What does Ash-shafa'a mean?

Islam > Glossary > Ash-shafa'a

Discover the meaning of the term Ash-shafa'a (شفاعة) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Ash-shafa'a

Ash-shafa'a according to Kitab at-Ta'rifat (Al-Jurjani)

It is the request to overlook sins made to the one against whom the offence was committed.

Ash-shafa'a according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

It is the request to overlook sins made to the one against whom the offence was committed.

Ash-shafa'a according to At-Tawqif (Al-Munawi)

The request to overlook sins made to the one from whom the offence emanates; and al-Hurali said: shafa'a is a link between the intercessor and the one in whose favour intercession is made with him. And ar-Raghib said (al-Mufradat, p. 263): ash-shaf' is the joining of a thing to its like; and shaf'a is seeking a share of a sale in which one sold, so as to join it to one's property: it therefore belongs to ash-shaf'. Shafa'a is joining another as a defender of his cause, and it is most often used for the lower joining the higher. In al-Misbah (al-Misbah al-Munir, entry "shaf'", p. 121): shaf'a is the name of pre-emption right, whence their saying: to whom a shaf'a is established and who delays his claim without excuse claims the pre-emption; the example here joins both senses: the first for wealth and the second for right; and he pre-empted by a shafa'a requiring access or a lien. The fairest of its forms in Law is a right of property by constraint established for the old partner against the newcomer because of the partnership, in the manner of the consideration by which possession was taken.

Ash-shafa'a according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

Joining another as defender and intercessor in his favour; it is most often used for the one highest in inviolability and rank joining the one lower; such is the shafa'a on the Day of Resurrection; thus in "al-Mufradat".

Ash-shafa'a In the Quran

لَّا يَمْلِكُونَ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ عَهْدًۭا [Surah مريم : 87]

يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لَّا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَهُۥ قَوْلًۭا [Surah طه : 109]

وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ [Surah سبإ : 23]

قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ جَمِيعًۭا ۖ لَّهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ [Surah الزمر : 44]

وَلَا يَمْلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ [Surah الزخرف : 86]