Does Jesus have the power of intercession?

Question

It is known in the Qur'an that "none will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant," however it is not so clear on exactly who has taken such a covenant and thus who exactly has the rights of intercession. It is well-established (at least in Sunni circles) that Muhammad himself has such authority.

The intercession of Christ is a major doctrine in Christianity, with significant biblical support. However, while most Islamic scholarship I've read on the topic of shafa'a focuses (obviously) on the intercession of Muhammad, I've seen little if anything on the Islamic view regarding Jesus.

Does this right of shafa'a also apply to Jesus? As in, does Jesus have the right and authority to intercede on our behalf, in the same manner that Muhammad does?

Answer 1

Yes of course, many believers will find the opportunity to do the intercession, but as your question is specific about Jesus --peace be upon him-- let me here focus on him. It seems that one can even claim that Qur’an addresses this issue particularly about Jesus the Christ --peace be upon him-- when Allah says:

وَتَبَارَكَ الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَعِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ / وَلَا يَمْلِكُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

And blessed is He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all between them: with Him is the Knowledge of the Hour (of Judgment): and to Him shall ye be brought back. / And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession;- only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (him). [43:85,86]

And you know the Christians invokes him beside Allah (anyway, treat him like a god, an aspect of the one God or a begotten god or etc.), and in this verse Allah rejects the possibility that any of such fake gods can ever find a position in the view of Allah that will be allowed to plead in the Day, except for some specific characters that were taken as god and divine while themselves were innocent of their people's blasphemy of joining them with Him! However, note that the intercession of Christ --peace be upon him-- will not reach those who think of him as divine as for such people there is no intercession allowed:

وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُبْلِسُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ / وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُم مِّن شُرَكَائِهِمْ شُفَعَاءُ وَكَانُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ

On the Day that the Hour will be established, the guilty will be struck dumb with despair. / No intercessor will they have among their "Partners" and they will (themselves) reject their "Partners". [30:12,13]

And this is also clear about the following verse which restrict the intercession to those whose talking is acceptable by Allah:

يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَرَضِيَ لَهُ قَوْلًا

On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him. [20:109]

And clearly pleading for the sake of Mushrikun is not acceptable by Allah so Jesus will not do that as well:

وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْآزِفَةِ إِذِ الْقُلُوبُ لَدَى الْحَنَاجِرِ كَاظِمِينَ ۚ مَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ يُطَاعُ

Warn them of the Day that is (ever) drawing near, when the hearts will (come) right up to the throats to choke (them); No intimate friend nor intercessor will the wrong-doers have, who could be listened to. [40:18]