Satyarth Prakash

13. "Dread the day wherein one soul shall not make satisfaction for another soul, neither shall any intercession be accepted from them, nor shall any compensation be received, neither shall they be helped." (2: 48)

C. ~ Should we not dread the present? One should dread evil doing on all days. If it be true that no intercession will be accepted, how can this statement be reconciled with the belief of the Mohammedan that they will go to paradise through the intercession of the Prophet? Does God help only those who are in paradise and not those who are in hell? If it is so, God is not free from prejudice.

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The Response

Swamiji fails to understand the difference between 'Dread that Day' and 'Dread on that Day only'. The difference is obvious. The implication of the verse is that one should always keep the Day of Judgment in mind to avoid evil doings as they will have evil consequences. in other words this verse is promoting virtue and thus your objection is invalid. 

Now Swamiji has asked about intercession. This verse is addressing the Jews as is clear by the context. They had a false idea that since they are a Chosen People, so irrespective of what they do, they will make it to heaven because of the intercession of their Prophets. In other words, the Jews  or for that matter any other community, should not remain in the misconception that since they are the progeny of such great Prophets as Abraham (pbuh), Isaac (pbuh) and Jacob (pbuh) they would be salvaged in the Hereafter merely because of this association. This is the meaning of the verse. The concept of intercession is true but Swamiji has misunderstood it. The intercession would be only by the permission of Allah (swt). In other words, whom Allah will permit to speak in favour of someone, only he would speak and only in the favour of the one for whom the intercession will be acceptable by Allah (swt). As Allah (swt)  says in the Quran,

مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ

"Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth?" [Surah 2: Aayah 255]

and further,

لَا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

"None shall speak except one who is permitted by (Allah) Most Gracious, and he will say what is right." [Surah 78: Aayah 38]

Example of intercession from the Vedas

Let us also see how the Vedic Rishis are interceding.

"So may I die this day if I have harassed any man's life or if I be a demon. Yea, may he lose all his ten sons together who with false tongue hath called me Yatudhana." [Rigved 7:104:15]

This example is nothing but intercession. In the Vedas intercession is made more for revenge than for a favour. It is called Shraap like asking God to make a person a donkey.

Certainly Allah is with the people of Paradise, but for their goodness and He is not with the people of hell.  Swamiji is complaining about this when in fact the Vedas say the same in Rigved 1:39:2 according to Swamiji's own translation

"God only blesses the good. He never blesses the sinners"

Thus, to call Allah prejudiced is illogical.