Shadee Elmasry – Why Do We Need Intercession When God Can Forgive Directly

Shadee Elmasry
Share Page

AI: Summary ©

The speaker discusses the concept of "overcome" and how it can create difficult relationships. They explain that "overcome" can be used to create difficult relationships when a person is unable to receive forgiveness from Allah directly or through a middleman. The Prophet's statement about forgiveness is a direct forgiveness, but if you avoid major sins, just by that you'll be forgiven. The Prophet has a rule of thumb for forgiveness, and if you miss major sins, just by that you'll be forgiven.

AI: Summary ©

00:00:03 --> 00:00:06
			Why is it that Allah subhanahu wa ta
		
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10
			'ala forgives some people through intercession where he
		
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11
			could have forgiven them directly?
		
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13
			There's a couple answers to that.
		
00:00:13 --> 00:00:17
			Number one, by causing someone to intercede for
		
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19
			you that honors that person.
		
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22
			Number two, it establishes one of the strongest
		
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25
			bonds ever between you and that person.
		
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27
			Because they were chosen by Allah to be
		
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29
			the means by which you're saved.
		
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32
			For the worst punishment possible, which is the
		
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33
			hellfire.
		
00:00:33 --> 00:00:37
			Number three, the middleman is an expression of,
		
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40
			there's a degree of displeasure there from Allah
		
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41
			subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44
			But you basically barely tipped the balance, earned
		
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45
			some rahmah.
		
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47
			So it's almost as if to say, if
		
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49
			we can give an analogy of the relationship
		
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53
			or the displeasure, yet mixed with some mercy.
		
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56
			It's when, for example, a parent sends a
		
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58
			child to their room and then they don't
		
00:00:58 --> 00:00:59
			want to talk to them.
		
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01
			But then they do have rahmah for them.
		
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04
			And so they say, all right, go send
		
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06
			this to your sister, send this food to
		
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08
			your brother, send this dinner to your brother.
		
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11
			So they refuse to talk to them because
		
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13
			that would indicate approval.
		
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16
			But they still have some mercy for them.
		
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18
			So they send somebody.
		
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20
			So that is a third wisdom.
		
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24
			What is intercession in the first place?
		
00:01:24 --> 00:01:25
			I didn't define that.
		
00:01:25 --> 00:01:26
			We should have defined that.
		
00:01:26 --> 00:01:31
			It's basically when another person, on the day
		
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34
			of judgment, seeks forgiveness for you from Allah
		
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36
			subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37
			Then Allah forgives you.
		
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40
			But you yourself, if you were to seek
		
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41
			forgiveness, you'd be rejected.
		
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44
			But your good deed is that you had
		
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46
			some good ties with this righteous person.
		
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49
			They then ask for you to be forgiven
		
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50
			and you're forgiven.
		
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53
			That also encourages us in this life to
		
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55
			have as many connections to good people as
		
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56
			possible.
		
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58
			You never know who will intercede for you.
		
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02
			Intercession could happen in this life too for
		
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03
			punishment.
		
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06
			For example, a mother may pray for her
		
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08
			son's forgiveness and guidance.
		
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10
			And that son may be astray.
		
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12
			He may be punished in this life if
		
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14
			it was not for the mother's dua for
		
00:02:14 --> 00:02:14
			him.
		
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17
			He's a bad kid, but he's a good
		
00:02:17 --> 00:02:17
			son.
		
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18
			It could happen.
		
00:02:19 --> 00:02:20
			He's sinful with Allah.
		
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22
			Bad to other people, but with his mom
		
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23
			he's good.
		
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24
			So his mom prays for him in the
		
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25
			middle of the night.
		
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28
			And his life turns for the better through
		
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29
			that prayer.
		
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32
			So there are many many wisdoms why Allah
		
00:02:32 --> 00:02:38
			created this middleman in terms of receiving the
		
00:02:38 --> 00:02:38
			forgiveness.
		
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41
			Not a middleman of worship, of course.
		
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44
			Not a middleman that's actually forgiving you.
		
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46
			No, they're asking for forgiveness for you.
		
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48
			These are the wisdoms.
		
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50
			So that's why it's really good to always
		
00:02:50 --> 00:02:50
			keep in mind.
		
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52
			Never look down on somebody.
		
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55
			That person could have made a prayer for
		
00:02:55 --> 00:02:55
			you.
		
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57
			And that wouldn't have been the prayer that's
		
00:02:57 --> 00:02:57
			answered.
		
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00
			And that's why they say, لا تحقر عبدًا
		
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03
			حسن يكون لله وليًّ Don't ever look down
		
00:03:03 --> 00:03:03
			on a slave.
		
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05
			He may be in the sight of Allah,
		
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07
			a wali whose dua is accepted.
		
00:03:07 --> 00:03:07
			You just don't know.
		
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10
			The Awliyaullah are not only the Fuqaha and
		
00:03:10 --> 00:03:14
			the Muhaddithin and the apparent people in religion.
		
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16
			They're in the religious community.
		
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18
			They could also be the regular person that
		
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20
			nobody knows about or no one pays attention
		
00:03:20 --> 00:03:20
			to.
		
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24
			So those are all the wisdoms surrounding the
		
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26
			concept of what we call Shafa'ah.
		
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28
			Shafa'ah is in Ayatul Kursi.
		
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31
			من ذا الذي يشفع عنده إلا بإذنه If
		
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33
			someone intercedes for you.
		
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35
			It's because Allah Ta'ala created that.
		
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37
			Allah Ta'ala made them intercede for you.
		
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39
			Permitted them to intercede for you.
		
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41
			So in fact, when the intercession comes, that
		
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42
			is from Allah directly.
		
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44
			That is from Allah except not directly.
		
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45
			Through a middleman.
		
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48
			Now, how is the direct forgiveness look like?
		
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51
			A person may be called up for the
		
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53
			judgment into a certain location.
		
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56
			And thereupon, they speak to Allah Ta'ala
		
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58
			without barrier or interpreter.
		
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01
			And thereupon Allah Ta'ala asks them some
		
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04
			very easy questions.
		
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07
			حساباً يسيراً Just a few questions.
		
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09
			And then Allah Ta'ala bestows His pleasure
		
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10
			upon him.
		
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12
			And He announces that you're forgiven.
		
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13
			Go enter Jannah.
		
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16
			So that is what the direct forgiveness looks
		
00:04:16 --> 00:04:16
			like.
		
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19
			What else did the Prophet say about the
		
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19
			intercession?
		
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24
			شفاعتي لأهل الكبائر من أمتي We have a
		
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25
			rule of thumb.
		
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28
			If you avoid major sins, just by that
		
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29
			you'll be forgiven your minor sins.
		
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31
			But what if you fell into major sins?
		
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33
			Then in this life you have Tawbah and
		
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34
			you have Hajj.
		
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36
			What happens if you didn't do those things?
		
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38
			You can have sicknesses.
		
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39
			What happens if that didn't happen?
		
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41
			You die with major sins on your record.
		
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43
			Then you go on the Day of Judgment.
		
00:04:44 --> 00:04:48
			And thereupon the Prophet announced, My intercession is
		
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50
			for the major sinners of my community.
		
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52
			On the Day of Judgment you have two
		
00:04:52 --> 00:04:52
			parts.
		
00:04:52 --> 00:04:56
			One part is all justice, which is the
		
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58
			wrath of Allah Ta'ala upon the people.
		
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01
			They see their sins manifest in different forms,
		
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04
			such as rivers of blood that they're pushed
		
00:05:04 --> 00:05:04
			into.
		
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06
			That's a manifestation of Ribah.
		
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10
			They see themselves as tiny ants.
		
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12
			And they're being stepped on.
		
00:05:12 --> 00:05:17
			That's the physical manifestation in physical form.
		
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19
			Flesh and blood, just like we are now.
		
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21
			But you find yourself tiny like an ant.
		
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23
			You're afraid to be stepped on.
		
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24
			Who is that on the Day of Judgment?
		
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26
			The oppressor.
		
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27
			Because he walked around the earth and he
		
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29
			made everyone else feel like that.
		
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30
			Just don't say anything.
		
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31
			Even my sheikh in Egypt.
		
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32
			Don't say anything.
		
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33
			Never talk.
		
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34
			Just walk against the wall.
		
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35
			Put your head down.
		
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38
			Why are they putting anyone in jail who
		
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39
			speaks about anything?
		
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40
			Just don't even pretend you're not even a
		
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41
			religious person.
		
00:05:42 --> 00:05:42
			Subhanallah.
		
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45
			So physical manifestation of your own sins.
		
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46
			It's what you're doing.
		
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51
			But then the Prophet ﷺ prostrates to Allah
		
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54
			and is inspired with words of praise that
		
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57
			have never been spoken before by any prophet
		
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58
			or angel.
		
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01
			Then Allah Ta'ala says, Rise and ask,
		
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02
			you'll be given.
		
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05
			He lifts his head and he asks for
		
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07
			intercession for his ummah and he's granted that.
		
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10
			Then other people in his ummah are granted
		
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11
			intercession.
		
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13
			So they may intercede for their family.
		
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16
			And each person, for example, you memorize the
		
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19
			Quran, okay, you can get 70 from your
		
00:06:19 --> 00:06:19
			friends and family.
		
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22
			Who are destined for the hellfire, you pull
		
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23
			them out.
		
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26
			That's why the social element of the religion
		
00:06:26 --> 00:06:26
			is so important.
		
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29
			The righteous mingling with the sinners in the
		
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30
			masajid.
		
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32
			Keep in mind, in the masajid, in righteous
		
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33
			places.
		
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37
			So Jumu'ah, Taraweeh, Eid, what is that?
		
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38
			It's mingling between the good and the bad.
		
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41
			So that the bad, who's in a bad
		
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42
			state, we're not going to say anyone's bad,
		
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44
			we're saying he's in a bad state.
		
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46
			He's fallen into bad deeds.
		
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48
			Can mingle with the good people.
		
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49
			Maybe in this life, he'll be better.
		
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52
			And maybe he'll go his whole life to
		
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53
			this life of dunya.
		
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56
			He'll never get better, but he loves those
		
00:06:56 --> 00:06:56
			people.
		
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59
			I'm telling you, there's tons of those types.
		
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02
			You seem like years and decades passed, they
		
00:07:02 --> 00:07:02
			never improve.
		
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06
			But they love good people.
		
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07
			So they have that at least.
		
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09
			On the Day of Judgement, you never know,
		
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10
			that may be their intercession for them.
		
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13
			A martyr may come, okay, you take more
		
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16
			than 70 people, 100 people, 200 people, 1
		
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17
			,000 people from your community.
		
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20
			Just one person was so special in the
		
00:07:20 --> 00:07:24
			sight of Allah, that 1,000 people whose
		
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26
			records ordained for them to go to *,
		
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29
			they go to heaven now through that person.
		
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32
			And they will thank that person and honor
		
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33
			that person for eternity.
		
00:07:34 --> 00:07:34
			Subhanallah.
		
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38
			So that's the summary of the concept of
		
00:07:38 --> 00:07:38
			Shafa'ah.
		
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41
			When we talk about Shafa'ah, we mention
		
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44
			Shafa'ah in some ways in the dua
		
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45
			after Adhan.
		
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48
			We ask for the Prophet to receive Al
		
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50
			-Maqam Al-Mahmood.
		
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53
			Al-Maqam Al-Mahmood is abroad, has a
		
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54
			lot of things to say about it, but
		
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55
			one of them is he's the Shafi'ah.