A few days ago, We received an email in which it was stated that a brother supplicated to be blessed with the shafa’a (Intercession) of our beloved Master and Saviour Sayyiduna Muhammad Mustafa SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. However someone raised an objection and asked to be shown any evidence from the Glorious Qur’an and Hadith to prove that the beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam is the Intercessor (on the day of judgment)?

Purity is to Allah! Listening to such questions is really shocking – for one to call himself a Muslim and claim to be a follower of the Sunnah whilst being afflicted by the disease of doubting such clear matters of faith – this is yet another sign that Doomsday is nigh!

Every individual of the Ahl as-Sunnah; man, woman and child – even illiterate villagers – know the basic beliefs: the Vision of Allah, and the shafa’a of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam which are upon the tongues of every child. At this juncture, I will present a few verses of the Glorious Quran that support the belief that the beloved Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam is the Intercessor of the Sinners by the grace of Allah Almighty.

Verse # 1

عسى أن يبعثك ربك مقاما محمودا
It is likely your Lord will set you on a place where everyone will praise you. [Surah Bani Israel 17:79]

It is reported in Hadith that the Holy Prophet, the Intercessor of the sinners, was asked,

عسى أن يبعثك ربك مقاما محمودا سئل عنها قال هى الشفاعة
“What is the Maqam Mahmoud (Place of Praise)?” He said, “That is Intercession.” [Tirmidhi, Abwab Tafsir Surah Bani Israel, Amin Co. Dehli, Vol. 2, Page 142]

Verse # 2

ولسوف يعطيك ربك فترضى
And indeed your Lord will soon give you so much that you will be pleased. [Surah Al Duha 93:5]

Daylimi has reported from Hadrat Mawla Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, that when this verse was revealed, the Intercessor of the sinners said,

إذاً لا أرضى وواحد من أمتي في النار
“When Allah, the Supreme, has promised that he will make me pleased, I shall not be pleased even if just one of my followers remains in Hell.” [Tafseer al Kabeer, Vol. 31, Page 213] (O Allah – Blessings & peace and abundance be upon him).

Tabarani in Ma’jam Awsat and Bazzaaz in Musnad narrate from Hadrat Maula Ali that the Intercessor of the sinners says,

أشفع لأمتي حتى يناديني ربي أرضيت يا محمد؟ فأقول : نعم يا رب رضيت
“I shall keep on interceding for my Ummah until my Lord will proclaim, “O Muhammad! Are you now satisfied?” I shall say, “O my Lord! Yes I am satisfied.” [Allama Suyuti in ad-Dur ul-Manthoor Fi Tafseer al-Mathoor, Vol. 6, Page 361]

Verse # 3

واستغفر لذنبك وللمؤمنين والمؤمنات
And seek the forgiveness of the sins of your close ones and for the common believing men and women.” [Surah Muhammad 47:19]

In this verse, Allah the Supreme, commands his Noble Prophet to seek forgiveness of the sins of the Muslim men and Muslim women from Him – so what else is intercession defined as?

Verse # 4

ولو أنهم إذ ظلموا أنفسهم جاءوك فاستغفروا الله واستغفر لهم الرسول لوجدوا الله توابا رحيما
And if they, when they have wronged their own souls, come humbly to you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) and seek forgiveness from Allah, and the Noble Messenger intercedes for them, they will certainly find Allah as the Most Acceptor Of Repentance, the Most Merciful. [Surah Nisa’a 4:64]

In this verse, Allah the Supreme, commands the Muslims that having sinned, they should humbly come to the august court of the Noble Prophet and plead him to intercede – so when the beloved intercedes, He will surely forgive them!!

Verse # 5

وإذا قيل لهم تعالوا يستغفر لكم رسول الله لووا رءوسهم
And when it is said to them, “Come! Allah’s Noble Messenger may seek forgiveness for you” – they turn their heads away. [Surah Munafiqoon 63:5]

This verse highlights the wretched state of the hypocrites – that they do not seek the intercession of the Holy Prophet – the Intercessor of the sinners. So if they do not seek it now, they will not get it in the hereafter, and those who do not get it then – will never get relief. May Allah benefit us with his intercession in this world and in the hereafter. (Aameen)––
Extracted from
اسماع الاربعین في شفاعة سید المحبوبین
by Imam Ahmad Rida al-Qadiri Alaihir raHma
English Translation by: Aqib Farid Qadiri