Intercession is a mercy from Allah The Almighty that He endowed upon His servants on the Day of Resurrection – the Day with scorching heat and sheer horror when man will flee from those who are close or distant. This is the Day when all people from Aadam (Adam), may Allah exalt his mention, until the last person on Earth will assemble in one place for judgment which will be either in their favor or otherwise. There will be no distinction between the young or the old, the black or the white, or sovereigns or subjects. All of them will be equal during the long stand while waiting to be reckoned by Allah The Almighty.
While people are waiting for reckoning and judgment, totally exhausted, distressed and worried, with the sun very close over their heads and their bodies pouring with sweat in a predicament that they have never experienced before, all of them will be seeking salvation. Therefore, they will search for anyone to intercede for them with Allah The Almighty, the Sovereign and the Compeller, for judgment.
When their standing becomes unbearably long, they will approach the Prophets for intercession.
The Mercy of Allah The Almighty will then unfold when He permits His final Messenger to intercede for all people on that day, believers and disbelievers. After the prophets will have excused themselves due to their inability to undertake the task, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), will say: “I am for it, I am for it,”and then prostrate under the Throne1] praising and supplicating Allah The Almighty. Then Allah The Almighty will say to his Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ): “Ask, for you will be granted what you ask for and intercede, for your intercession will be accepted.”
In a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “People will approach me and say: 'O Muhammad! You are the Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets, and Allah has forgiven your earlier and latter sins. [Please] intercede for us with your Lord. Can you not see what state we are in?'”The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) added:“Then I will go beneath the Throne and fall into prostration before my Lord. Allah will then guide me to such praises and glorification to Him as He has never guided anybody else before me. After this, it will be said: 'O Muhammad! Raise your head. Ask, and you will be granted [your request]. Intercede, and [your intercession] will be accepted.'" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The intercession of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), will be greatest on the Day of Resurrection. It is exclusive to him as an honor from Allah The Almighty, and it is also the Praised Station that Allah The Almighty promised him in the verse that Says (what means): {It is expected that your Lord Will Resurrect you to a praised station.} [Quran 17:79]
Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said, "On the Day of Resurrection, people will fall on their knees, and every nation will follow their Prophet and say: 'O so-and-so! Intercede [for us with Allah]'. They will continue until they reach the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and ask for his intercession, that will be the day when Allah will resurrect him to the Praised Station."[Al-Bukhari]
Another Divine favor exclusive to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), is his intercession for opening the gate of Paradise. This is confirmed in the Hadeeth, which says: “I shall be the first intercessor in Paradise.” [Muslim]
Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection seeking its opening. The gate-keeper will say,'Who are you?' I will reply, 'Muhammad.' He will then say, 'I have been ordered not to open for anyone before you.’” [Muslim]
Another Divine favor exclusive to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), is his intercession to alleviate the torment of his uncle, Abu Taalib. Al-‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, asked the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) "Messenger of Allah, have you benefited your uncle Abu Taalib in any way, for he protected and defended you?” The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said:“Were it not for me, he would have been in the lowest level of Hell, but he will only suffer a shallow fire that will reach up to his ankles.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
On his part, the Muslim has to pursue the means that will lead to the intercession of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), for him. The greatest means is to perfect belief in the Oneness of Allah The Almighty. It is narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “The most fortunate of people to receive my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said sincerely from his heart: 'Laa Ilaaha Illaallaah' [there is none worthy of worship except Allah].”[Al-Bukhari]
One of the causes for receiving the intercession of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), is supplicating Allah The Almighty for him that he be granted the Praised Station. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever says upon hearing the Athaan: ‘Allahumma Rabba Haathihid-Da‘wah At-Taammah Was-Salaatil Qaa'imah, Aati Muhammad Al-Waseelata Wal-Fadheelah, Wab‘ath-hu Maqaaman Mahmoodan Allaathi Wa‘adt-hu.’ [O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the current prayer which is about to be performed. Please grant Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) Al-Waseelah (the highest degree in Paradise) and Al-Fadheelah (superiority over people), and resurrect him to the Praised Station which You promised him] - then he will be worthy of my intercession on the Day of Resurrection.” [Al-Bukhari]
A Muslim can also receive the intercession of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), if he invokes the blessings of Allah The Almighty on him ten times in the mornings and ten times in the evening. Abud-Dardaa', may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever invokes the blessings of Allah The Almighty on me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening, will receive my intercession on the Day of Resurrection.” [At-Tabaraani, Al-Albaani:Hasan] This is why we should observe this mentioning, hoping that we will receive the intercession of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), on the Day of Resurrection.
[1]-We believe in the Attributes of Allah that occur in the Quran and authentic Hadeeths of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) without distorting their wordings or meanings, nor denying, nor asking how, nor drawing resemblance between Allah and any of His creation.
