مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَـٰعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُۥ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَـٰعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُۥ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقِيتًا 85
Translations
Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share [i.e., reward] therefrom; and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a portion [i.e., burden] therefrom. And ever is Allāh, over all things, a Keeper.
Transliteration
Man yashfa' shafa'atan hasanatan yakun lahu nasibun minha wa man yashfa' shafa'atan sayyi'atan yakun lahu kiflun ilha wa kana Allahu 'ala kulli shay'in muqitan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the principle of moral accountability for intercession (shafa'ah): whoever intercedes with good intention and for a righteous cause earns a share of the good that results, while whoever intercedes for an evil or unjust purpose bears responsibility for that evil. Ibn Kathir explains that this encompasses all forms of advocacy, counsel, and mediation, emphasizing that one's intentions and the righteousness of the cause determine the moral outcome. Al-Qurtubi notes that 'naseeb' (share) and 'kifl' (portion) both indicate that the intercessor gains reward or burden proportional to their role in the affair.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (Medinan), revealed during the period of Islamic community development in Medina. It addresses the societal practice of intercession and mediation, which was common in Arab culture, reframing it within Islamic ethics. The broader context of An-Nisa focuses on social relationships, justice, and moral conduct within the believing community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever intercedes for his brother and he (the one being interceded for) gives him a gift, he should not accept it, for it is unlawful sustenance.' (Sunan Abu Dawud 3543). Additionally, 'The best intercession is that which is done for a relative or in a matter of lawful gain' - a principle derived from authentic traditions emphasizing righteous intercession.
Themes
Key Lesson
Our actions as advocates, mediators, and influencers carry moral weight—we are responsible not only for our intentions but for the outcomes of our intercessions. This teaches believers to carefully consider whether they are advancing justice and righteousness or enabling wrongdoing, understanding that every act of mediation brings reward or reckoning before Allah.