Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every prophet has a supplication which receives an answer, but whereas every prophet made his supplication in this world, I have kept mine till the day of resurrection to be used in intercession for my people, and if God will, it will reach those of my people who have died without associating anything with God.” Muslim transmitted it, and Bukhari has a shorter version.
The Special Intercession of the Prophet
This noble hadith from Mishkat al-Masabih 2223 reveals the unique status of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) among all prophets. While every prophet was granted a special supplication that would be answered, our Prophet preserved his for the Day of Judgment, demonstrating his profound concern for his ummah's ultimate salvation.
The Nature of Prophetic Supplications
Every prophet received a "mustajab da'wah" - a supplication that is guaranteed acceptance from Allah. Previous prophets utilized this privilege for worldly matters or immediate needs of their communities, such as Prophet Ibrahim's prayer for Mecca's security or Prophet Musa's request for victory over Pharaoh.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), however, displayed ultimate wisdom and foresight by reserving this precious resource for the most critical moment - when all humanity will stand before Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
The Great Intercession (Shafa'ah al-Kubra)
This preserved supplication will manifest as the "Great Intercession" when people will seek relief from the overwhelming distress of the Day of Judgment. They will approach previous prophets, each declining until they reach Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), who will then invoke this special prayer.
The intercession will benefit those who died upon tawhid (monotheism), even if they had major sins, demonstrating Allah's immense mercy through His beloved Prophet's intervention.
Scholarly Insights
Imam An-Nawawi explains that this hadith demonstrates the Prophet's superior concern for his ummah's afterlife over temporary worldly benefits. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that this intercession is among the specific honors granted exclusively to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
The conditional phrase "if God will" indicates that Allah's will is paramount, and the Prophet's humility in acknowledging divine decree even in matters guaranteed to him.
Practical Lessons
This teaching should increase our love for the Prophet (ﷺ) who prioritized our eternal salvation over immediate worldly relief. It reinforces the importance of dying upon pure monotheism and gives hope to sinners who maintained their fundamental faith.
We should frequently send blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and strive to be among those who will benefit from this great intercession by upholding Islamic monotheism throughout our lives.