Tafheem ul Quran

Surah 20 Taha, Ayat 109-109

يَوۡمَـئِذٍ لَّا تَنۡفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ اِلَّا مَنۡ اَذِنَ لَـهُ الرَّحۡمٰنُ وَرَضِىَ لَـهٗ قَوۡلًا‏ ﴿20:109﴾

(20:109) On that Day intercession shall not avail save of him whom the Most Compassionate Lord permits, and whose word of intercession is pleasing to Him.85


Notes

85. This also has another interpretation: On that Day intercession will not be effective except in the case of the one for whom the Merciful may allow it and be pleased to hear it for him. Both these interpretations are supported by the following:

Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His own permission? (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 255).

On that Day when the spirit and the angels will stand with folded hands, they will not be able to say anything except what the Merciful will permit, and they will say the right thing. (Surah An-Naba, Ayat 38). They do not intercede for anyone except for whom the Merciful may be pleased to listen to, and they are always fearful of Him. (Surah Al-Anbia, Ayat 28).

There are many angels in the heavens whose intercession avails nothing at all except when it is made after getting permission from Allah, and for the one for whom He wills to hear and approves of it. (Surah An-Najam, Ayat 26).