What does "Shafa'a" REALLY mean?
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What is "Shafa'a"? What does it REALLY mean?
Can we truly rely on the definition we curently believe in? If so, then how do we explain the contradictions that arise in the Noble Qur'an concerning intercesion when we implement the definition we currently use?
When we use our current definition (shafa'a=intercession)
Will there be intercession?
No .
Yes .Does it have a deeper meaning? Does have different shades of meaning? Or does it have a different meaning altogether?
Can we all come to the table and truly put this word under the microscope and find out what it really stands for? And eventually, with Allah's permission, we can truly return this term back to it's original nature.
Salam.
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You can do detailed research using Project Root List
http//www.studyquran.co.uk/PRLonline.htmShiin-Fa-Ayn = to make even that which was odd, make double, pair, make a thing to be one of the pair, adjoin a thing to its like, provide a thing which was alone with another, protect, mediate, intercede, be an intercessor. shaf'un - pair, double. shafa'at - likeness/similarity, intercede or pray for a person.
shafa'a vb. (1)
impf. act. 2255, 485, 485, 753, 2128
n.vb.f. 248, 2123, 2254, 485, 485, 1987, 20109, 3423, 3623, 3944, 4386, 5326, 7448
pcple. act. 26100, 7448shaf n.m. 893
shafi n.m. (pl. shufa'a) 651, 670, 694, 753, 103, 1018, 3013, 324, 3943, 4018
LL, V4, p 295, 296, 297
This should form the basis. Then once done, feel free to use the search function of the forum to read past discussions.
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What is Shafaa'at?
The root of the word is sheen-fa-ain, which has the following meanings
to make something to be one of a pair or couple
to join one with another, so as to become one of the pair, to aid him
The infinitive noun ?shaf?un? means?one of a pair or couple?, or
?one with which another is made to be a pair or couple?, or
?an even number, a number that can be divided into two equal numbers?, or
?one with which an odd number is made to be an even number?, or
?the adjoining of a thing to its like?.
The word ?shaf?un? is the contrary of the word ?wit?run?, the latter meaning ?single, sole, or lone?, or ?an odd number? .
The infinitive noun "shafaa'at" or ?shafaa?atun? signifies
?joining of one to another as an aider to him or a petitioner for him?, or
?joining of one to another as a standby support?, or
?joining of one with another so as to stand up for him", or
"joining of one with another so as to speak or act in support of him?
"standing up for someone"
"standing with someone so as to speak or act in support of him".
Allah says in the Quran,
?Whoever joins himself (to another) in a good partnership shall have a share of it, and whoever joins himself (to another) in an evil partnership shall be accountable for his part in it?? .
When there will be no Shafaa'at!
Addressing the Believers, Allah says in the Quran,
O You who believe! Spend out of what We have granted you as sustenance before there come a Day when there will be no bargaining, no friendship, and no standing up (of someone) for (someone) (in order to speak or act in support)...
When no Shafaa'at will be accepted!
Addressing the Children of Israel, Allah says in the Quran,
And be on your guard against a day when one soul shall not avail another in the least, neither shall standing up (of someone) for it be accepted, nor shall any compensation be taken from it, nor shall they be helped.
When no Shafaa'at will benefit!
And be on your guard against a day when one soul shall not avail another in the least, neither shall any compensation be accepted from it, nor shall standing up (of someone) for it benefit it, nor shall they be helped.
Why Warning of No Shafaa'at?
And warn hereby those who fear that they shall be gathered unto their Sustainer - There is no guardian for them besides Him nor anyone to stand up for them, so that they may guard (themselves against the harmful consequences of not living according to His Guidance).
Those for whom there will be no Sha'fee
Az-Zaalimeen shall not have any compassionate friend nor any sha'fee who should be given heed to.
The erring ones who will go to Hell will say that
so, there is none who can stand up for us.
Those for whom shafaa'at will be of no benefit
No Ash-Shafaa'at can avail in His Presence, except for those for whom He has granted permission (according to His Law)
His Law is elaborated in the verses given below
When people of Hellfire will be asked, "what led you into Hell fire?", they will say,
"We were not of the Musalleen. And we did not provide means of sustenance to the indigent (i.e. those who were unable to earn, those who had lost their jobs, those whose businesses had stalled, and those whose hard-earned income was insufficient to meet their basic needs; and we were amongst those who talked vainly (and did nothing practically); and we used to belie the Day of Judgment, till the inevitable can upon us; then no standing up for them, of anyone who would stand up for them, will benefit them.?
Those for whom there may be Shafaa'at
On that Day shall no ash-shafaa'at avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by the Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him.
And some say, "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son"! Limitless is He in His glory! Nay, honoured servants.
They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act.
He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them. They shall not stand up for anyone except those whom He has graced with His goodly acceptance , they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him.
How many forces of nature are there in the heavens whose shafaa'at will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases (i.e. His Law of Causation necessitates) and He approves of.
Who shall have the power of Shafaa'at?
All Shafaa'at belongs to Allah altogether
You have none besides Him as a guardian nor any sha'fee
it (i.e. any soul) shall not have besides Allah any guardian nor an sha'fee
Who is there who can stand up for someone in His Presence unless by His permission (or it be in accordance with His Laws)
there is none who can stand up for someone except after His permission
None shall have the power of standing up for someone, but such a one as has received promise from the Most Gracious
And some say, "The Most Gracious has taken unto Himself a son"! Limitless is He in His glory! Nay, honoured servants.
They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act.
He knows all that lies open before them and all that is hidden from them. They shall not stand up for anyone except those whom He has graced with His goodly acceptance , they themselves stand in reverent awe of Him.
How many forces of nature are there in the heavens whose shafaa'at will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases (i.e. His Law of Causation necessitates) and He approves of.
None of those whom they invoke instead of Him (Allah) possess any power of standing up for (them) except he who testifies equitably, with justice, rightness and truth, and they know.
What will be the nature of Ash-shafaa'at?
None of those whom they invoke instead of Him (Allah) possess any power of standing up for (them) except he who testifies equitably, with justice, rightness and truth, and they know.
According to the above verse, even if anyone will be allowed by Allah to stand up with someone (to act as a sha'fee), he will do nothing but bear a witness with truth. Allah says in the Quran that on the day whereof warning is given, every soul will come with a witness
Is Muhammad (p.b.u.h) a Sha'fee ?
It must be pointed out here that nowhere in the Quran, Allah says explicitly that Muhammad (p.b.u.h) will be shaaf'e or sha'fee . In fact his attribute as shaaf'e or sha'fee is nowhere mentioned in the Quran. However, Allah has mentioned one of Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) attributes as shaheed & shahid , which is also one of the attributes of Allah .
As for those who abandon the Quran, this is what the Messenger of Allah will say on the day of Judgment,
And the Rasool will say, "O my Rabb, this is the very nation of mine which abandoned the Quran (and had put the Quran into the shackles of self conceived ideas, whereby it could not move even a few steps freely.)"
http//www.quranicteachings.co.uk/intercession.htm
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What do you guys think of the shia's interpretation? It sure makes more sense than sunni's.
I guess the shia are atleast closer to the correct interpretation than the sunnis.
Atleast their right about something for a change.
Check these outhttp//www.answering-ansar.org/answers/salafi_literalism/en/chap2.php
Here this shia site shows how salafis make the big mistake of making literal interpretations of the Noble Qur'an. It shows how intercession should not be approached from the literal sense.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTYj5UTEbo4&hl=en
Tell me what you guys think of the video. You think he's got the correct (or somewhat accurate) interpretation?
Salam
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What do you guys think of the shia's interpretation? It sure makes more sense than sunni's.
I guess the shia are atleast closer to the correct interpretation than the sunnis.
Atleast their right about something for a change.
Check these outhttp//www.answering-ansar.org/answers/salafi_literalism/en/chap2.php
Here this shia site shows how salafis make the big mistake of making literal interpretations of the Noble Qur'an. It shows how intercession should not be approached from the literal sense.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTYj5UTEbo4&hl=en
Tell me what you guys think of the video. You think he's got the correct (or somewhat accurate) interpretation?
Salam
I think if we implement the various shades of definition (that Arnold Yasin provided above) of the word Shafa'a with the interpretation of the shia's perspective (as mentioned above), we can reach a better understanding of the concept of intercession.
Tell me what you guys think,
Salam. -
When I read the Qur'an and re-read it, I didn't see any contradictions in what you are referring to. God gives the permission to whoever he will to speak, but even the angels will not speak before him, Jesus and all the other Messengers will not speak before him. AND the disbelievers will have no means to defend themselves or justify their point, even though they may try, they will just make excuses (stated in the Qur'an). They will all willingly or unwilingly bow before God's Majesty, and they will be shown what they have done, and they will see it to be true, and there will be no room to make counter-arguments.
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Peace be upon you,
The earth is the plane of CHANGE, this is where we come to CHANGE. Once our time is up here it is like the dream world, where you have no control, no ability to change. (death is likened to sleep).
So do not sit around waiting to be "given grace", get active in reprogramming your subconcious/nueral connections and CHANGE your behavior now before it is too late.
