Indeed, we have been sinners.

Indeed, we have been sinners.” He said, “I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you.” Verily, He, and only He, is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [^8] The has also mentioned to the people in regards to his own intercession: I will be interceding on the Day of Judgment for whoever has faith in his heart.[^9] Each prophet before me asked Allah for something which he was granted, and I saved my request until the Day of Judgment for intercession on behalf of my nation.

^10 My intercession will be for the people who committed the cardinal sins ( al-kaba΄ir ) except shirk and dhulm (polytheism and oppression). ^11 The Intercessors are five: the Qur’an, one’s near relatives, trusts ( amanah ), your Prophet, and the family of your Prophet (the Ahlul Bayt).[^12] Shafa΄ah is not to ask the prophet or the imams for protection or to ward off calamity or to bring happiness and success.

Rather, it is to plead to Allah, the Almighty by the sake of those who are near to Him, like the prophets and the imams. As the Noble Qur’an asserts, only those who receive promise and permission from Allah can intercede and help people on the Day of Judgment. Intercession will be for those with good intentions and good belief in this life, who neither defied Allah nor challenged His authority but, perhaps fell behind in part of their religious obligations.

Their good record will help them receive the intercession of the messengers, the imams, and the believers on the Day of Judgment.

Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq, the sixth Imam of the school of Ahlul Bayt, at the time of his martyrdom called his relatives and companions and said, “Verily, our intercession will never reach one who takes the prayers lightly.”[^13] [^1]: Noble Qur’an, 10:3 [^2]: Noble Qur’an, 2:255 [^3]: Noble Qur’an, 20:109 [^4]: Noble Qur’an, 21:28 [^5]: Noble Qur’an, 19:87 [^6]: Noble Qur’an, 34:23 [^7]: Noble Qur’an, 4:64 [^8]: Noble Qur’an, 12:97-98 [^9]: al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Kanz al-Ummal, Hadith 39043 [^12]: Ibid., Hadith 39041 [^13]: al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, 82:236 Previous…