and the Pool to which people will come, whose vessels are as numerous as the stars in the sky, whose water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, and from which whoever takes a single drink will never thirst again? He is the one who will intercede on the Day of Resurrection, when Adam and the messengers of firm resolve—Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them all—step back from it, while he steps forward to undertake it. He is the bearer of the banner beneath which Adam and all others will stand. He is the leader of the children of Adam and the most honored of them before his Lord, Almighty and Majestic. He is the leader of the prophets when they assemble and their spokesman when they come as a delegation. His standing is immense; may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace.

Yet a created being’s standing before the Creator Most High is not like one created being’s standing before another, for no one intercedes with Him except by His permission:

“There is no one in the heavens and the earth who will not come to the Most Merciful as a servant.”

“He has certainly counted them and numbered them precisely.”

He Most High also said:

“The Messiah will never disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor will the angels brought near to Him. Whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant—He will gather them all to Himself.”

“As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, He will give them their rewards in full and grant them more from His bounty. But as for those who disdain and are arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will find neither a protector nor a helper besides Allah.”

A created being intercedes with another created being without the latter’s permission, and is thus his partner in securing the desired outcome. Allah Most High, however, has no partner, as He, glorified is He, said:

“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim to be gods besides Allah. They do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or on earth, nor do they have any share in either, nor does He have any helper among them.’”

“Intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits.”