The Day of Judgment and the Need for Intercession
On the Day of Judgment, people will be gathered, from the beginning of humanity to the last human being on Earth. Sayyiduna Al-Miqdad narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger say, “On the Day of Resurrection, the sun will come near created beings until it is about a mile from them, and mankind will sweat according to what they have done. The sweat will reach the ankles of some, the knees of others, the waists of others, while some will have their mouths covered by the sweat,” and Allah’s Messenger pointed his hand at his mouth. The heat will be extremely severe, resulting in severe thirst. At this moment, people will seek someone who can intercede for them with Allah. Allah, the Almighty, says in Surah Al-Kawthar, Ayah 1, “Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], Al-Kawthar.” (إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ). So, what is Al-Kawthar, and what is the intercession of the Prophet? How can it save people from thirst on the Day of Judgment?
Al-Kawthar: The River and the Prophet’s Basin
Al-Kawthar is the river that Allah, the Almighty, promised to grant His Prophet (ﷺ) in Paradise. Al-Kawthar is a great and tremendous river which the Prophet (ﷺ) will be granted in Jannah, and the Hawd comes from Al-Kawthar. The river Al-Kawthar has two waterspouts that pour water into the Hawd (the Basin) of the Prophet (ﷺ) on the Day of Resurrection. The river is inside Paradise, while the Basin of the Prophet (ﷺ) is in the place where people will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection. As the water of the river pours into Al-Hawd, the word Al-Kawthar sometimes refers to both the river and the Basin.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) gave us a description of this river. It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik said: “One day when he—the Prophet (ﷺ)—was still among us, he took a nap, then he raised his head, smiling. We said to him: ‘Why are you smiling, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Just now this Surah was revealed to me: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad) Al-Kawthar. Therefore, turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). For he who hates you, he will be cut off.’ Then he said: ‘Do you know what Al-Kawthar is?’ We said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘It is a river that my Lord has promised me in Paradise. Its vessels are more than the number of the stars. My Ummah will come to me, then a man among them will be pulled away and I will say: “O Lord, he is one of my Ummah,” and He will say to me: “You do not know what he did after you were gone.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I would be the first among people to intercede in Paradise, and among the apostles, I would have the largest following (on the Day of Resurrection).” Allah granted the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) the greatest intercession, which is Al-Maqam Al-Mahmud. Allah, the Almighty, said to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 79: “It is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.” (عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا).
The Intercession of the Prophet Muhammad
On the Day of Judgment, when everyone is busy with his own affairs and fate, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) will ask Allah to allow him to intercede for his Ummah, saying, “O my Lord, my people, my people.” The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) will intercede on behalf of the believers to save them from the horrors of the Day of Judgment.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “When the day of resurrection comes, mankind will be in confusion and will go to Adam and say, `Intercede with your Lord,’ and he will reply, `I am not capable, but go to Abraham, for he is the friend of the Compassionate One.’ They will go to Abraham and he will say, `I am not capable, but go to Moses, for he is God’s interlocutor.’ They will then go to Moses and he will say, `I am not capable, but go to Jesus, for he is God’s spirit and word.’ They will then go to Jesus and he will say, `I am not capable, but go to Muhammad.’ Then they will come to me and, saying I am capable, I shall ask permission to enter my Lord’s presence. When this is granted He will teach me certain utterances of praise which I do not know at present, and I shall use them and fall down prostrating myself. Then will be said, ”Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted.” I shall then say, ”O my Lord, my people, my people,” and shall be told to go away and bring forth from hell those in whose hearts there is as much faith as a grain of barley. I shall go and do so, after which I shall return and use those utterances of praise, then fall down prostrating myself.
Then will be said, ”Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted.”’ I shall then say, ”O my Lord, my people, my people,” and shall be told to go away and bring forth from hell those in whose hearts there is as much faith as a mote or a grain of mustard-seed. I shall go and do so, after which I shall return and use those utterances of praise, then fall down prostrating myself. Then will be said, ”Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted.’ I shall then say, ”O my Lord, my people, my people, and shall be told to go away and bring forth from hell those in whose hearts there is as much faith as the smallest grain of mustard-seed. I shall go and do so, after which I shall return a fourth time and use those utterances of praise then fall down prostrating myself. Then will be said, ”Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted.” I shall then say, ”O my Lord, grant me permission regarding those who have said there is no god but God,’ and He will reply, ”You have no business with this, but by my might, glory, pride and greatness, I will certainly bring out of it those who have said there is no god but Allah.”
May we all be granted the intercession of the prophet Muhammad, and grant us His pleasure in this life and the hereafter.
