The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 129
PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH so to speak, says to God "My God, if Thou holdest me dear, then be Thou kind also to this sufferer who is dear to me. " Such a prayer, if offered with God's permission, most forcefully moves the mercy of God and is sure of acceptance. (2) Secondly, there is the form of acle which, though verbal, yet is offered not in the form of a prayer but merely as a simple statement expressive of the relation between the intercessor and the person for whom he intercedes. Sometimes, it happens that through fear of God or through modesty the intercessor does not make an intercession in the form of a direct request or prayer but simply expresses the relation existing between him and the person for whom he wishes to intercede, leaving the conclusion to be drawn by God Himself. A case in point is that of Noah's intercession for his son referred to above. Noah did not CH. 2 avail them (2:124). Here acle is used simply in the sense of connection. God means to say that as the Jews have refused to connect themselves with the Holy Prophet of Islam, therefore no other connection will avail them. Their being counted among the followers of Abraham or Moses or David, etc. , will be of no avail to them. In this sense a Prophet of God is a or intercessor for all his true followers without distinction. Everybody who establishes a true connection with him is saved while others perish. In this sense God also is a for those who connect themselves with Him are saved, while others who remain disconnected are ruined. Now the question arises, Why has God instituted ace at all? The answer is as follows: Firstly, ac in the sense of good association is the very essence of spirituality. All spiritual progress depends on a good spiritual contact. A soul not in contact with God is lost actually pray for his son but simply and, for that matter, a soul not in drew God's attention to their relationship: My Lord, verily my son is of my family and surely Thy promise is true (11:46). These are Noah's words. It is a clear case of acle although the actual form of prayer is wanting. (3) Thirdly, there is the ace which is neither made in the form of a prayer nor expressed in words. It simply consists in the practical existence of the twofold relation necessary for acle. In fact, in this case the relationship itself is spoken of as acle. For instance, the Quran speaks of the Jews saying acri. e. on the Day of Judgement no acl shall 129 contact with the Prophet of the day, who represents God on earth, is also lost. The Quran says, he who forms a good connection will reap the benefit thereof and he who forms an evil connection will suffer the loss attached thereto (4:86). Thus the need and the usefulness of ace in the sense of a good connection is self-evident and one need not say much about it. But when we come to acle in the sense of intercession, an explanation seems called for. When all depends on true belief and right actions, why should the necessity of intercession arise at all? Even a cursory thought leads to the conviction that this question,