—and I say this without boasting.” He is the intercessor for the first and last generations when judgment is passed among them, and he is the first to ask for the gate of Paradise to be opened. This is because Allah took a covenant from all created beings that they would believe in him, just as He took a covenant from every prophet to believe in the prophets before him and affirm those who would come after him.

Allah Most High says:

“When Allah took the covenant of the prophets: ‘Whatever Scripture and wisdom I give you, should a messenger then come to you confirming what is with you, you must believe in him and support him’”—and the rest of the verse.

He thus began the statement with the lām that introduces an oath, which is used when a statement contains both an oath and a condition. He placed this lām before the conditional particle mā to indicate its comprehensive scope. The meaning is: Whatever Scripture and wisdom I give you, when that confirming prophet comes to you, you must believe in him and support him.

As Ibn ‘Abbās said: “Allah never sent a prophet without taking a covenant from him that, if Muhammad were sent while he was still alive, he would certainly believe in him and support him.”

Allah Most High exalted his mention and proclaimed it in the highest assembly between the creation of Adam’s body and the breathing of the spirit into him. This is related in the hadith of Maysara al-Fajr, who said:

“I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, when were you a prophet?’—or, according to another narration, ‘When were you recorded as a prophet?’ He replied, ‘When Adam was between spirit and body.’”

Narrated by Ahmad. Likewise, in the hadith of al-‘Irbād ibn Sāriya, narrated by Ahmad—a hadith with a sound (hasan) grading—the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Indeed, with Allah I am the Seal of the Prophets, while Adam was still lying in his clay”—and the rest of the hadith.