As for al-Barzakh ( = the period between death and the Day...

As for al-Barzakh ( = the period between death and the Day of Resurrection) and presence of the Prophet and the Imams of the Ahlu '1-bayt (a.s.) at the time of death and at the questioning in the grave and the help given by them to the believer to overcome those difficulties (as will be described under the verse: And there shall not be any one of the people of the book but he must certainly believe in him before his death (4:159), these things have nothing to do with intercession.

It is rather exercising the authority given to them by Allâh over the creation. Allâh says: . . . and on the most elevated places there shall be men who know all by their marks, and they shall call out to the dwellers of the garden: "Peace be on you; they shall not have yet entered it, though they hope". . -.And the dwellers of the most elevated places shall call out to men whom they will recognize by their marks, saying: "Of no avail were to you your amassings and your behaving haughtily.

📌Are these they about whom you swore that Allâh will not bestow mercy on them?" "Enter the garden; you shall have no fear nor shall you grieve" (7:46-49). It gives a glimpse of the authority or rule vested in them by the permission of Allâh. If we look at the verse 17:71 from this angle, it too throws light on this aspect: (Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imâm; then whoever is given his book in his right hand . . .

The intermediary position of the Imam in calling every people and giving them their books is a sort of authority and rule vested in him by Allâh. To make a long story short, intercession shall happen at the very last stage on the Day of Judgement; it shall bring the divine forgiveness to the guilty believers, prevent them from entering into hell and take those out who would have entered into it; it shall be by extension of mercy and/or manifestation of benevolence and magnanimity.

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