Shafa'a

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Shafa'a(h) (Arabic: شفاعة, "intercession") in Islam is the act of pleading to God by an intimate friend of God (a Muslim saint) for forgiveness of a believing sinner. The word Shafa'ah is taken from shaf (شَّفْعُ) which means even as opposed to odd. The interceder, therefore, adds his own recommendation to that of petitioner so that there are two individuals—an even number—pleading for forgiveness. The prestige of the intercessor strengthens the otherwise weak plea of the sinner. Accordingly, Shafa'ah is a form of prayer to God by one who is near to Him on behalf of a member of the believing community seeking deliverance from eternal damnation (though not necessarily from temporary punishment). Controversies concerning Shafa'at have arisen over who may intercede with God. Some maintain that supporters of Wahhabism deny the Shafa’ah of Muhammad, while at least some supporters insist they only oppose the seeking of Shafa’ah from "the dead and the like". Another issue is whether using holy persons as mediators to God "with a specific request in mind" is halal (allowed) or "an unconscionable innovation (bidʻah), turning Muslims into idolaters". Another issue is whether focusing on intercession runs the risk of emboldening people to committing sins, it should be considered as a ray of hope which lead sinners to the right path after they have wronged themselves. None of the 29 mentions of Shafa'ah on the Day of Judgement in the Quran specifically include Muhammad or "the office of prophethood". Nonetheless, belief in the intercession of Muhammad is a doctrine of both Sunnis and Shiites supported by hadith. Shia also extend the idea of mediation to include The Twelve Imams and other "intimate friends of God" (Awliya). Popular belief among Muslims is that "all but the most sinful" Muslims will be saved by Muḥammad's intercession and God's...