, and to many multiples; and He pardoned his community for mistakes, forgetfulness, and anything they are forced to do. Allah Himself and all His angels—may His blessings and peace be upon them—invoke blessings upon him, and He commanded all His believing servants to send him blessings and salutations.
He coupled his name with His own, so that whenever Allah is mentioned he is mentioned alongside Him—as in the sermon, the tashahhud, and the call to prayer. No adhan, sermon, or prayer is valid unless one bears witness that he is Allah’s servant and Messenger. Allah has granted no one—neither anyone before him nor anyone who will come after him until the earth and all upon it come to an end—an authority that must be obeyed alongside his. He closed the gates of Paradise to everyone except those who follow in his footsteps and emulate him. The Banner of Praise is in his hand; Adam and all the prophets will stand beneath his banner on the Day of Resurrection. He will be the first for whom the earth splits open, the first to intercede, the first whose intercession is accepted, the first to knock at the gate of Paradise, and the first to enter it; no one, early or late, will enter except through his intercession.
He was granted a degree of certainty, faith, patience, steadfastness, power in carrying out Allah’s command, resolve to implement His orders, contentment with Him and gratitude to Him, and satisfaction in seeking His pleasure and obeying Him—outwardly and inwardly, privately and publicly, regarding himself and creation—such as had not been given to any prophet before him (1). Whoever is acquainted with the conditions of the world and the histories of the prophets and their nations realizes that the matter is even greater than this. On the Day of Resurrection there will appear to all created beings (2) realities that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has ever conceived could come to be.
As for the phrase, “nor does he weaken or is he overcome,” such indeed was his state—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. He never faltered in Allah’s cause, even when he stood alone and his followers were few.