In the Presence of the King: Intermediation and Intercession in Islam

The notions of intermediation and intercession play a central role in the theology of monotheistic religions. In the Islamic context, the specific doctrine connected to the intermediation (wasīla, wāsiṭa) and intercession of the Prophet Muḥammad towards God (shafāʿa, tawassul), particularly on the Day of Judgement, is widely attested in the primary sources of Islam. The eschatological function of the Prophet is represented in these sources through a series of royal metaphors, connected to his rank (jāh) on the Day of Judgement, which will allow him access to a special station called the Station of Praise (al-maqām al-maḥmūd), endowed with specific attributes of royalty. Within Islamic esotericism, these doctrines receive a metaphysical interpretation closely connected to the reality of Muḥammad as the Perfect Man (al-insān al-kāmil). Since contemporary times, with the birth and spread of the Islamic Reform movements, these doctrines have been the target of intense opposition aimed also at related practices, such as, for example, visiting tombs in search of intercession, eventually resulting in the destruction of numerous sacred sites.