Jumu’ah Khutbah from Masjid Al Haram, Makkah delivered by Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly on Friday, 13 Sha’ban 1442 corresponding to 26 March 2021.
Part of Allah's guidance to His servants is making them individuals who
provide benefits to people. One of the greatest ways of
benefitting people is interceding for them. Allah, the Most Exalted, said,
((Anyone who intercedes in a good way will
have a share of reward for doing so, anyone who intercedes in a bad way will have a share of sin for doing so, and Allah is always a Witness to
everything)) [4:85].
Interceding is a good way entails either bringing good to a person or
averting harm from him, within the ability of the
intercessor. The Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and protection) endeavored
to intercede in a good way and he encouraged his
Companions to do so. A hadeeth in Sahih al-Bukhari mentions that when anyone asked something of Allah's Messenger or
presented a need to him (may Allah grant him commendation and protection), he
would tell his Companions, "Intercede with me on the person's behalf, and you would be rewarded for that. In addition, Allah would
bring about whatever fulfillment He wills due to the words uttered by the tongue
of His Prophet may Allah grant him commendation and protection):'
A hadeeth in the Two Sahih collections mentions that Ka'b ibn Maalik had
sought to be repaid for a loan he had given to ibn Abi Hadrad may Allah be
pleased with both). That took place in the masjid of Allah's Messenger may Allah
grant him commendation and grant him protection). Their voices ended up raised as a result, to the extent that they were heard by Allah's
Messenger (may Allah grant him commendation and
grant him protection) while he was in his dwelling. As a result, he came out
and said, "Ka`b!" Ka'b replied,
"I obediently answer your call, Messenger of Allah." He then motioned
with his hand indicating that Ka'b should waive half of the debt, and Ka'b
said, "I will now do so, Messenger of Allah." The Prophet may Allah grant him commendation and protection) then said to ibn
Abi Hadrad, "Go now and repay him."
Another instance took place with Bareerah (may Allah be pleased with
her). She was a slave who had been set free, but her
husband was still a slave, and she annulled her marriage with him. He loved her
from the depths of his heart, and he had followed her through the pathways of
al-Madinah while his tears were flowing down his two
cheeks, yearning for her to return to him. As a result, Allah's Messenger may Allah
grant him commendation and protection) felt
sorry for him and he then interceded with Bareerah by saying, "Perhaps you could return to him." She asked, "Messenger
of Allah, are you instructing me to do so?" He replied, "I am only interceding!' She said, "There is no need
of mine remaining with him."
These are just a few among many instances of the Prophet (may Allah grant
him commendation and protection) interceding on behalf of
others regarding things of this world. As for the hereafter, people will be in dire need of intercession on a day whose
fearsome circumstances will cause even a child to turn grey and will cause an adult to lose his mind. It will be
a day when a person will have to stand alone without any property, status,
friends, or descendants. Every person will be held accountable regarding his
own self. As he stands before his Guardian Lord, he will see what his own hands
sent ahead for him. He will argue for himself while admitting his sins and waiting for what judgment will be passed
concerning him. ((A man will flee on that
day from his own brother, mother, father, wife, and children. On that day,
every person will be faced with circumstances that occupy him completely
and prevent him from paying attention to anyone else)) [80:34-37].
Thus, Allah made intercession on the Day of Resurrection a form of mercy
to those interceded for, and a form of honor for those who intercede. The
angels, the Prophets, the martyrs, and the righteous will intercede. Fasting and the Quran will also intercede. Fasting will say,
"My Lord, I prevented him from food and desire during the day, so I
implore You to allow me to intercede for him!' The Quran will say, "My
Lord, I prevented him from sleep during the night,
so I implore You to allow me to intercede for him." The Prophet may Allah grant him commendation and protection said), "And the
intercession from them both will be accepted!' This was collected by Ahmad.
Servants of Allah, accepted forms of intercession are determined by none
besides Allah. ((Say: Allah alone is the One who has complete control over what
forms of intercession are accepted)) [39:44]. Thus, intercession must not be
sought from any angel or Prophet, let alone others lower than them.
Intercession must only be sought from Allah, and Allah is the One who honors
whomever He wills among His servants with permission to intercede. Due to Allah's
magnificence, might, and absolute sovereignty, none would be bold enough to
intercede with Him unless He allows that and is pleased with the one interceded
for. ((There are many angels in the heavens but, despite their elevated rank,
even if they wanted to intercede for someone, their intercession cannot yield
any benefit unless Allah permits them to intercede and unless Allah is pleased
with the one for whom intercession is being made)) [53:26].
Dear people who have sound beliefs about Allah and His Messenger, every
Prophet was granted a special supplication that he made in this world and
already had it answered. However, our Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation
and protection) saved that special supplication he was granted, and it is his
intercession for his Ummah on the Day of Resurrection. He is the greatest of
intercessors and holds the highest rank of them all. Allah granted him several
exclusive types of intercession on the Day of Resurrection. The greatest
intercession that will take place is called "al-maqam al-Mahmood" in
Arabic, and it is something for which former and later generations will commend
the Prophet.
The Two Sahih collections contain a hadeeth in which Aboo Hurairah (may Allah
be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (may Allah grant him
commendation and protection) had said that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah
will gather all former and latter peoples on one single plain. The sun will
come very near over the people's heads. They will be barefooted, unclothed, and
uncircumcised. They will be in a state of unbearable anxiety and distress, and
it will be a day whose duration will be that of fifty thousand years. Allah -
the Most Exalted - will guide some of His servants to seek out the Messengers
and Prophets and request that they intercede with Allah for Him to begin giving
His judgment concerning people. However, due to the fearsome circumstances,
intensity of difficulties faced, and anger of Allah, every Prophet whom the
people approach will direct them to another one. That will continue until they
go to the seal of the Prophets, and the leader of all humans. They will say to
him, "Muhammad, you are Allah's Messenger and the seal upon the succession
of the Prophets. Allah forgave you for all your prior sins as well as any that
could ever emanate from you later. We would like you to intercede with your
Lord on our behalf. Have you not seen the state we are in?" The Prophet (may
Allah grant him commendation and protection said, "I will then proceed, go
beneath the Throne, and bow in prostration to my Lord, the Almighty and Most
Majestic. Allah will apprise me of words for praise and glorification which He
did not apprise anyone of before me. Allah will then say, "Muhammad, raise
your head, ask and you will be granted, intercede and your intercession will be
accepted:' I will then raise my head and I will say, "My Lord, I intercede
with You on behalf of my people. My Lord, I intercede with You on behalf of my people
He will then be told, "Muhammad, as for those from your Ummah who have no
reckoning, you may admit them to Jannah from its rightmost door, and others may
be admitted from the other doors.
Thus, due to the intercession of the Prophet (may Allah grant him
commendation and protection), there are people who will be admitted to Jannah
without any reckoning or punishment. A hadeeth in Sunan at-Tirmithee mentions
that the Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and protection) said,
"My Lord promised me that among my Ummah, He would admit to Jannah seventy
thousand people who will have no reckoning or punishment. Each thousand of them
will also have a further seventy thousand accompanying it, and there will be
three grasps that Allah takes:' Allah's bounty is certainly tremendous, and He
is the kindest bestower of mercy.
Dear Ummah of Islam, our Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and
protection) will also have other types of intercession on the Day of Resurrection.
One type is interceding to have the gates of Jannah opened for the people of
eemaan. That will happen because they will find the gates closed when they
reach them. They will go to Adam (may Allah grant him continued protection) and
say, "Our forefather, we would like you to request for Jannah to be
opened:' He will reply, "Did anything remove you from Jannah besides the
error of your forefather, Adam? I am not the one for that:' They will
subsequently request that the Prophet Muhammad intercede for it to happen, as
mentioned in a hadeeth in Sahih Muslim. The Prophet (may Allah grant him
commendation and protection) said, "I will come to the gate of Jannah and
I will request for it to be opened. The gatekeeper will inquire, 'Who are you?'
and I will reply, 'Muhammad.' He will then say, 'You are the one whom I was
instructed to open for, and I was instructed to not open for anyone prior to
you'."
Another type of intercession on the Day of Resurrection is for those from
this Ummah who committed major sins and then end up in the hellfire. A hadeeth
in Sunan Abi Daawood mentions that the Prophet (may Allah grant him
commendation and protection) said, "I will be granted intercession for
those among my Ummah who committed major sins:'
In addition, at-Tabaraanee collected a hadeeth with an authentic (Hasan)
chain of narration in which the Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and
protection) said, "The number of people who enter the hellfire among the
people who pray facing the direction of the Ka'bah will be such that none can
enumerate them except Allah. That will be due to them disobeying Allah, having
the audacity to commit sins, and opposing Allah's obedience. I will eventually
be permitted to intercede for them:' Thus, the Prophet (may Allah grant him
commendation and protection) will prostrate beneath Allah's Throne and
intercede for those who fell into the hellfire among the people of tawheed
(those who had devoted their worship to Allah alone). Allah - the Most Merciful
- will designate a limit for him, and he will then remove them from the
hellfire. He will then intercede a second, third, and fourth time, as mentioned
in Sahih al-Bukhari. The Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and
protection) said, "I will return a fourth time, glorify Allah with the
words of praise that He imparts to me, and then bow down in prostration. I will
subsequently be told, 'Muhammad, raise your head, speak and you will be heard,
ask and you will be granted, intercede and your intercession will be accepted.'
I will then say, 'My Lord, I beseech You to allow me to intercede for those who
said laa ilaaha illAllah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allah): Allah
will say, 'I swear by My might, majesty, greatness, and magnificence that I
will most surely remove from it anyone who said laa ilaaha illAllah (none has
the right to be worshipped except Allah'."
Dear people of tawheed (those who devote all worship to Allah alone),
part of Allah's favor to the people of eemaan is that He will also allow them
to intercede on the Day of Recompense. If any of their brothers or loved ones
falls into the hellfire, they will be allowed to intercede with Allah on their
behalf. Some will intercede for groups of people, some for an entire tribe,
some for their relatives, and some for just a single person. A hadeeth in Sahih
Muslim mentions that the Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and
protection) said, "Once the people of eemaan are saved from entering the
hellfire, I swear by the One in whose hand my soul lies that no one among you
could be more ardent in seeking to have any right of yours fulfilled by Allah,
than how ardent the people of eemaan will be in beseeching Allah on the Day of
Resurrection to free their brothers from the hellfire. They will say, 'Our
Lord, they used to fast with us, pray with us, and perform Hajj with us.' They
will be told, 'Take out those whom you recognize; and their features would be
immune to the hellfire consuming them. As a result, they will take out very
many people:'
fact, when some of the people admitted to Jannah find that their brothers
are missing, they will quickly go to the Prophets in order to request that they
intercede with Allah. A hadeeth in al-Mu'ajm al-Awsat of at-Tabaraanee mentions
that Allah's Messenger (may Allah grant him commendation and protection) said,
"Residents of Jannah will notice that some of the people whom they knew in
this world are missing. As a result, they will go to the Prophets, mention
those people, intercede for them, and their intercession will be accepted."
Al-Imaam at-Tabaree (may Allah have mercy upon him) mentioned that when
Qataadah would recite the passage of the Quran that says ((Now, we have no
intercessors or any relative who can help us)) [26:100-101], he would say,
"I swear by Allah that they will know that if a friend was righteous, he
would bring about benefit; and if a relative was righteous, he will be allowed
to intercede."
When the various types of intercession are over on the Day of
Resurrection, there will still be some people who said laa ilaaha illAllah
(none has the right to be worshipped except Allah) left in the hellfire. A
hadeeth in Sahih Muslim mentions that Allah will say, "The angels
interceded, the Prophets interceded, and the people of eemaan interceded.
Nothing remains except the One who is more merciful than anyone who could ever
show mercy:' Allah will then grasp a group of people out of the hellfire and,
as a result, He will remove from the hellfire certain individuals who had never
performed any righteous deeds. They would have turned into coals and He will
then cast them into a river, near the entrance of Jannah, named the River of
Life. They will emerge from it as a seedling emerges from the soil left behind
by a torrent. They will emerge having an appearance like pearls, and the people
of Jannah would recognize them. Those are the ones who Allah frees from the
hellfire and admits to Jannah, but not due to any deed they performed or any
good that they sent ahead for themselves. Allah will then tell them, "You
may now enter Jannah and whatever you see is yours:' They will say, "Our
Lord, you have given us what You did not give anyone else among creation:' He
will reply, "You have something with Me even greater than that:' They will
ask, "Our Lord, what could be better than that?" He will say,
"That I be pleased with you such that I never be angry with you
afterwards:' Our Lord is indeed perfect, most merciful, most forbearing, and
most kind.
Intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be for none besides people who
sincerely worshipped Allah alone in this world. Allah - the Most Exalted -
addressed those who worship other than Him by saying, ((Say: call upon those
whom you assert to be gods besides Allah. They do not possess the weight of
even a tiny ant anywhere throughout the heavens or the earth, and they have no
share whatsoever in either of them. Furthermore, Allah does not have any
supporter at all among them. Intercession with Allah will not yield any benefit
except for those whom Allah permits)) [34:23-23]. Thus, Allah negated that
anyone besides Him would have control; and negated that He would have any
assistant or supporter regarding any benefit or harm. Thus, all that remains is
interceding with Allah. Allah further clarified that intercession will not
yield any benefit except in the case of those whom Allah permits it for.
A hadeeth in Sahih ibn Hibbaan mentions that the Prophet (may Allah grant
him commendation and protection) said, "Someone came to me during the
night and gave me the option of either having half of my Ummah be admitted to
Jannah, or me being able to intercede. I chose intercession:' The Companions
present said, "Messenger of Allah, we request of you - by Allah - to make
us among those for whom you intercede:' He replied, "I certainly call
those present to bear witness that my intercession will be for those who pass
away among my Ummah while not ascribing anything whatsoever as a partner to Allah."
Thus, the most fortunate of people to be included in the intercession of
the Prophet (may Allah grant him commendation and protection) on the Day of
Resurrection are those who said laa ilaaha illAllah (none has the right to be
worshipped except Allah) sincerely from their hearts, and established prayers
as prescribed. There is no portion of Islam for a person who forsakes prayer. A
hadeeth in Sahih Muslim mentions that the Prophet
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