يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُۥ قَوْلًا 109
Translations
That Day, no intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word.
Transliteration
Yawma-idhin la tanfau ash-shafa'atu illa man adhina lahu ar-Rahman wa radia lahu qawla
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, intercession will be of no benefit except for those whom Allah (the Most Merciful) has granted permission to intercede and is pleased with their word. This ayah emphasizes that intercession on the Day of Judgment is not absolute or automatic; rather, it is contingent upon Allah's permission and approval. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this verse establishes the hierarchy of divine justice—while the Prophet (peace be upon him) and righteous believers may intercede, their intercession only succeeds when Allah wills it and when the interceded-for person has earned some measure of divine approval through their deeds.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ta-Ha, a Meccan chapter that discusses the Day of Judgment and divine attributes. The broader passage (20:108-109) describes the scene on the Day of Resurrection where voices will be humbled before Allah, and it addresses the false hopes some people place in worldly status and connections, reminding them that only Allah's permission and pleasure matter in the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every soul shall taste death, and We test you with evil and with good as a trial. Then to Us shall you be returned' (Quran 21:35). Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, there are hadiths about the Prophet's intercession on the Day of Judgment, which occurs only by Allah's permission, reinforcing the meaning of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that neither worldly status nor connections to righteous people guarantee salvation; what matters is Allah's will and our own deeds and obedience. Believers should focus on developing sincere faith and righteous conduct rather than relying on external means, understanding that all affairs ultimately rest in Allah's hands alone.