عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ قَالَ: خَطَبَنَا ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْبَصْرَةِ فَقَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ”إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيٌّ إِلَّا لَهُ دَعْوَةٌ قَدْ تَنَجَّزَهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَإِنِّي قَدِ اخْتَبَأْتُ دَعْوَتِي شَفَاعَةً لِأُمَّتِي، وَأَنَا سَيِّدُ وُلْدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا فَخْرَ، وَبِيَدِي لِوَاءُ الْحَمْدِ وَلَا فَخْرَ، آدَمُ فَمَنْ دُونَهُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِي وَلَا فَخْرَ، وَيَطُولُ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَيَقُولُ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: انْطَلِقُوا بِنَا إِلَى آدَمَ أَبِي الْبَشَرِ فَلْيَشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّنَا عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا، فَيَأْتُونَ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا آدَمُ! أَنْتَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ اللَّهُ بِيَدِهِ وَأَسْكَنَكَ جَنَّتَهُ وَأَسْجَدَ لَكَ مَلَائِكَتَهُ، اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّنَا فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا، فَيَقُولُ: إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ، إِنِّي قَدْ أُخْرِجْتُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ بِخَطِيئَتِي، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلَّا نَفْسِي، وَلَكِنْ ائْتُوا نُوحًا رَأْسَ النَّبِيِّينَ، فَيَأْتُونَ نُوحًا فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا نُوحُ! اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّنَا فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا، فَيَقُولُ: إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ، إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ بِدَعْوَةٍ أَغْرَقَتْ أَهْلَ الْأَرْضِ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلَّا نَفْسِي، وَلَكِنْ ائْتُوا إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلَ اللَّهِ، فَيَأْتُونَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ! اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّنَا فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا، فَيَقُولُ: إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ، إِنِّي كَذَبْتُ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ ثَلَاثَ كَذِبَاتٍ، وَاللَّهِ إِنْ حَاوَلْتُ بِهِنَّ إِلَّا عَنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ، قَوْلُهُ {إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ}، وَقَوْلُهُ {بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِنْ كَانُوا يَنْطِقُونَ}، وَقَوْلُهُ لِامْرَأَتِهِ حِينَ أَتَى عَلَى الْمَلِكِ أُخْتِي، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلَّا نَفْسِي، وَلَكِنْ ائْتُوا مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاهُ اللَّهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَبِكَلَامِهِ، فَيَأْتُونَهُ فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا مُوسَى! أَنْتَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَاكَ اللَّهُ بِرِسَالَتِهِ وَكَلَّمَكَ، فَاشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ، فَيَقُولُ: لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ، إِنِّي قَتَلْتُ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي إِلَّا نَفْسِي، وَلَكِنْ ائْتُوا عِيسَى رُوحَ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتَهُ، فَيَأْتُونَ عِيسَى فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا عِيسَى! اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ، فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا، فَيَقُولُ: إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكُمْ، إِنِّي اتُّخِذْتُ إِلَهًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يُهِمُّنِي الْيَوْمَ إِلَّا نَفْسِي، وَلَكِنْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ كَانَ مَتَاعٌ فِي وَعَاءٍ مَخْتُومٍ عَلَيْهِ، أَكَانَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى مَا فِي جَوْفِهِ حَتَّى يَعُضَّ الْخَاتَمَ؟ قَالَ: فَيَقُولُونَ: لَا، قَالَ: فَيَقُولُ: إِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَقَدْ حَضَرَ الْيَوْمَ، وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ“، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ”فَيَأْتُونَنِي فَيَقُولُونَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ! اشْفَعْ لَنَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَلْيَقْضِ بَيْنَنَا، فَأَقُولُ: أَنَا لَهَا حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى، فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنْ يَصْدَعَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ نَادَى مُنَادٍ: أَيْنَ أَحْمَدُ وَأُمَّتُهُ؟ فَنَحْنُ الْآخِرُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ، نَحْنُ آخِرُ الْأُمَمِ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُحَاسَبُ، فَتُفَرَّجُ لَنَا الْأُمَمُ عَنْ طَرِيقِنَا فَنَمْضِي غُرًّا مُحَجَّلِينَ مِنْ أَثَرِ الطُّهُورِ، فَتَقُولُ الْأُمَمُ: كَادَتْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَنْبِيَاءَ كُلَّهَا، فَنَأْتِي بَابَ الْجَنَّةِ فَآخُذُ بِحَلْقَةِ الْبَابِ فَأَقْرَعُ الْبَابَ، فَيُقَالُ: مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَأَقُولُ: أَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، فَيُفْتَحُ لِي، فَآتِي رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى كُرْسِيِّهِ أَوْ سَرِيرِهِ، شَكَّ حَمَّادٌ (أَحَدُ الرُّوَاةِ)، فَأَخِرُّ لَهُ سَاجِدًا، فَأَحْمَدُهُ بِمَحَامِدَ لَمْ يَحْمَدْهُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ كَانَ قَبْلِي، وَلَيْسَ يَحْمَدُهُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي، فَيَقُولُ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ! ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَسَلْ تُعْطَ، وَقُلْ تُسْمَعْ، وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ، فَأَرْفَعُ رَأْسِي فَأَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ! أُمَّتِي، أُمَّتِي، فَيَقُولُ: أَخْرِجْ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ كَذَا وَكَذَا (لَمْ يَحْفَظْ حَمَّادٌ)، ثُمَّ أُعِيدُ فَأَسْجُدُ فَأَقُولُ: مَا قُلْتُ، فَيَقُولُ: ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَقُلْ تُسْمَعْ، وَسَلْ تُعْطَ، وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ، فَأَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ! أُمَّتِي، أُمَّتِي، فَيَقُولُ: أَخْرِجْ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ كَذَا وَكَذَا دُونَ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ أُعِيدُ فَأَسْجُدُ فَأَقُولُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَيُقَالُ لِي: ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَقُلْ تُسْمَعْ، وَسَلْ تُعْطَ، وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ، فَأَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ! أُمَّتِي، أُمَّتِي، فَيَقُولُ: أَخْرِجْ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ كَذَا وَكَذَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ“
Abu Nadrah says: Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed us from the pulpit of Basra and said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Every prophet was given one accepted supplication, and each of them used that supplication in this world, but I have kept my supplication hidden for intercession on behalf of my Ummah. On the Day of Resurrection, I will be the leader of all the children of Adam, but I do not boast about it. The earth of my grave will be split open first, and I do not boast about it. The banner of praise will be in my hand, but I do not boast about it. Adam (peace be upon him) and all humanity after him will be under my banner, and I do not boast about it.
The Day of Resurrection will have become extremely long for the people, and eventually, they will say to one another: Let us go to Abu al-Bashar, Adam (peace be upon him), so that he may intercede for us with our Lord and thus Allah may decide among us. So the people will gather and go to Adam (peace be upon him) and say: O Adam! Allah created you with His own hand, settled you in His Paradise, and made the angels prostrate before you. Please intercede for us with your Lord so that He may begin to judge between us. He will say: I cannot do this; because of my mistake, I was expelled from Paradise. I am worried about myself. You should go to Noah (peace be upon him); he is the first of the prophets. So they will all go to Noah (peace be upon him) and say: O Noah! Intercede for us with our Lord so that He may judge between us. But he will say: I do not have the courage to do this. I have already used my supplication, by which all the people of the earth were drowned. Today, I am concerned about myself. However, you should go to Allah’s friend, Ibrahim (peace be upon him). They will all go to Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and say: O Ibrahim! Intercede for us with our Lord so that He may judge between us. He will say: I do not have the courage to do this. I told three lies in Islam. By Allah, even in those matters, he was defending the religion of Allah. One was when he said: {اِنِّیْ سَقِیْمٌ} (Indeed, I am ill.) (Surah As-Saffat: 89), the second was when he said: {بَلْ فَعَلَہٗ کَبِیْرُھُمْ ھٰذَا فَسْئَلُوْھُمْ اِنْ کَانُوْا یَنْطِقُوْنَ} (Rather, this was done by their biggest one; so ask them, if they can speak.) (Surah Al-Anbiya: 63), and the third was when he reached the king with his wife and said: She is my sister. In any case, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) will say: Today, I am worried about myself. However, you should go to Musa (peace be upon him); Allah chose him for His message and spoke to him. The people will go to Musa (peace be upon him) and say: O Musa! Allah honored you with His message and spoke to you. Please intercede for us with Allah so that He may begin our reckoning. He will say: I am not capable of this. I killed a man without any crime. I am worried about myself. You should go to Isa (peace be upon him); he is the spirit and word of Allah. So they will go to Isa (peace be upon him) and say: O Isa! Intercede for us with your Lord so that He may judge between us. He will say: I cannot do this. People made me a deity besides Allah, so I am worried about myself. But look, if something is sealed in a vessel (or bag), can you get what is inside without breaking the seal? The people will say: No. So Isa (peace be upon him) will say: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets; he is present today. His status is such that all his past and future sins have been forgiven.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: After that, the people will come to me and say: O Muhammad! Intercede for us with your Lord so that He may judge between us. I will say: Yes, yes, I am the one for this intercession, meaning today I am the one who can intercede. After that, Allah will grant permission for intercession to whomever He wills and likes. When Allah intends to separate His creation, a caller will announce: Where are Ahmad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Ummah? Although we came last in time, on the Day of Resurrection, we will be first. Although we are the last Ummah, our reckoning will be the first. Other nations will be removed from our path, and the faces, hands, and feet of my Ummah will be shining brightly due to the effects of ablution. Seeing this, other nations will envy and say: It was close that all the members of this Ummah would have been prophets. This Ummah will reach the door of Paradise. I will take hold of the ring of the door of Paradise and knock. It will be asked: Who are you? I will say: I am Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the door will be opened for me, and Allah will be seated on the Chair or Throne (the narrator of the hadith, Hammad, was unsure whether it was the Chair or Throne). I will go before Allah and prostrate, and I will praise Allah with such praises that neither anyone before me has expressed nor anyone after me will be able to express. Allah will say: O Muhammad! Raise your head, ask and you will be given, speak and you will be heard, intercede and your intercession will be accepted. So I will raise my head and say: O my Lord! My Ummah! My Ummah! Allah will say: Bring out from Hell those who have faith equal to such-and-such in their hearts. After that, I will fall into prostration again, and I will say in prostration whatever Allah wills. Eventually, Allah will say: Raise your head and speak, you will be heard; ask, you will be given; intercede, your intercession will be accepted. I will say: O Lord! My Ummah, my Ummah. Allah will say: Whoever has faith equal to such-and-such in his heart, bring him out of Hell. After that, I will prostrate again and praise Allah as before. Eventually, I will be told: Raise your head from prostration, speak and you will be heard, ask and you will be given, intercede and your intercession will be accepted. I will say: O my Lord! My Ummah, my Ummah. Allah will say to me: Whoever has even as much faith as such-and-such in his heart, bring him out of Hell.