Bukhari

Hadith Authentication (Takhrij):
[121۔ البخاري فى : 97 كتاب التوحيد : 31 باب قوله تعالىٰ ”قل لو كان البحر۔۔۔“ 6304، مسلم 198]

Linguistic Explanation: «لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ دَعْوَةٌ» "For every prophet there is a supplication," the meaning is that every prophet was granted the option of one supplication that would certainly be accepted.

«اَخْتَبِئَ دَعْوَتِيْ» "I have concealed my supplication, kept it preserved." In this is established the perfection of compassion and mercy of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) for his ummah, that instead of asking for something for himself, he deferred this accepted supplication for the intercession of his ummah. Yet today, this very ummah is turning its back on the traditions of its compassionate and beneficent prophets and is engaged day and night in opposing them. May Allah grant us the ability to refrain from opposing our great Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). (Ameen!)

Hadith Commentary:
➊
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“That supplication will be accepted only for the people of Tawheed (monotheism).
There will be no share in it for the polytheists, as is mentioned in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam):
‘If Allah wills, that supplication will be accepted for those who died in such a state that they did not associate anyone with Allah.’
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Iman, Hadith: 491. )
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) made the acceptance of this supplication dependent upon the will of Allah, even though Allah has already informed that it will certainly be accepted.

➋
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has established from this that everything is under the will (mashiyyah) of Allah.
Nothing in the universe is outside of this.
Whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen.
No one can compel Allah, just as a human being can be forced to do something against his will; Allah is the Owner of the universe.
He is not in need of anyone in running its affairs.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
Allah, the Exalted, has granted every Prophet (alayhis salam) the right that one of his supplications will certainly be accepted, and as for the rest of their supplications, there is hope for their acceptance; however, some are accepted and some, outwardly, are not accepted.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is so compassionate and merciful towards his Ummah that he did not use that supplication in this transient, worldly life. Rather, in the Hereafter—when everyone will be fleeing from one another, in such a state of chaos—he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will make that supplication for the intercession and salvation of his Ummah.

So then, how truly regrettable is the condition of the Ummah if they adopt an attitude of indifference and turning away from the obedience and submission to such a merciful and noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that shirk, that is:
associating anyone with Allah Ta'ala in His essence, attributes, actions, or rights,
is such a heinous crime that such a person will be deprived of your intercession on the Day of Judgment.
However, one who commits a major sin (kabirah),
will be deserving of intercession, and at some point will be saved from Hell.

Explanation:
1:
That is, every person will receive the intercession of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) who has not committed any form of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Whether the shirk is that of non-Muslims or of so-called Muslims, those who are guilty of shirk will not receive this intercession.
Furthermore, this hadith also proves that the true religion is that which the pious predecessors (salaf salihin) upheld; that is, a monotheist (muwahhid) will not remain in Hellfire forever due to sins. After bearing the punishment for his sins, in the end, he will be granted permission to enter Paradise—unless he has repented, in which case he will enter Paradise from the very beginning, insha Allah.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
Allah Ta’ala said to every prophet that one of your supplications will certainly be accepted.
This same promise is also for our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

➋
The acceptance of supplication depends on Allah’s will.
If He wills, He may accept the supplication of even the worst of people, and if He wills, He may not accept even the supplication of a prophet.

➌
Every prophet, at some point, made a request in supplication:
“O Allah! Let such-and-such wish of mine be that supplication which is certainly accepted.” Thus, by accepting that prophet’s supplication, that wish was fulfilled.

➍
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not designate any supplication as that special supplication whose acceptance was promised, so the right to that supplication still remains.

➎
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) designated intercession (shafa‘ah) for the forgiveness of his ummah as his special supplication; this supplication will be made on the Day of Resurrection and will certainly be accepted for the people of tawhid (monotheism).

➏
For salvation, it is necessary to die upon tawhid (monotheism).

Explanation of the Hadith:

Ibn Battal, while commenting on this hadith, writes:
«وفي هذا الحديث بيان فضيلة نبينا عليه السلام على سائر الأنبياء عليهم السلام حين آثر أمته بما خصه الله به من اجابة الدعوة بالشفاعة لهم، ولم يجعل ذلك فى خاصة نفسه وأهل بيته .» [شرح صحيح بخارى، لابن بطال: 75/10]
“In this hadith, the virtue of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is mentioned, which he possesses over all the other messengers: that he showed selflessness for the sake of his entire ummah and his own family regarding this specific supplication.”

Imam Nawawi rahimahullah says:
«وفي هذا الحديث بيان كمال شفقة النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم على أمته ورأفته لهم وأعتنائه بالنظر فى مصالحهم المهمة فأخر صلى الله عليه وسلم دعوته لأمته إلى أهم أوقات حاجاتهم ...... ففيه دلالة لمذهب أهل الحق أن كل من مات غير مشرك بالله تعالىٰ لم يخلد فى النار وان كان مصر على الكبائر .» [شرح صحيح مسلم، للنوى: 63/3]
“In this hadith, there is an expression of the Prophet’s (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) compassion for the ummah, in that he has postponed this accepted supplication for the intercession of the ummah until the difficult moments of the Day of Resurrection... In this, there is also evidence for those among Ahl al-Sunnah that whoever dies upon pure tawhid and does not associate partners with Allah, he will not remain in Hellfire forever, even if he dies while persisting in major sins.”

Saying “insha’Allah” regarding any action:
The phrase mentioned in the hadith «إِنْ شَآءَ اللهُ» “if Allah wills,” is in compliance with Allah’s command, because Allah the Exalted commanded the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam):
«وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا * إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ» [الكهف: 23 ,24]
“And never say of anything, ‘Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,’ except [when adding], ‘If Allah wills.’”

Takhrij al-Hadith:
[وأخرجه البخاري 6304، من حديث مالك به]
Jurisprudential Points:
➊ The intercession (shafa‘ah) of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam for his ummah (the Muslims), by the permission of Allah, is a truth. The following noble Companions have also narrated this:
◄ Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik radi Allahu anhu [صحيح بخاري : 6305، صحيح مسلم : 200]
◄ Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah radi Allahu anhu [صحيح مسلم : 201]
◄ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As radi Allahu anhu [صحيح مسلم : 202]
◄ Sayyiduna Ka‘b bin ‘Ujrah radi Allahu anhu [الشريعه للآجري ص338 ح780 وسنده صحيح]
◄ Sayyiduna Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu [أحمد 2/11، 12، وسنده حسن، ابن ماجه : 4280 وصححه الحاكم عليٰ شرط مسلم 4/585، 586]
◄ Sayyidah Umm Habibah radi Allahu anha [المستدرك للحاكم 1/68 ح227 وسنده صحيح وصححه الحاكم عليٰ شرط الشيخين ووافقه الذهبي] and others.
● In fact, the hadith regarding intercession is mutawatir (mass-transmitted). See [نظم المتناثر للكتاني ح304]
➋ The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was extremely compassionate towards his ummah, and Allah sent him as a mercy to the worlds.
➌ Every Prophet had a supplication that was certainly accepted by Allah, and the Prophet also had knowledge of this supplication.
➍ Allah the Exalted granted the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam superiority over all the Prophets.
➎ Any Muslim who does not commit shirk (polytheism) or kufr (disbelief), no matter how sinful he may be, will not remain in Hellfire forever.