Who will the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم intercede for? He shall intercede for believers only, and not for disbelievers. Intercession is for the sinners who left this world in the state of faith, and none of us are aware of Allah’s hidden plan. We ask our Lord to protect our faith. It is possible the disobedient can lose their faith as they pass away, because of their sins. As a result, they will not be recipients of intercession. They may hope for intercession their entire lives, but because they died without faith, they will not be interceded for. The Prophet                               صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave glad tidings to whoever comes to Madinah and visits his grave. For them, he declared, وَجَبَتْ لَهُ شَفَاعَتِي - "My intercession is wājib.” The meaning of wājib here means such a person shall most definitely be interceded for.

Mawlana Naqī ꜤAlī Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه finalises this discussion by saying: “This hadith means a believer who visits the grave of the Prophet              صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, will have their faith protected by the Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم himself, and he shall intercede for them - ان شآء اللہ.”^[1]

Intercession of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

2^nd pearl of wisdom

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! Another pearl of wisdom in this hadith, is how it highlights many people interceding for others on the Day of Judgement. The greatest station of intercession (shafāʿat al-kubrā) belongs to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He will open the door of intercession and be the first to intercede. After him, prophets, angels, scholars, martyrs, ḥajj pilgrims and those who memorised the Quran and acted upon it will intercede.