the Lord—Exalted is He—will reply, “Yes,” and Allah will bring out the rest of my community and cast them into the Garden.” Aḥmad alone related this. (1)
[The narration of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him)]
Imām Aḥmad said: ʿAffān narrated to us; Ḥammād ibn Salamah narrated to us, from ʿAlī ibn Zayd, from Abū Naḍrah, who said:
Ibn ʿAbbās addressed us from the pulpit of Basra and said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Every prophet was granted one supplication which he utilised in this world, whereas I have saved my supplication as intercession for my community. I am the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection—without boasting. I shall be the first for whom the earth will split open—without boasting. In my hand will be the Banner of Praise—without boasting; Adam and everyone after him will be beneath my banner—without boasting.
“The Day of Resurrection will be prolonged for people, and they will say to one another, ‘Come, let us go to Adam, the father of mankind, so that he may intercede for us with our Lord—Exalted is He—to judge between us.’
“They will come to Adam and say, ‘O Adam, you are the one whom Allah created with His own hand, placed in His Garden, and ordered His angels to prostrate to; intercede for us with our Lord that He may decide between us.’
“He will say, ‘I am not able. I was expelled from the Garden because of my sin, and today I care only for myself. Go instead to Noah, the first of the prophets.’
“They will go to Noah and say, ‘O Noah, intercede for us with our Lord that He may judge between us.’
“He will say, ‘I am not able. I made a supplication that caused the people of the earth to drown, and today I care only for myself. Go to Abraham, the close friend of Allah.’
“They will go to Abraham and say, ‘O Abraham, intercede for us with our Lord that He may decide between us.’
“He will say, ‘I am not able. I uttered three untruths during my life—by Allah, I spoke them only in defence of the religion of Allah. (2) One is His word: “I am sick” (37:89); another: “Rather, it was this great one who did it—ask them if they can speak” (21:63); and the third was his statement about his wife, when he came before the king, “She is my sister.” Today I care only for myself. Go to Moses, the one Allah chose with His messages and with His speech.’
“They will go to Moses and say, ‘O Moses, you are the one whom Allah selected for His messages and addressed directly; intercede for us with your Lord that He may decide between us.’
“He will say, ‘I am not able. I killed a soul when no soul was due to be killed, and today I care only for myself. Go to Jesus, the spirit of Allah and His word.’
“They will go to Jesus and say, ‘O Jesus, intercede for us with your Lord that He may judge between us.’
“He will say, ‘I am not able. I was taken, along with my mother, as a deity besides Allah, and today I care only for myself. Tell me: if valuables were sealed inside a container, could anyone reach what lies inside until the seal is broken?’ They will answer, ‘No.’
“So he will say, ‘Muḥammad is the Seal of the Prophets; he is present today, and his past and future sins have been forgiven.’
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ continued: ‘They will come to me and say, “O Muḥammad, intercede for us with your Lord that He may decide between us.” I will say, “I am the one for it,” until Allah grants permission to whomever He wills and with whom He is pleased.
‘When He wishes to give judgment among His creation, a herald will call out, “Where is Aḥmad and his community?” and we shall be the last yet the first…’