Who are those who affirmed intercession absolutely, and who are those who denied intercession absolutely?

Question:
May Allah reward you. Your Eminence the Shaykh, the questioner asks: Who are those who affirmed shafa'ah (intercession) absolutely, and who are those who denied shafa'ah (intercession) absolutely? What is the ruling on one who denies shafa'ah (intercession)? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Those who denied shafa'ah (intercession) absolutely are the Khawarij, the Mu'tazilah, and those who rule that the one who commits a major sin is a disbeliever. They say the one who commits a major sin is a disbeliever and does not enter Paradise; rather, he remains in the Fire forever. Therefore, they denied shafa'ah (intercession), saying that whoever enters the Fire is a disbeliever and does not come out of it. This is according to their invalid methodology. Those who affirmed shafa'ah (intercession) absolutely are the Khurafiyun and the Sufiyyah, who seek shafa'ah (intercession) from graves, shrines, and the dead. These are the ones who affirmed it absolutely without conditions.
Yes, and those who took the middle path are the people of the Sunnah and the community. They affirmed it based on the evidence that came regarding it. They did not affirm it absolutely, nor did they deny it absolutely; rather, they affirmed it in light of the evidence that came in the Book and the Sunnah.