Benefits of the Hadith: (Whoever intercedes for his brother with an intercession, and a gift is presented to him and he accepts it . . . ).
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The Shaykh : Among the benefits of this hadith is the permissibility of intercession, and its basis is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) affirming it and approving of it.
However, this is not absolute, but rather according to what the Shari'ah texts and established principles require. If one intercedes in a false matter, his intercession is invalid and forbidden, if it is forbidden. But the intended meaning is intercession in good.
And among the benefits of the hadith is that it is not permissible for one who intercedes in a matter in which intercession is obligatory for him to take a gift, because the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) description of it as riba (usury or interest) is intended to deter people from it. Likewise, one who intercedes for his brother in a non-obligatory matter should not take a gift for it, for the reason we have mentioned previously, that a person earns and obtains what he does not deserve.
Now, if someone were to ask: What do you say if he is asked to intercede, and the one seeking it says to him: I will not intercede for you except for so much and so much, from the outset? Is that permissible?
The student: Yes, it is permissible.
The Shaykh : Reflect, do not rush to answer, ha!
The student: There is a distinction.
The Shaykh : The detailed explanation for some people is like the two opinions of Ibn Jinni.
The student: A fortiori.
The Shaykh : I say: If it is from the outset, then this is not an intercession by which a favor is obtained from the intercessor, but rather it is a compensation and a hire. He says: I will not intercede for you except for so much and so much, provided that the intercession is not obligatory. If it is obligatory, then it is not permissible for him to say: I will not intercede except for so much and so much. Why? Because it is an obligatory duty binding upon him by the Shari'ah, such as interceding for him to remove oppression from him, or to secure an obligation for him.
However, this is not absolute, but rather according to what the Shari'ah texts and established principles require. If one intercedes in a false matter, his intercession is invalid and forbidden, if it is forbidden. But the intended meaning is intercession in good.
And among the benefits of the hadith is that it is not permissible for one who intercedes in a matter in which intercession is obligatory for him to take a gift, because the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) description of it as riba (usury or interest) is intended to deter people from it. Likewise, one who intercedes for his brother in a non-obligatory matter should not take a gift for it, for the reason we have mentioned previously, that a person earns and obtains what he does not deserve.
Now, if someone were to ask: What do you say if he is asked to intercede, and the one seeking it says to him: I will not intercede for you except for so much and so much, from the outset? Is that permissible?
The student: Yes, it is permissible.
The Shaykh : Reflect, do not rush to answer, ha!
The student: There is a distinction.
The Shaykh : The detailed explanation for some people is like the two opinions of Ibn Jinni.
The student: A fortiori.
The Shaykh : I say: If it is from the outset, then this is not an intercession by which a favor is obtained from the intercessor, but rather it is a compensation and a hire. He says: I will not intercede for you except for so much and so much, provided that the intercession is not obligatory. If it is obligatory, then it is not permissible for him to say: I will not intercede except for so much and so much. Why? Because it is an obligatory duty binding upon him by the Shari'ah, such as interceding for him to remove oppression from him, or to secure an obligation for him.