The First Intercession

 This is the greatest intercession of the Day of Resurrection on behalf of the entire people standing at the plain of resurrection. It is the same Maqam al-Mahmud concerning which Allah says:

´´It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqaman Mahmuda (a station of praise and glory).´´ (al-Israa: 79)

This intercession is specific to the Prophet because every other Prophet wil excuse himself from it and it is the greatest intercession wherein he (the prophet) will intercede on behalf of all the firghtened and shaken slaves as they stand in wait for Allah´s Judgment. Ibn Umar said:

´´On the Day of resurrection the people will fall on their knees and every nation will follow their prophet and they will say: O so-and-so! Intercede (for us with Allah),´´ Till (the right of) intercession is given to the Prophet (Muahmmad) and that will be the Day when Allah will raise him to the station of praise and glory (i.e. Al-Maqam-al-Mahmud).´´12

It also states in the hadith of Ibn Umar that he heard the Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam describing the situation of the people on the Day og Resurrection in a lengthy hadith in which the Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam said:

´´... and he will intercede that judgment be commenced between the creation. He will walk till he holds the ring of the door. On that Day Allah will grant him Maqama Mahmud.´´13

The Prophet´s destinction with this intercession is a declaration of his honour and manifestation of his status. He himself said:

´´I am the leader of the children og Aadam on the Day of Resurrection and it is not bragging. I am the first for whom the earth will cleave open on the Day of resurrection and I am the first intercesor and whose intercession would be accepted and it is nor bragging.´´14

It is the supplication which has been reserved for the Messenger Allah salla alayhi wa sallam. A man asked the Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam:

O Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam, shouldn´t you ask your Lord for kingdom similar to that of Sulayman?´´

The Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam laughed and then said:

++Perhaps your companion (i.e. the Prophet) has (in stock) with allah something better than the kingdom of Sulayman. Allah did nor raise a Prophet but He gave him a supplication (that is accepted). One of them obtained dunya (the world) and he was granted. One of them supplicated against his people when they disobeyed him and they were destroyed by his supplication. Allah has giben me a supplication and I have reserved it with my Lord and an intercession for my Ummah on the Day of resurrection.´´15

Every Prophet will excuse himself from it except our Prophet Muhammad salla alayhi wa sallam.

This intercession is related in detail in a number of ahadith and I have gathered its various narrations here. The Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam has informed us that:

´´Allah will gather the earlier and the later generations on one plain. They will be made to hear the caller; their gaze will be sharpened; the sun will drew close and their distress and anguish will reach such a climax that they will not be able to bear and endure. When that precarious situation intensifies, they wil wish that allah commences the judgment and they will say to one another:

´Don´t you see in which trouble you are and to what state you have reched? Won´t you look for someone who can intercede for you with your Lord?´

Some poeple will say: ´(Go to) your father, Aada alayhi sallam.´

So they will go to Aadam and say to him: You are the father of mankind; Allah created you with His Own Hand, and breathed into you of His Spirit; and ordered the angels to prestrate before you; so (please) intercede for us with your Lord. Don´t you see in what state we are? Don´t you see what condition we have reached?´

Aadam alayhi sallam will say: ´Today my Lord has become angry as He has never become before, nor will ever become thereafter. He forbade me (to eat of the fruit of) the tree, but I disobeyed Him. Myself! Myself! Myself! (has more need for intercesion). Go to someone else; go to Nuh alayhi sallam.´

So they will go to Nuh and say (to him): ´O Nuh! You are the first (of Allah´s Messengers) to the people of the earth, and Allah has named you a thankful slave; please intercede for us with your Lord. Don´t you see in what state we are`

He will say: ´Today my Lord has become angry as He has never become nor will ever become thereafter. I had (in the world) the right to make one definitely accepted invocation and I made it against my people. Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone elske; go to Ibraheem alayhi sallam.´

They will approach Ibraheem and sa: ´O Ibraheem! You are a Prophet of Allah and His Khalil from among the people of the earth; so please intercede with your Lord on our behalf. Don´t you see in what state we are? Don´t you see what condition we have reached?´

Hw will say to them: ´My Lord has today become angry as He has never become before, nor will ever become thereafter: ´He remembered the (three) lies he told (and he will say). ´Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone else, go to Musa alayhi sallam.´

The people will then approach Musa alayhi sallam and say: ´O Musa! You are a Messenger of Allah alayi sallam and Allah distinguished you over the people with his message and with His speaking directly to you; 8please) intercede for us with your Lord. Don´t you see in what state we are? Don´t you see what condition we have reached?´

Musa alayhi sallam will say: ´My Lord has today become angry as He has never become before, nor will become thereafter. I killed a person whom I had not been ordered to kill. Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone else; go to Eesaa alayhi sallam.

So they will aproach Eesaa alayhi wa sallam and say: ´O Eesaa! You see Allah´s Messenger and His Word which He bestowed to Mary and a spirit (ruh) created by Him, and you spoke to the people while still in the cradle. Please intercede for us with your Lord. Don´t you see in what state we are? Don´t you see what condtion we have reched?´

Eesaa alayhi sallam will say: ´My Lord has today become angry as He has never become before nor will ever become thereafter.´ Eesaa alayhi sallam will not mention any sin, but will say: ´Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone else, go to Muhammad salla alayhi wa sallam.´

So they will appreach me and say: ´O Muhammad! You are Allah´s Mesenger and the last of the Prophets. Allah forgave your earlier and later sins. (please) intercede for us with your Lord. Don´t you see in what state we are? Don´t you see what condition we have reached?

So, I will raise, go beneath Allah´s Trone and fall in prostration before my Lord. and then Allah will open and inspire me with such praises and glorification of Him as He has never guided anybody else before me. Then it will be said: ´O Muhammad, raise your head. Ask, and it will be granted; and intereced, it (your intercession) will be accepted.

So I will raise my head and say: ´My followers, O my Lord! My followers, O my Lord!!´

It will be said: ´O Muhammad! Let those of your followers who have no accounts, enter through the gate on the right hand from the gates of Paradise; and they will share the other gates with the people.´ Then Allah will commence judgment between the people.´16

this is the first intercession in which entire nations will panic to the Prophet.