sh-f-'

Description

The Arabic root شفع (sh-f-') fundamentally conveys the concept of pairing, joining, or adding one thing to another, which extends to the meaning of intercession—where one person joins themselves to another's cause before a higher authority. In the Quranic context, this root predominantly addresses the critical theological question of intercession (shafa'ah) on the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that no one can intercede on behalf of sinners except by Allah's permission, thereby rejecting the polytheistic Arab practice of seeking intercession through idols and false deities. The term underscores Allah's absolute sovereignty in judgment while acknowledging that permitted intercession may occur only according to His will, making it a key concept in Islamic monotheism and eschatology.