Qatāda, who narrated from Anas that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The believers will gather on the Day of Resurrection and will be inspired with this thought: ‘If only we sought someone to intercede with our Lord, so that He might relieve us of this place of ours!’ They will then go to Adam.” He related the hadith up to the words: “‘Go to Muhammad, a servant whose past and future sins Allah has forgiven.’

“They will come to me, and I will seek permission to enter into my Lord’s presence. Permission will be granted to me, and when I see my Lord, I will fall—or drop—in prostration before my Lord. He will leave me for as long as Allah wills to leave me. Then I will be told: ‘Raise your head, Muhammad. Speak, and you will be heard; ask, and you will be given; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.’ I will raise my head and praise Him with words of praise that Allah will teach me. Then I will intercede, and He will set a limit for me, and I will admit them to Paradise.

“Then I will return to Him a second time. When I see my Lord, Mighty and Majestic, I will fall—or drop—in prostration. He will leave me for as long as Allah wills to leave me. Then I will be told: ‘Raise your head. Speak, and you will be heard; ask, and you will be given; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.’ I will raise my head and praise my Lord with words of praise that He will teach me. Then I will intercede, and He will set a limit for me, and I will admit them to Paradise.

“Then I will return to Him a third time. When I see my Lord, I will fall—or drop—in prostration before my Lord. He will leave me for as long as Allah wills to leave me.” He then related the rest of the hadith.’”