The Two Types of Intercession

Translated from The Four Principles (al Qawaa’id al Arbaa’ah) – an excellent small treatise (only a couple of pages) which the Scholars recommend should be memorized.  It is small in size but tremendous in benefit.  To get the full benefit, one must read or listen to the explanation of it by the Scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah like Shaikh Fawzaan’s explanation ( To read Shaikh Saalih Fawzaan’s explanation (translated) of The Four Principles, go to spubs , click on Tawheed, click on Readings in the Four Principles (bottom of topics) )

“And the intercession is of two types: the negated intercession and the affirmed intercession.

“So the negated intercession is that which is sought from other than Allah (God, The Creator) in what only Allah has the ability to do.  And the proof (that this type of intercession is negated) is in the statement of The Most High (translated):

‘O you who believe!  Spend from what We have provided you with before the Day comes in which there will be no selling, no friendship, and no intercession.  And the disbelievers are the wrongdoers’ (2:254)

“And the affirmed intercession is that which is sought from Allah.  The one interceding is honored by Allah with being able to intercede and the one being interceded for is one whom Allah is pleased with his speech and his deeds (and he is interceded for) after His Permission is given.  As The Most High said (translated):

‘No one can intercede with Him except with His Permission.’ (2:255)”   (end quote from the Four Principles)

As for seeking help (including intercession) from the creation then it has to meet three conditions.  The one being asked must be:

1.Alive

2.Able

3.Present (or on the phone/internet with you)

Please refer to p.159 – 160 of Shaikh Ubayd al Jaabiree’s Explanation of the Three Principles (found here)

 

For an indepth discussion on this topic:

Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah on Intercession and the Affirmed and Rejected Types of Intermediaries : http://www.tawhidfirst.com/monotheism/articles/ufkjv-shaykh-ul-islam-ibn-taymiyyah-on-intercession-and-the-affirmed-and-rejected-types-of-intermediaries.cfm