Types of ordained intercession

Types of ordained intercession

1.The Great Intercession

It is the first intercession and it was mentioned earlier. It is after the resurrection, gathering and the standing of the Day of Resurrection until our Prophet (peace be upon him) intercedes. This is a special intercession of our Prophet (peace be upon him) and it was mentioned earlier with its proofs.

2.His intercession –the Prophet (peace be upon him) for the people of Paradise to enter Paradise

Proof to that: the Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I would be the first among people to intercede in the Paradise and amongst the apostles I would have the largest following (on the Day of Resurrection).”[1] In a narration: “I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection. and would seek its opening. and the keeper would say: Who art thou? I would say: Muhammad. He would then say: It is for thee that I have been ordered, and not to open it for anyone before thee.”[2]

3.The intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for his uncle Abu Talib so that the punishment can be reduced for him.

That is because Abu Talib died as a disbeliever so will not be removed from the fire but the intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him) will reduce the punishment on him. Proof to that: the Hadith of Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him): “that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned about his uncle Abu Talib so he said: “My intercession may benefit him on the Day of Resurrection and he may be placed in the shallow part of the Fire which would reach his ankles and his brain would be boiling.”[3] In a narration: “he would be in the most shallow part of the Fire: and but for me he would have been in the lowest part of Hell.”[4]

These 3 previous types (of intercession) are special for our Prophet (peace be upon him)

4.Intercession to release the monotheists in the fire

Proof to that is the Hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever said "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a barley grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a wheat grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of an atom will be taken out of Hell.”[5]

There is the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is for every apostle a prayer which is granted, but every prophet showed haste in his prayer. I have, however, reserved my prayer for the intercession of my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection, and it would be granted, if Allah so willed, in case of everyone amongst my Ummah provided he dies without associating anything with Allah”[6]

There is the Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My intercession will be for those of my people who have committed major sins.”[7]

The Khawarij and Muatazila dispute this type of intercession because their way (belief) is that the companions of major sins come out because of their faith. The thief, the fornicator /adulterer and the like from the community of the major sins (in their belief) come out because of their faith so the intercession does not benefit them. Their saying is wrong; refuted by the many proofs that contradict their beliefs. Among these is the evidence that preceded.

5.The intercession for whoever deserved the fire; not to enter it

This is among the types of intercession that the people of knowledge have mentioned. This could be proven by the Hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If any Muslim dies and forty men who associate nothing with Allah stand over his prayer (they offer prayer over him), Allah will accept them as intercessors for him.”[8]

6. Intercession to raise the levels of the people of Paradise

This could be by the honour that Allah made in the dua of the believers over each other as it is in the Hadith of Umm Salama and the dua of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for Abu Salama when he died. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, forgive Abu Salama, raise his degree among those who are rightly guided, grant him a successor in his descendants who remain.”[9]

These 3 types are not specific to the Prophets PBUT. They are for all the Prophets, the righteous and the believers.

7. The intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a community that will enter Paradise without reckoning and no punishment

Such as the intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for Ikasha ibn Muhsin (may Allah be pleased with him) to be among the 70,000 who will enter Paradise without reckoning or punishment as it came in the Hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) in the two Sahih[10]

Among the people of knowledge are those who add an eighth type and that is: the intercession whose level of good and bad (deeds) are equal. They are the people of Al Araf.

Among the intercessions is what is with the Prophets, the believers, the martyrs, the righteous and the angels based on their levels and positions with their Lord. The martyr for example can intercede for 70 of his household as was narrated in the Hadith of Abu Dawud and Ibn Hibban.[11]