Answered by Ustadh Tariq Abdul-Rasheed
Question: Assalamu alaikum. Some people say that on Judgment Day we will be running after some prophets like Ibrahim, Nuh, Musa, etc. to intercede on our behalf but they will say they can’t help us and thereafter we will go to Prophet Muhammad and he is the one that will help the believer. Is this true?
Answer: Wa laikum salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,
Allah (The Exalted and Glorified) says in the Holy Qur’an, “And for a part of the night, keep vigil therewith as a supererogatory [devotion] for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station.” [Isra’a: 79]
From amongst the tremendous favors Allah (swt) has granted our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Major Intercession on the Day of Judgment. It is one of the blessings of distinction and excellence that is the mark of his excellence over the other Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them all).
The scholars of Qur’anic Exegeses regard the “praiseworthy station” mentioned in verse 79 of Surah Isra’a to refer to the Major Intercession that has been singularly reserved for al-Habib (peace and blessings be upon him). [Alusi, Ruh al-Ma’ani ; Ibn Ashur, Tahrir wa Tanweer]
A Praiseworthy Station
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has informed us by way of Anas: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The believers will be kept (waiting) on the Day of Resurrection so long that they will become worried and say, “Let us ask somebody to intercede for us with our Lord so that He may relieve us from our place.
Then they will go to Adam and say, ‘You are Adam, the father of the people. Allah created you with His Own Hand and made you reside in His Paradise and ordered His angels to prostrate before you, and taught you the names of all things will you intercede for us with your Lord so that He may relieve us from this place of ours? Adam will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking.’ He will mention his error which he committed, i.e., his eating off the tree though he had been forbidden to do so. He will add, ‘Go to Noah, the first prophet sent by Allah to the people of the Earth.’
The people will go to Noah who will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking’ He will mention his error which he committed, i.e., his asking his Lord without knowledge.’ He will say (to them), ‘Go to Abraham, Khalil ar-Rahman.’ They will go to Abraham who will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking. He would mention three words by which he was evasive, and say (to them). ‘Go to Moses, a slave whom Allah gave the Torah and spoke to directly and brought near Him, for conversation.’
They will go to Moses who will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking. He will mention his error which he committed, i.e., killing a person, and will say (to them), ‘Go to Jesus, Allah’s slave and His messenger, and a soul created by Him and His Word “Be: And it is”. They will go to Jesus who will say, ‘I am not fit for this undertaking but you’d better go to Muhammad the slave whose past and future sins have been forgiven by Allah.’ So they will come to me, and I will ask my Lord’s permission to enter His presence and then I will be permitted.
When I see Him I will fall down in prostration before Him, and He will leave me (in prostration) as long as He wills, and then He will say, ‘O Muhammad, lift up your head and speak, for you will be listened to, and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted, and ask (for anything) for it will be granted:’ Then I will raise my head and glorify my Lord with certain praises which He has taught me. Allah will put a limit for me (to intercede for a certain type of people) I will take them out and make them enter Paradise.” (Qatada said: I heard Anas saying that), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I will go out and take them out of Hell (Fire) and let them enter Paradise, and then I will return and ask my Lord for permission to enter His presence and I will be permitted.
When see Him I will fall down in prostration before Him and He will leave me in prostration as long as He wants me (in that state), and then He will say, ‘O Muhammad, raise your head and speak, for you will be listened to, and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted, and ask, your request will be granted.’ ” The Prophet (Prayers and blessing of Allah be upon him) added, “So I will raise my head and glorify and praise Him as He has taught me.
Then I will intercede and He will put a limit for me (to intercede for a certain type of people). I will take them out and let them enter Paradise.” (Qatada added: I heard Anas saying that) the Prophet said, ‘I will go out and take them out of Hell (Fire) and let them enter Paradise, and I will return for the third time and will ask my Lord for permission to enter His presence and I will be allowed to enter.
When I see Him, I will fall down in prostration before Him, and will remain in prostration as long as He will, and then He will say, ‘Raise your head, O Muhammad, and speak, for you will be listened to, and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted, and ask, for your request will be granted.’ So I will raise my head and praise Allah as He has taught me and then I will intercede and He will put a limit for me (to intercede for a certain type of people). I will take them out and let them enter Paradise.”
(Qatada said: I heard Anas saying that) the Prophet (Prayers and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, “So I will go out and take them out of Hell (Fire) and let them enter Paradise, till none will remain in the Fire except those whom Qur’an will imprison (i.e., those who are destined for eternal life in the fire).” The narrator then recited the Verse:– “It may be that your Lord will raise you to a Station of Praise and Glory.’ (17.79) The narrator added: This is the Station of Praise and Glory which Allah has promised to your Prophet. [Kitab at-Tawheed, Sahih al-Bukhari No. 7440]
Belief in Intercession
Imam al-Bayjuri mentions that it is obligatory for a Muslim to believe in three aspects of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) intercession. Namely;
1. That he (peace and blessings be upon him) is an intercessor.
2. That his (peace and blessings be upon him) intercession is accepted [with Allah].
3. That his (peace and blessings be upon him) intercession will precede any other intercession on the Day of Judgment [i.e. The Major Intercession]. [Bayjuri, Tuhfat al-Mureed]
And Allah knows best
Tariq Abdul-Rasheed
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani