(Explanation of the Perfection of Allah in His Lordship and the Denial of Intermediaries and Intercession from Him) As for the One who is the Knower of the Unseen, the All-Powerful over what He wills, the Possessor of excellence, whom the intercessors fear
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) says, in explaining the oneness of worship and the difference between what the polytheists claimed—that they say, “We only worship these so that they may be intercessors, like a sultan who has intercessors who intercede for people, mediating for them with the king”—he says: The difference is apparent, because those kings and sultans are deficient; they need someone to alert them, someone to help them, and someone to admonish them regarding the conditions of people. As for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), He says:
“As for the One who is the Knower of the Unseen, *** the All-Powerful over what He wills, the Possessor of excellence
whom the intercessors fear; He does not need any of them; *** Exalted is the One of the Great Matter”
This means: He does not need intercessors or mediators. Rather, the needs of humans, indeed the needs of the servants, are directed to Allah directly, without mediators. This is part of the perfection of His mercy (Glorified and Exalted is He) toward His servants, that the needs of the servants are directed to Him directly, without an intermediary. If there were an intermediary, who would bring this intermediary? When would we find this intermediary? And when would this intermediary be pleased to raise the supplication? But it is from the servant to his Lord directly. He said:
“whom the intercessors fear; He does not need any of them; *** Exalted is the One of the Great Matter”
Whereas the intercessors with the kings of this world may not fear the kings; perhaps an intercessor does not care about this king or this sultan. But the intercessors with Allah, all of them are in need of Allah and fear Him.
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) says, in explaining the oneness of worship and the difference between what the polytheists claimed—that they say, “We only worship these so that they may be intercessors, like a sultan who has intercessors who intercede for people, mediating for them with the king”—he says: The difference is apparent, because those kings and sultans are deficient; they need someone to alert them, someone to help them, and someone to admonish them regarding the conditions of people. As for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), He says:
“As for the One who is the Knower of the Unseen, *** the All-Powerful over what He wills, the Possessor of excellence
whom the intercessors fear; He does not need any of them; *** Exalted is the One of the Great Matter”
This means: He does not need intercessors or mediators. Rather, the needs of humans, indeed the needs of the servants, are directed to Allah directly, without mediators. This is part of the perfection of His mercy (Glorified and Exalted is He) toward His servants, that the needs of the servants are directed to Him directly, without an intermediary. If there were an intermediary, who would bring this intermediary? When would we find this intermediary? And when would this intermediary be pleased to raise the supplication? But it is from the servant to his Lord directly. He said:
“whom the intercessors fear; He does not need any of them; *** Exalted is the One of the Great Matter”
Whereas the intercessors with the kings of this world may not fear the kings; perhaps an intercessor does not care about this king or this sultan. But the intercessors with Allah, all of them are in need of Allah and fear Him.