The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 127
PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH fulfils all the requisite conditions. CH. 2 is an erring man who is sincerely connected with me but in moments of The above view finds clear weakness he has stumbled and faltered. But as Thou art kind and good to me, O Lord, be Thou kind also to this sinful servant of Thine and pardon him his sins". This is what may be termed the essence of acles as taught and, held lawful, by Islam. From the above significance of the word it is apparent that true acle is governed by the following conditions: (1) He who intercedes must be very near and dear to God enjoying His special favour. (2) The person for whom he wishes to intercede must have a true and real connection with him. (3) The person in whose favour intercession is to be made must be a of good person overall, only casually tempted to sin in moments weakness; for it cannot be entertained for a moment that a habitually wicked one can enjoy a true connection with a holy person. (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, and (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 127 شفاعة nor any corroboration in the Islamic teachings. For instance, the Quran 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, (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 and thus failed to form the most important of spiritual therefore no other connections, connection or intercession will avail them on the Day of Judgement. This makes it clear that acles can avail only those who accept the Messenger of the day. It cannot avail those who, by rejecting a Messenger of God, rebel against divine authority. As such people fail to form the connection that they are called upon to form, no question of acl arises. Again the Quran says: On the Day of Judgement acl (intercession) shall not avail any person except him for whom God grants permission and with whose word (i. e. with whose expression of faith) He is pleased (20:110). This verse throws light on three very important points: (a) That if, on the one hand, there are some whom ac (intercession) will not avail, on the other hand, there are others whom it will certainly avail. (b) But it will avail only those for whom God grants special permission. (c) That such permission will be granted only in the case of those