Shafāʿa

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Shafāʿa (Arab., shafaʿa, ‘double, repeat a prayer’). Intercession in Islam. The Qurʾān insists that no intercession will be possible on the Day of Judgement, which will evaluate a strict balance of good and evil works. However, the efficacy of Muḥammad's intercession becomes a matter of ijmaʿ (agreed belief by consensus), making him something much closer to a redeemer. To Muḥammad were then added many other intercessors, e.g. angels and martyrs (shahīd), and, among the Shīʿa, Imāms (especially for Ithna ʿAshariy(y)a, al-Mahdī), and Fāṭima.

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