have committed shirk have nullified their eligibility to receive intercession. As Allah is not pleased with those who commit shirk. So those who commit such acts of shirk (such as calling upon other than Allah) in reality have brought more harm upon themselves, it hasn’t benefitted them at all. The only thing that can benefit them is to repent to Allah, being firm upon tawheed, worshipping Allah alone, and staying far away from shirk. As Allah must be pleased with the one who is being interceded for.
This is what is meant by saying ‘La Ilaaha illaaAllah’ (there’s none that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah). One should single out Allah alone when worshipping, Supplicationg, sacrificing, fearing, and hoping. And one should stay far away from making partners with Allah, whether that be the prophet, angel, jinn or anything else. This is the religion of Allah.
To summarise:
Negated Intercession: That which is (1) sought without Allahs permission or (2) done on behalf of someone who comitts shirk with Allah (Mushrik).
Affirmed Intercession: That which (1) occurs after recieving Allahs permission and (2) which is done on behalf of those who single out Allah with worship (Muwahhid).
[Source : Explanation of the Four Rules Regarding Shirk, by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab. Publisher: al-Ibaanah]
ISLAM NOTTINGHAM 