Elucidating the Legitimacy of Seeking Intercession Based on Verse 64 of Surah al-Nisa’: Examining and Responding to Wahhabi Objections

The issue of shafa‘ah (intercession) and seeking intercession from the friends of God is regarded as an established Islamic teaching, rooted in definitive Qur’anic and Prophetic texts. Nevertheless, Wahhabism, based on a particular interpretation of tawhid al-‘ubudiyyah (monotheism in worship), has characterized seeking intercession from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) after his death as an act of polytheism and a religious innovation. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology and focusing on Verse 64 of Surah al-Nisa’, the present study critically examines this claim.The findings demonstrate that, due to the verse’s temporal universality, the noble verse not only establishes the legitimacy of turning to the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his lifetime but also encompasses the period following his passing. This argument is further substantiated by the practical conduct of the Companions, the interpretations of prominent Sunni scholars, and responses to objections such as the alleged “cessation of deeds” and the principle of the “specificity of the occasion of revelation.” The findings indicate that the Prophet’s role as an intermediary of divine grace and his function of seeking forgiveness on behalf of believers constitute divinely ordained and enduring positions that are not terminated by physical death.