The Fifth Intercession

 This intercession is specifically the one the Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam will make for his uncle, Abu Talib and no one else. This is inspite that he died a kafir and Allah says concerning such people:

´´So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them. (Al-Muddaththir: 48)

Allah will make an exception of Abu Talib from this general rule. The Prophet´s intercession will benefit him but not to the extent of bringing him out of the Hellfire; rather, it will only be beneficial in alleviating his punishment such that he will be located in the shallow part of the Hellfire. He will be the least punished in the Fire but he will not come out of it.

Abu Talib´s situation is recorded in details in other ahadith. The Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam said concerning his uncle:

´´He will find him in the depth of the Fire and he will intercede for him till he ends ip in shallow part of Hell.´´

So, he will intercede only for the alleviation of his Uncle Abu Talib´s punishment in the Hellfire and not for his exit from it because Abu Talib a disbeliever and Allah has prohibited al-Jannah for them.

The Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam did utmost to invite his uncle to the religion and he did not lose hope on that in the least. He stood at his uncle´s head while he was in the throes of death encouraging him to say: ´ Laa ilaaha illAllah.´ Abu Talib however declined and said, ´´He is upon the path of Abdul Mutallib.´´

Hence, Allah´s Messenger salla alayhi wa sallam will intercede that Allah lightens his punishment and he will be brought to the shallow part of the Fire due to his effort in support and protection of the Prophet. Here is one of the verses indicating that inspite of the Prophet´s honourable worth and lofty status with Allah, yet he is as Allah describes him:

´´Verily! You (O Muhammad salla alayhi wa sallam) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.´´ (Al-Qasas: 56)

Allah says:

´´Not upon you (O Muhammad salla alayhi wa sallam) is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.´´ (Al-Baqarah: 272)

The Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam said:

´´The person that will be least punished on the Day of resurrection is Abu Talib; he will be in the shallow part of the Fire from which his brain will boil.´´26

He also said:

´´Among the inhabitants of the Fire, the person that will suffer the least punishment on the Day of Resurection is he who will be made to wear two shoes (of Fire) from which his brain will boil. He will consider himself the most severely punished though he is the least punished of the people of the Hellfire.´´27

In a narration, the Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam said:

´´Among the inhabitants of the Fire, Abu Talib will be the least punished, and he will be wearing two shoes (of Fire) which will boil his brain.´´28

We beseech Allah for well-being and safety from His punishment and steadfastness on His religion till death.