What Does It Mean When Allah Says No Intercession is Accepted on Judgment Day?

Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil
Question: I found an answer online which said that  Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)  can intercede for some people on judgement day and also, people of heaven can intercede for people in hell and bring them to heaven – but in ayat 2:48 it says something along the lines of: guard against a day when no intercession will be accepted. There seems to be a contradiction – please help me, I’m really confused.
Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are well. Thank you for your question.
Allah’s Permission
In reality, there is no contradiction because all intercession, whatever the means, is granted through Allah.
As for ‘…no intercession will be accepted’, nothing in creation has the independent right to intercede without Allah’s permission.
Ayatul Kursi
Please refer to Ayatul Kursi for proof that Allah Most High is the only One who permits intercession.
“Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Qur’an, 2:255)
Please see:
The Intercession of The Prophet On The Day of Judgement
The Prophet’s Intercession and Rank In Paradise
Intercession
Raidah
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani