ISLAM: MOHAMMAD, MECCAN ALLAH & SUPREME ALLAH

Muhammad & His Concept of Intercession with Allah
by Mohammad Asghar

Part Two: Concerns itself with Meccan Allah, Supreme Allah and Mohammad in an intercessory role. It is linked to the previous post via the common thread of PAGANISM that runs through the article & Mohammad's history...

Remaining under the influence of paganism, Muhammad also wanted to promote a concept of intercession with Allah in a way that was different from those of the Pagans and Christians. He replaced the intercessory role of Allah’s daughters with himself, but failed to make his appointment as the new intercessor clear. While developing his role as the only intercessor whose pleadings Allah will accept on the Day of Judgment, he became confused. With a confused mind, he confined Allah (also called the Lord) to the city of Mecca together with making Him second to a Supreme Allah who controlled Him and His activities. The Meccan Lord will intercede, on the Day of Judgment, with the Supreme Allah for the salvation of Muhammad’s followers.

About his own intercessory role with Allah, Muhammad wrote in the Quran:

"On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah), Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him". [4]

Though Muhammad has not said that it will be only he who will intercede with Allah on behalf of his followers, but the phrase [except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah), Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him] indicates that along with him, there will be others whose intercession will also be acceptable to Allah.

In respect to the area the Meccan Allah had His control and authority on, Muhammad wrote:"

For me, I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this City, Him Who has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things: and I am commanded to be of those who bow in Islam to Allah’s Will, -". [5]

The phrase [this City] refers to Mecca. Muhammad spoke the above words in this city.[6]

It is clear from this statement that it was the Meccan Lord (or Allah) who, under an order from a higher Allah, commanded Muhammad to serve only Him (the Meccan Lord), as all the things that were in this city, belonged only to Him.

In regard to the intercessory role that the Meccan Lord will play on the Day of Judgment, Muhammad wrote:

"It is Allah Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all between them, in six days, and is firmly established on the Throne (of authority): ye have none, besides Him, to protect or intercede (for you): will ye not then receive admonition?" [7]

Because the Meccan Lord was subservient to a Supreme Allah, the former took oath on the latter with a view to making humans understand how powerful He was. This is what Muhammad has said on this account:

"By Allah, We (also) sent (our apostles) to Peoples before thee; but Satan made, (to the wicked), their own acts seem alluring: He is also their patron today, but they shall have a most grievous penalty" .[8]

It was the Supreme Allah on whom the Meccan Lord swore, for the latter could not have sworn on Himself to make His point weighty and believable. It is the Supreme Allah who will ultimately decide the fate of the Muslims, intercessions from Muhammad and the Meccan Lord on their behalf notwithstanding.

In the light of my short discussion on intercession, Muslims need to keep the role of the Supreme Allah in their mind as well. It is He who will ultimately decide who, among them, will enter heaven on the Day of Resurrection. They should, therefore, try to keep Him happy, and not the Lord of Mecca.

[4] The Quran; 20:109.

[5] The Quran; 27:91.

[6] Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Quran, Vol. 2, p. 999.

[7] The Quran; 32:4.

[8] The Quran; 16:63.



Pertinent Links:

1) Muhammad & His Concept of Intercession with Allah