Mary—and We took from them a solemn covenant—so that He may question the truthful about their truthfulness. And He has prepared a painful punishment for the disbelievers.”

The best of those of firm resolve is Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: the Seal of the Prophets, the leader of the God-fearing, the foremost of Adam’s descendants, the leader of the prophets when they gather, and their spokesman when they arrive as a delegation. His is the Praiseworthy Station, which the first and last will wish to share. He is the bearer of the Banner of Praise, the possessor of the Pool to which people will come, the intercessor for creation on the Day of Resurrection, and the one granted al-Wasīlah and al-Fadīlah. Allah sent him with the best of His Books, prescribed for him the best of His religious laws, and made his community the best community ever raised for mankind. He brought together for him and his community virtues and merits that He had distributed among those before them. They are the last community to be created and the first to be resurrected, as he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in an authentic hadith:

“We are the last, but we shall be the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, although they were given the Scripture before us and we were given it after them. This was their day over which they differed—meaning Friday—and Allah guided us to it. The people follow us in this: tomorrow is for the Jews, and the day after tomorrow for the Christians.”

He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said:

“I will be the first for whom the earth splits open.”

And he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“I will come to the gate of Paradise and ask for it to be opened. The keeper will say, ‘Who are you?’ I will reply, ‘I am Muhammad.’ He will say, ‘I was commanded concerning you not to open it for anyone before you.’”