How to reconcile the statement of Allah the Exalted: “And the intercession of the intercessors will not benefit them” with the intercession of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for his uncle Abu Talib, who died in a state of disbelief?
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The questioner : How to reconcile the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Muddaththir 74:48] with the intercession of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for his uncle Abu Talib, who died in a state of disbelief?
The Shaykh : This is specific to the Messenger and also specific to Abu Talib. The Prophet did not intercede for his father; he did not intercede for his father, but he interceded for his uncle, as we mentioned previously. We said that the intercession for his uncle was not because he was his uncle, but because of his support of Islam and his defense of it. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is Appreciative and Forbearing, so He permitted the Prophet to intercede specifically for this man.
So there will not benefit them the intercession of [any] intercessors.
ولا تنفعهم شفاعة الشافعينThe Shaykh : This is specific to the Messenger and also specific to Abu Talib. The Prophet did not intercede for his father; he did not intercede for his father, but he interceded for his uncle, as we mentioned previously. We said that the intercession for his uncle was not because he was his uncle, but because of his support of Islam and his defense of it. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is Appreciative and Forbearing, so He permitted the Prophet to intercede specifically for this man.