This, then, is the intercession that belongs exclusively to him and to no one else among the messengers. As for the intercession on behalf of the sinners, others share in it: the prophets, the angels, the believers, and even the Qur’an itself and a person’s righteous deeds, as will be clarified below through the authentic reports and other narrations, for it is established both for him and for them.

Al-Awzaʿi reported, from Abu ʿAmmar, from ʿAbd Allah ibn Farrukh, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I shall be the first for whom the earth is split open, the first intercessor, and the first whose intercession is accepted.” (1)

Al-Bayhaqi transmitted the hadith through Maʿmar ibn Rashid, from Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Abi Yaʿqub, from Bishr ibn Shaghaf, from ʿAbd Allah ibn Salam, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared:
“I am the master of the children of Adam—and this is no boast. I shall be the first for whom the earth is split, the first intercessor and the first whose intercession is granted. The Banner of Praise will be in my hand; Adam and all who come after him will stand beneath it.” (2)

Muslim relates, via ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla from Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“My Lord sent word to me: ‘Recite the Qur’an in one ḥarf (mode of recitation).’ I replied, ‘My Lord, make things easier for my community.’ He answered a second time: ‘Recite it in two aḥruf.’ (3)
I again said, ‘My Lord, make things easier for my community.’ He replied a third time: ‘Recite it in seven aḥruf, and for every request you made I grant you one supplication.’ So I said, ‘O Lord, forgive my community; O Lord, forgive my community.’ I have deferred the third supplication until the Day when all created beings—even Abraham (peace be upon him)—will turn to me.” (4)

The second and third categories of intercession are: his ﷺ pleading on behalf of people whose good deeds and bad deeds are evenly balanced, so that he intercedes for them to be admitted into Paradise; and his intercession for people who have been sentenced to Hell, that they might not enter it.

Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Abi al-Dunya related in his book al-Ahwal: Saʿid ibn Muhammad al-Jarami told us, Abu ʿUbaydah al-Haddad told us, Muhammad ibn Thabit al-Bunnani told us, from ʿUbayd Allah ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Harith ibn Nawfal, from his father, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas, who said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remarked, ‘On the Day of Resurrection, golden pulpits will be set up for the prophets and they will sit upon them.’ He continued, ‘My pulpit, however, will remain unoccupied; I shall stand before Allah—Exalted is He—upright on behalf of my community, fearing that I might be admitted to Paradise while my community is left behind. I will say, “My Lord, my community!” Allah will say, “O Muhammad, what do you wish Me to do with your community?” I will reply, “My Lord, bring forward their reckoning quickly.” They will then be summoned and called to account, and some of them will enter Paradise…’”}