Why aren’t there any mediators between God and his slaves in Islam?

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦?

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

Definition of Mediation And Its Consequences

Have you ever asked yourself: why aren’t there any mediators between God and His slaves in Islam? Mediation is having a third party facilitate the connection or communication between two people or entities so that they may become closer in ideology, or reach an agreement, or finish a deal, etc. because a direct connection is unfeasible.

Mediation, which exists in some religions, implies that there is a difficulty to reach the worshipped. Thus, a third party claims they can maintain alone this connection and facilitate communication with God, given their belief that they are better than others, in a way or another, or closer to God than other followers of the faith.

Thus, what is essential is that these people claim specific ranks or superior religious positions, like priests or saints. They claim some privilege and become mediators, and even have some authority over others. To illustrate, they may order people to do whatever, in order to, allegedly, invoke their God, or to even purify them from their sins as they claim. Also, they of course intrusively listen to and know their deepest secrets and sins. Therefore, exploitation incidents can happen as a result of intermediary claims.

Why Aren’t There Any Mediators between God And His Slaves in Islam?

In Islam, however, there is no mediator between Allah (God) and His servants. Simply, God has no partner or equal or children, and all creations are but His servants and they are equal before Him. According to their deeds only, and piety, can they differ, but none has authority over others or can he claim he knows the intentions or the piety of people.

God is All-Forgiving, All-Hearing, and, All Respondent to whomever invokes Him. This is what Muslims believe through God’s teaching and revelation;

God has no mediator as He has freed people from slavery to each other and from humiliation and worship so they could be slaves only to God, the All-Merciful.

The All-Wise God says:

Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.“ [Qur’an, 112: 1-4] (1)

God also says in Qura’an, when one Muslim asked prophet Mohamad peace be upon him; does God hear me and is He close so I can invoke Him, or is He far so I need to call to Him?

God then revealed to Prophet Mohamad peace be upon him through Gabriel,

And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. [Qur’an, 2: 186] (2)

Supplicate for Your Creator Directly!

Even God made this relationship between Him and His servants so strong and special to the extent that God described invocation to Him alone as a kind of “worship” in His Last Noble Book and revelation: Qura’an. And thus God needn’t a mediator to intercede between God and God’s creations and servants for hearing, forgiving, responding to His slaves or knowing whatsoever occupies their life, mind and heart.

God says

Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, [O Muḥammad], in truth. So worship Allāh, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (2) Unquestionably, for Allāh is the pure religion.[1339] And those who take protectors besides Him [say], “We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allāh in position.” Indeed, Allāh will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allāh does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever. (3)” [Qur’an, 39: 2-3] (3)

God also says:

It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?” [Qur’an, 32: 4] (4)

So, God the One All-Wise All Capable All-Merciful guided His slaves to know Him as well as worship and obey Him alone with no protectors or intercessors (mediators). That is because He alone is the Creator of His slaves and Owner of this Worldly Life and the Hereafter, and He alone will judge the sincerity of His slaves’ deeds, sayings and intentions.

Are Prophets/Messengers Superior Or Honored Slaves?

Prophets and Messengers of God are considered even as His slaves only chosen by Him to convey revelation of God to people; specifically chosen for their hearts and piety and good deeds. However, they are still considered God’s servants who are to convey nothing but His message and revelation which sets wisdom, and mercy on earth and guarantee justice and limits for people.

So wrongdoers are to be punished in worldly life and in the hereafter unless they repent and are tolerated for the wrong done. It is to guarantee justice, mercy, and happiness in this life and afterlife to whoever follows the right path.

Also, Prophets and Messengers were to set good examples to people by their good behavior and implementation of God’s teachings. Simply, these Messengers and Prophets were simply honored slaves to God. Still, they have no right to claim authority over people or to order them to elevate the prophets. The Prophets are not considered holy.

They are not sent to try to know peoples’ sins or relationship with God. More and above, the Prophets are even judged according to their deeds and piety like all people as well since all are but slaves to God. Thus, you can reach an answer for our question: why aren’t there any mediators between God and His slaves in Islam?

Can Prophets Be Intermediators between God and His Slaves?

God says:

It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, “Be servants to me rather than Allah,” but [instead, he would say], “Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied.” [Qur’an, 3: 79] (5)

God defines the mission of the honored Prophets, peace be upon them, saying:

Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it – after the clear proofs came to them – out of jealous animosity among themselves. Also, Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.” [Qur’an, 2: 213] (6)

Conclusion

So, why aren’t there any mediators between God and His slaves in Islam? Simply because only God knows about and sees the hearts and intentions of people and no one is better than the other but for their intentions and deeds to God. None may claim authority over others or claim the ability to mediate between other slaves to God in the previously explained sense.

It is since God is The Nearest and All Respondent to His slaves. And only He without any partner or children can judge their intentions and see their hearts behind their deeds and judge them. Through His unchangeable noble teachings, He sets wisdom, mercy and justice, and tells them what to and what not to do.

Allah knows Best.