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Arabic root

ش-ف-ع

1 word from this root family

B1noun
شَفَاعَةٌ
shafāʿah

intercession

Example
مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
man dhā alladhī yashfaʿu ʿindahū illā bi-idhnihī
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? (2:255)
Grammar

Feminine verbal noun (maṣdar) of شَفَعَ (to intercede). Related: شَافِعٌ (intercessor), شَفِيعٌ (intercessor). The root also means 'even number' (paired), as intercession 'pairs' the intercessor with the one being interceded for.

Culture

From Āyat al-Kursī. Intercession on the Day of Judgment is only possible with God's permission. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is believed to hold the station of greatest intercession (ash-shafāʿah al-ʿuẓmā).