The master of people on the Day of Resurrection

The Glorious Qur'an showed us the status of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his status in the sight of Allah (Glory be to Him) when Allah mentioned him by name when He said (which means): "Muhammad (peace be upon him) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh; and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful." [Surat Al `Imran: 144].

Allah (Exalted be He) says (which means): "Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever All-Knower of everything." [Surat Al Ahzab: 40].

Allah (Glory be to Him) favored His Prophet (peace be upon him) with a full Surah from the Qur'an which is Surat Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah (may He be Exalted) says in its beginning (which means): "But those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and believe in that which is sent down to Muhammad (peace be upon him) - for it is the truth from their Lord - He will expiate from them their sins, and will make good their state." [Surat Muhammad: 2].

Allah (Glory be to Him) says (which means): "Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurat (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islamic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e. Paradise)." [Surat Al Fath: 29].

In general, the virtues, the properties, and the attributes of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) are many, and of these characteristics is that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is the master of people on the Day of Resurrection.

Let us ponder over the following narration:

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Some (cooked) meat was brought to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) and the meat of a forearm was presented to him as he used to like it. He ate a morsel of it and said: "I will be the chief of all the people on the Day of Resurrection. Do you know the reason for it? Allah will gather all the human beings of early generations as well as late generation on one plain so that the announcer will be able to make them all hear his voice and the watcher will be able to see all of them. The sun will come so close to the people that they will suffer such distress and trouble as they will not be able to bear or stand. Then the people will say: 'Don't you see to what state you have reached? Won't you look for someone who can intercede for you with your Lord?' Some people will say to some others, 'Go to Adam.' So they will go to Adam and say to him. 'You are the father of mankind; Allah created you with His Own Hand, and breathed into you of His Spirit (meaning the spirit which he created for you); and ordered the angels to prostrate 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?' Adam 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 intercession). Go to someone else; go to Noah.' So they will go to Noah and say (to him), 'O Noah! 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 nation. Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone else; go to Abraham.' They will go to Abraham and say: 'O Abraham! You are Allah's Messenger and His Khalil from among the people of the earth; so please intercede for us with your Lord. Don't you see in what state we are?' He will say to them, 'My Lord has today become angry as He has never become before, nor will ever become thereafter. I had told three lies (Abu Haiyan (the sub-narrator) mentioned them in the Hadith) Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone else; go to Moses.' The people will then go to Moses and say: 'O Moses! You are Allah's Messenger and Allah gave you superiority above the others with this message and with His direct Talk to you; (please) intercede for us with your Lord Don't you see in what state we are?' Moses 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 Jesus.' So they will go to Jesus and say: 'O Jesus! You are Allah's Messenger and His Word which He sent to Mary, and a superior soul created by Him, and you talked to the people while still young in the cradle. Please intercede for us with your Lord. Don't you see in what state we are?' Jesus will say. 'My Lord has today become angry as He has never become before nor will ever become thereafter. Jesus will not mention any sin, but will say: 'Myself! Myself! Myself! Go to someone else; go to Muhammad.' So they will come to me and say: 'O Muhammad! You are Allah's Messenger and the last of the prophets, and Allah forgave your early and late sins. (Please) intercede for us with your Lord. Don't you see in what state we are?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) added, "Then I will go beneath Allah's Throne and fall in prostration before my Lord. And then Allah will guide me to such praises and glorification to 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. Intercede! 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 such a gate of the gates of Paradise as lies on the right; and they will share the other gates with the people." The Prophet (peace be upon him) further said: "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the distance between every two gate-posts of Paradise is like the distance between Makkah and Busra (in Sham)."[1]

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[1] Muhammad ibn Isma`ol Abu `Abdullah Al Bukhari Al Ju`afy: "Al Jami` Al Musnad As-Sahih Al Mukhtasar min Umur Rasulullah wa Sunanuh wa Ayyamuh" verified by Muhammad Zuhayr ibn Nasir An-Nasir, 2nd edition, Dar Tawq An-Najah photocopied from As-Sultaniyyah.