The Prophet as an Intercessor for His Ummah

Our Majestic Prophet

The Prophet as an Intercessor for His Ummah

(Part: 21)

Abu al–Nur Rāshid Attari Madani

35.   اَنَا حَامِلُ لِوَاءِ الْحَمْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَلَا فَخْرَ – “I am the bearer of the banner of praise on the Day of Judgement, and I am not boasting.”^[1]

36.   اَنَا حَامِلُ لِوَاءِ الْحَمْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَحْتَهٗ اٰدَمُ فَمَنْ دُونَهٗ وَلا فَخْرَ – “I am the bearer of the banner of praise on the Day of Judgement, under which Ādam ( عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام ) and ˹all˺ others will be, yet I do not boast.”^[2]

In last month’s issue, we looked at hadith which describe the Prophet’s royal and honourable arrival on the Day of Judgement. The hadith mentioned in this particular article will detail what the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will do on the Day of Judgement.

The two above–mentioned hadith mention that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will possess the “banner of praise.” Explaining the nature of this banner, the exegete Mufti Ahmad Yār Khan Na’īmi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه comments:

It could be an actual flag. This is a magnanimous bounty from Allah, given exclusively to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , as the praise of Allah is most superior.

Alternatively, it could be a reference to the fact that on the Day of Judgement, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be the first person to prostrate before Allah and glorify, extol, and praise Him in a matchless way. He will make a public declaration of praise on that Day. In this context, the banner of praise would be a figurative reference to this clear and public declaration.

Finally, it may refer to Allah Almighty praising the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and commanding all creation to praise him. The process of accountability on the Day of Judgement will only take four hours. The rest of the Day, which is equal to 50,000 years, will be spent in praising the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Allah states: “Soon your Lord will elevate you upon a station where all will praise you.” This is why the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is called the “most praised” (Aḥmad), “highly praised” (Muhammad), and the “praiseworthy” (Maḥmūd). And his Ummah is dubbed “ones who praise a lot” (ḥammādūn).

If this refers to an actual physical banner, it means that all the prophets will gather at the Prophet’s banner to glorify Allah, with him as their imam. If this refers to the praise of Allah it means that everyone will only praise Allah because the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم taught them how to do so. If it refers to praise of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , it will mean that Allah and His creation will praise the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم .^[3]

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as an intercessor:

37.   اَنَا قَائِدُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَلَا فَخْرَ – “I am the leader of all Messengers, and I am not boasting.”^[4]

38.   اَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ اٰدَمَ وَلَا فَخْرَ – “I am the master of the children of Ādam, and I am not boasting.”^[5]

39.   اَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ اٰدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلا فَخْرَ – “On the Day of Judgement, I am the master of the children of Ādam, and I am not boasting.”^[6]

40.   اَنَا سَیّدُ النَّاسِ یومَ الْقِیَامَۃ ِولافَخْرَ – “I am the master of mankind on the Day of Judgement, and I am not boasting.”^[7]

41.   اَنَا مُبَشِّرُهُمْ اِذَا اَيِسُوا – “When people become hopeless, I shall convey good news to them.”^[8]

42.   اَنَا خَطِيبُهُمْ اِذَا وَفَدُوا – “When the people come to me as a delegation on the Day of Reckoning, I shall be their representative before Allah.”^[9]

43.   اَنَا مُسْتَشْفِعُهُمْ اِذَا حُبِسُوا – “Only I shall be their intercessor when they are halted.”^[10]

44.   اَنَا خَطِيبُهُمْ اِذَا اَنْصَتُوا – “When people become silent, I will be their spokesperson.”^[11]

45.   اَنا قَائِدُهُمْ اِذَا وَفَدُوا – “When people form a delegation, I will be their leader.”^[12]

46.   اَنَا اَوَّلُ مَن يَّشْفَعُ فِي الْجَنَّة – “I shall be first to intercede in (regard to) Paradise.”^[13]

47.   اَنَا اَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ، وَاَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا فَخْرَ – “On the Day of Judgement, I shall be first to intercede and only my intercession will be accepted first; yet I am not boasting.”^[14]

These hadith explain how the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be the refuge, support, leader, and intercessor of creation on the Day of Reckoning. When all become hopeless and despaired, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be their only recourse. When all fall silent, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will be our spokesperson in the court of Allah.

When the Day of Judgement comes to pass, mankind will be gathered in a vast, open plain. The sun will be brought exceedingly close to Earth, and humanity will be in a desperate state of fear and impending doom. Collectively, they will say, “Look what has happened with us. We should search for someone who may intercede for us before our Lord.” Some will then say, “Let us go to Prophet Ādam  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام .”

Reaching him, they shall plead, “You are the father of mankind. Allah created you with His power and enlivened you with a soul. Angels prostrated to you on His command. Our state is indeed terrible! Intercede for us!”  Adam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام will say, “Today, Allah has exhibited wrath of the likes He has never shown before, nor will ever again. He forbade me from ˹eating from˺ the tree of Paradise, but I ˹forgetfully˺ did not heed ˹His command˺. Go to another. Go to Nūh ( عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام )!”

Rushing to him, they will exclaim, “You are the first of Allah's messengers dispatched to the people of the Earth, and He has called you “a thankful servant.” Look at our condition! Please intercede for us in the court of Allah!” He will respond, “Today, Allah has exhibited wrath of the likes He has never shown before, nor will ever again. I was granted one accepted supplication, which I made for my nation. Go to another. Go to Ibrahīm ( عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام )!”

People will flock to Prophet Ibrahīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and ask, “You are a prophet of Allah and His close friend from amongst the people of Earth. Please intercede for us in the court of Allah!” He too will say, “Today, Allah has exhibited wrath of the likes He has never shown before, nor will ever again. Go to another. Go to Mūsa ( عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام )!” 

“O Prophet Mūsā!” they will cry, “You are Allah's messenger. He granted you superiority over mankind by means of prophethood and direct conversation with Him. Intercede for us! Our situation is dire!” Prophet Mūsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام will say, “Today, Allah has shown wrath of the likes He has never shown before, nor will ever again. Go to another. Go to ʿĪsā ( عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام )!”

As before, people will then gather in front of Prophet Īsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and implore: “You are that messenger whom Allah sent through Maryam. You are a sign and soul sent by Him. In your childhood, you spoke to people whilst still in a cradle. Please help us! Intercede for us in the court of Allah!” In the end, Prophet Īsā عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام will say the same words as the noble Prophets before him, but with one difference. He will say, “Today, Allah has exhibited wrath of the likes He has never shown before, nor will ever again. Go to another; go to Muhammad ( صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم )!”

Finally, mankind will come to our master, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and petition him: “Dear Prophet Muhammad! You are Allah's Messenger and final Prophet, and He has forgiven the sins of those before and after you for your sake. You see how severe and hopeless we are! We implore you to help and intercede for us!"

The mercy for all creation, the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will then prostrate under the Divine Throne of Allah. Allah will grant him divine praises and glorification, the likes of which have never been given to another nor ever will. After this, He will declare, “Dear Muhammad! Raise your head! Speak, and you will be heard. Ask, and your request will be granted. Intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.” The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will raise his head and ask Allah to forgive his Ummah.

Allah will say, “O Muhammad! Enter those of your followers who have no accountability upon them into Paradise through its right door. The remaining people will enter through other doors together.”

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم further explained, "I take oath by He Who has power over my soul! The distance between Makka and Himyar, or Makka and Busra, is equal to the distance between two doors of Paradise.”^[15]