“Every Prophet has a (special) supplication which is answered. Verily, I have reserved mine as intercession for my nation, and it shall reach, if Allah wills, those of them who die, not associating anything with Allah.”
Hadith Text
"Every Prophet has a (special) supplication which is answered. Verily, I have reserved mine as intercession for my nation, and it shall reach, if Allah wills, those of them who die, not associating anything with Allah."
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3602
Context and Significance
This noble hadith from the Chapters on Supplication in Jami' at-Tirmidhi reveals the profound love and concern the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had for his Ummah. While other prophets used their guaranteed supplications for worldly or immediate needs, our Prophet preserved his for the ultimate benefit of his followers on the Day of Judgment.
Scholarly Commentary
The "special supplication" refers to a particular du'a that each prophet was granted that would certainly be accepted by Allah. Scholars explain that this demonstrates the superiority of Prophet Muhammad's wisdom and foresight, choosing to save this powerful spiritual asset for the eternal salvation of his community rather than temporal worldly benefits.
The intercession mentioned is the "Greater Intercession" (ash-Shafa'ah al-Kubra) on the Day of Resurrection when creation will be suffering in the gathering place and will seek mediation from the prophets, culminating in the Prophet Muhammad's intercession to commence the Judgment.
Conditions for Benefiting
The hadith specifies that this intercession will reach "those of them who die, not associating anything with Allah." This crucial condition emphasizes that while the Prophet's intercession is vast, it does not extend to those who died upon shirk (polytheism). This aligns with the Quranic principle that Allah does not forgive shirk if one dies upon it.
The phrase "if Allah wills" demonstrates the Prophet's perfect manners with his Lord, acknowledging that all matters ultimately depend on Allah's will and permission.
Spiritual Lessons
This hadith teaches us about the Prophet's unparalleled concern for his Ummah's ultimate success. It should increase our love for him and motivate us to follow his guidance meticulously.
It also reminds Muslims to maintain pure tawhid (monotheism) throughout their lives, as this is the fundamental condition for receiving the Prophet's intercession and ultimately entering Paradise.