The Guiding Light — Page 344
S u rah al-Baqarah, Verse 255-258 344 (4). Intercession must always be made with God’s permission; for it is God alone who knows a. Whether a so-called holy person really stands near and dear to Him b. Whether the person for whom intercession is being made is truly and sincerely connected with the holy man making the intercession, for there is many a connection which looks sound and genuine from outside but is rotten from within. (5). Each and every intercession is not necessarily lawful or fruitful. Only that intercession is lawful which fulfils all the requisite conditions. The above view finds clear corroboration in the Islamic teachings. For instance, the Qur’ a n says: And fear the day when no soul shall serve as a substitute for another soul at all, nor shall any ransom be accepted from it, nor any ﺷﻔﺎﻋﺔ ( shaf a ‘a h ) intercession) avail it, nor shall they be helped (2:124). This verse is addressed to the Jews and signifies that, as they have rejected the Holy Prophet sa and thus failed to form the most important of spiritual connections, therefore no other connection or intercession will avail them on the Day of Judgement. This makes it