Al-Waseelah AND AL-SHAFAAH

In the Light of Quran

Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) has used the word Waseelah and Shafaah at different places in His final Book Al-Quran specially the word Shafaah has been used very extensively. Many people misquote the word Waseelah and gave it the meanings of the word Shafaah. Lets analyze both these words in the light of Quran and let Quran decide itself what are the real meanings of these two important terms. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) Says

)35 : (

O ye who believe! do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him, and strive with might and main In His cause: that ye may prosper. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) [Maidah: 35] Similarly Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) Says

)57 : (

Those whom They call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord, Even those who are nearest: They hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath: for the wrath of Thy Lord is something to take heed of. [Abdullah Yusuf Ali] [Al-Isra: 57] Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) has used the word Waseelah only twice in the Quran and it is clearly evident from the text of the Quran that it means means of approach not intercession

Dr. Khalid Zaheer commenting on the verse of Al-Maidah while answering a question about Waseelah: Had the commonly understood meaning of 'Waseelah' been meant in this verse, then the following verse of al-Zumur wouldn't have made any sense:

)44 : (

"Beware! The pure religion (of seeking help) is for Allah alone. And those who seek helpers other than Him, (they say), 'We don't worship them except with a view to come closer to God'. Indeed, Allah is going to decide about them on the Day of Judgment on matters they are disputing. Indeed, Allah doesn't guide those liars and rejecters of truth." (Al-Zumr: 03) Now lets see what Quran says about the word Shafaah. Here are the references from the Quran with the word Shafaah. There are other verses like (4:84) with the same word but that is not relevant to the topic because this topic exclusively deals with the issue of intercession between Allah and His Servants.

)123 : (

Then guard yourselves against a Day when one soul shall not avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from her nor shall intercession profit her nor shall anyone be helped (from outside). (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Baqarah: 123)

)254 : (
O ye who believe! Spend out of (the bounties) We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining (Will avail), nor friendship nor intercession. Those who reject Faith they are the wrong-doers. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Baqarah: 254)

)87 : (
None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from ((Allah)) Most Gracious. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Maryam: 87)

)109 : (
On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by ((Allah)) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Taha: 109)

)28 : (
He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory). (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Anbiya: 28)

)23 : (

No intercession can avail in His Presence, except for those for whom He has granted permission. So far (is this the case) that, when terror is removed from their hearts (at the Day of Judgment, then) will they say, 'what is it that your Lord commanded?' they will say, 'That which is true and just; and He is the Most High Most Great'." (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Saba:23)

)23 : (

Shall I take (other) gods besides Him? If ((Allah)) Most Gracious should intend some adversity for me, of no use whatever will be their intercession for me, nor can they deliver me. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Yaseen: 23)

)44:(

Say: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: In the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back." (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Zumr: 44)

)26 : (

And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession;- only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (him). (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Zukhruf: 86)

)26 : (

How many-so-ever be the angels in the heavens, their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases and that he is acceptable to Him. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Najm: 26)

)48 : (
Then will no intercession of (any) intercessors profit them. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Muddaththir: 48) Now look at the difference of the meaning of these two words. There is a huge difference one is completely prohibited and the other is completely allowed. Now lets see an example from the Quran which clears the concept of Waseelah in the light of Quran:

: (

)153

O You who believe! Seek help In patience and As-Salt (the prayer). Truly! Allh is with As-Sbirin (the patient ones, etc.). (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) (Baqarah: 153)

Now in this verse Allah tells us that we can get His help by Sabr and Salah and Allah will only help us when we will be close to Him and the Proposition ( )is pointing towards the same. And similarly in the verse of Surah Maidah Allah wants us to strive in His path so that we can be close to him. And the verse of Surah Isra completely negates the view point that we can approach to Allah by means of any human being, Jinn or Malaikah because these words Those whom They call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord, - Even those who are nearest: give us the clear idea. And the word Waseelah cant be taken in the meanings of the word Shafaah because the later is completely forbidden in the Quran. There is not a single verse which says that anybody can intercede for us in this world or next (only by the permission of Allah and that is too in the day of Judgment). Everybody is requested to go through these lines and share their views and correct me if I have made any mistakes or wrongly interpreted the verses of the Quran because we cannot play with the words of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala otherwise well perish.

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