Shafaah
Shafaah, or intercession, is a concept in Islam describing the act of mediating with God on behalf of others to seek mercy, forgiveness, or entry into paradise. The term comes from the Arabic root shafa’a, meaning to intercede or mediate. In Islamic theology, shafaah is not independent power exercised by the intercessor; it is granted by God and occurs only with His permission.
The Qur’an and Hadith describe shafaah as conditional and limited by divine will. A common formulation is
Forms and actors of intercession vary across traditions. The Prophet Muhammad is regarded in many traditions
Scholarly perspectives differ. The mainstream Sunni view generally accepts intercession as a real, permitted phenomenon within
In practice, beliefs about shafaah influence devotional expressions, including prayers asking the Prophet or saints to