Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics

(Jacob Rumans) #1

  1. Does Islam believe in the intercession of saints or
    angels?


Some forms of saintly or angelic intercession are
generally accepted, but others are not.


Regarding accepted intercession, the Koran notes: ‘‘No
intercession is accepted by Allah except by His permission’’
(Sura 2:255). The Koran gives no clear indication of what
kind of intercession Allah actually permits, although most
Muslim sects acknowledge and permit the practice of calling
upon Muhammad for intercession.


In terms of rejected forms of intercession, Muslims
reject the invocation of angels, prophets, or saints on the
basis of Koranic verses like this one: ‘‘Almighty Allah does
not command you to take the angels and prophets as Lords’’
(Sura 3:80). The Koran rejects the distinction between
worship and asking for prayer: ‘‘They serve beside Allah
beings which can neither benefit nor harm, claiming, ‘These
are our intercessors with Allah’ ’’ (Sura 10:18).


As mentioned, some Muslims call upon Muhammad as an
intercessor. Yet they leave unexplained why it is acceptable
to ask for Muhammad’s intercession but not that of any
other prophet. According to the thinking of most Muslims,
asking anyone other than Muhammad to pray for you is
equivalent to an act of worship, and is therefore idolatry.
Thus Muslims frown on the Christian practice of calling
upon Jesus, as well as Mary and other saints. They point to
the Koran’s denial of Christ’s divinity to justify this: ‘‘And
Allah said to Jesus, son of Mary: ‘Did you ask men to take

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