The
root word for “Shafa'ah is shaf which means “even” as compared
to “odd”. Hence, Shafa'ah means to be linked and attached to
something. Consequently, the reason why an intercessor is called
“Shafi” is that he attaches the person interceded for to himself,
meets his needs, and saves him. The technical meaning of “Shafa'ah”
is to help someone by negotiating on his behalf and asking the judge,
or the ruler or the like for some kind of exemption, or forgiveness
on the Day of Resurrection, with Allah's permission, the intercessor
will request Allah to save the one interceded for from Hell, and will
help the latter to enter Paradise.
Intercession
is divided in two parts; Generative (Takwini) Intercession and
Legislative (Tashri'i) Intercession.
Generative
Intercession: All the Causes intercede for their Effects in order
to come into existence. The examples of this type of intercession are
the growth of a delicate seed from soil into a strong tree, raising a
feeble infant by his parents, and help to an ignorant person by a
scholar etc.
Legislative
(Takwini) Intercession: According to the Commander of the Faithful,
Imam Ali (a.s.): Intercession is the wings of the one who asks for
forgiveness.”
The
philosophy of intercession is to give hope and dispel desperation to
a person who commits a Greater Sin which results in hopelessness.
Allah by His Infinite Wisdom offers intercession as an option.
Intercession develops spiritual relationship with the Friends of
Allah (Ahlul Bayt) which in turn increases his mental and spiritual
growth and perfection. In the process, he will try to please them and
attain divine satisfaction.
The
word “Shafa'ah” and its derivatives has been used in the Glorious
Qur'an 30 times.
The
Ayahs that deny Intercession:
Surah
al-Baqarah Ayah 254: “O' you who believe! Spend in the way of Allah
out of Bounties We have provided for you, before the Day comes when
no bargaining will avail you, nor friendship nor intercession, and
the unbelievers; they are the wrong-doers.” But in the
next Ayah, He grants intercession but by His Permission. Ayah 255
of Surah al-Baqarah (Ayatal-Kursi): “Who can Intercede in His
Presence except with His Permission”
The
Ayahs that seemingly suggest Intercession being restricted to Allah:
Surah
al-Ana'm Ayah 51: “Give this warning to those in whose hearts is
the fear that they will be brought to judgment before their Lord:
except for Him they will have no Protector, nor intercessor that they
may be pious.”
Ayahs
that details the qualities of the Intercessors:
Surah
al-Zukhruf Ayah 86: “And those whom they invoke other than Allah,
have no power of intercession; only he who bears witness to the
Truth, and they know Him.” They must be Monotheists.
Ayahs
that specifies the conditions for granting Intercession:
Surah
al-Anbiyah Ayah 28: “And they offer no intercession except for
those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His
Glory.” It means only if
Allah is satisfied with him.
Imam
Ali (a.s.) said: “It is impossible to find any discrepancy in
Qur'an. Surley some parts of the Noble Qur'an elaborate on its other
sections, and some parts of it attest to its other sections.”
In
a nutshell, Intercession is a definite and proven fact, and others
are also entitled to intercede with Permission of Allah.
The
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “My Intercession does not go to
the one who underestimates the daily prayers.”
The
Infallible Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “There is intercession for us, and
for those who love us.”
The
Infallible Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “On the Day of
Judgment, Allah will muster both the worshiper and the religious
scholar (Infallible Imams)”
On
inquiry from Umar ibn Yazid, the Infallible Imam (a.s.) said: “All
of you (Shias) shall enter Paradise by the intercession of the Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) or his successors on the Day of Judgment. But ,
by Allah I fear for you for the Barzakh.”
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur'an, Nahjul
Balagha, The Message of Islam by Ayatullah Nasir Makaram Shirazi
A Rational Approach to Wahabiism
& The Eternal Charter by Allama Ja'far Subhani
Al-Khisal by Shaikh al-Saduq
(r.a.), Al-Kafi by Yaqub al-Kulayni
No comments:
Post a Comment