Matchless Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
The loftiest station in Paradise
Maulana Kashif Shahzad ‘Attari Madani
The most elect of creation and the perfect human, our beloved master Muhammad صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is unmatched in his countless distinctive merits. In this article, we will explore three of them.
1. Master of the station of Wasilah
The loftiest station in Paradise, Wasilah, is exclusive to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, (Sharaf-ul-Mustafa, vol. 4, p.218; Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, vol. 2, p. 317), as alluded to in the hadith in which the Beloved Prophet of Allah remarked: ‘سَلُوا اللهَ لِیَ الْوَسِيلَةَ’ ‘Ask Allah Almighty for the station of Wasilah for me.’
It was asked of him: ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What is the station of Wasilah?’
He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: ‘اَعْلٰى دَرَجَةٍ فِی الْجَنَّةٍ لَا يَنَالُهَااِلَّا رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ اَرْجُو اَنْ اَ كُوْنَ اَنَا هُوَ’ ‘It is the loftiest station in Paradise which will only be given to one individual, and I hope that I am that individual,’ (Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 352, Hadith 3632)
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: ‘اَلْوَسِيْلَةُ دَرَجَةٌ عِنْدَ اللهِ لَيْسَ فَوْقَهَا دَرَجَةٌ فَسَلُوا اللهَ اَنْ يُّؤْتِيَنِی الْوَسِيْلَةَ’ i.e. Wasilah is such a station with Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that there is no station above it; pray to Allah Almighty that He grants me the station of Wasilah. (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4, p. 165, Hadith 11783)
Imam Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al-Khafaji رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه described this station as, ‘the closest of all stations to the Divine Throne (‘Arsh) which is reserved specifically for the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم,’ (Naseem-ur-Riyad, vol. 3, p. 226).
Attaining the Beloved Prophet’s intercession
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم taught us a simple way to attain his intercession: When you hear the Muezzin [calling the Azaan], repeat the words of the Azaan and send Durood upon me because whoever sends Durood upon me once, Allah Almighty grants ten mercies to him. Thereafter, seek the station of Wasilah from Allah Almighty for me because it is a station in Paradise that will only be granted to one person, and I am hopeful it is me. ‘فَمَنْ سَاَلَ لِیَ الْوَسِيْلَةَ حَلَّتْ لَهُ الشَّفَاعَةُ’ Whoever supplicates for me to be granted the station of Wasilah, my intercession will become necessary for him, (Sahih Muslim, p. 162, Hadith 849).
Elaborating on this, Mufti Shareef-ul-Haq Amjadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه commented that the intercession in this Hadith refers to, ‘a special intercession such as admitting [people] into Paradise without accountability and raising [their] ranks, (Nuzhat-ul-Qaari, vol. 2, p. 302).
I urge our readers to honour the azan by stopping all activities when it is called and replying to it. Once the azan is finished, recite the post-Azaan Du’a in which the station of Wasilah is sought for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه – you will reap rewards and the intercession of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, by Allah’s grace.
2. Angels on earth
In his religious edicts, Imam Jalal-ud-Deen Al-Suyuti رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explained that ‘one distinctive merit of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is that angels, that had never visited earth, also descended before his blessed presence. They include an angel named Isma’eel and Sayyiduna Israfeel عَـلَيْـهِما الـسَّـلَام, (Al-Haawi-lil-Fatawa, vol. 2, p. 177; Unmuzaj-ul-Labeeb, p. 224)
Sayyiduna Israfeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام is from the messenger angels, (Tafseer-e-Khaazin, vol. 3, p. 318) who are superior to every non-prophet, as per scholarly consensus. (Fatawa-e-Razawiyyah, vol. 29, p. 629)
Note: Messenger angels are those angels who deliver the commands of Allah Almighty to other angels. (Nibras, p. 676)
3. Jibra’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام came to visit
With the command of Allah Almighty, Sayyiduna Jibra’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام visited the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for three days when he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was in his final illness. (Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah, vol. 2, p. 312; Zurqaani ‘Alal Mawahib vol. 7, p. 358)
Sayyiduna Imam Baaqir رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه reports from his honourable father, Sayyiduna Imam Ali Awsat Zayn Al-‘Aabideen رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه that Sayyiduna Jibra’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام visited the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for three days before his passing away and said:
Allah Almighty has sent me to you so that your distinction becomes manifest and to honour and respect you. Allah Almighty asks you regarding a matter, of which He has more knowledge than you, stating, ‘In what state do you find yourself at this moment?’ The Beloved Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: ‘O Jibra’eel! I find myself in a state of worry and difficulty.’ Jibra’eel visited the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم on the second and third day, delivering the same message, and the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave the same reply on both days as he did on the first day. (Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, p. 406, Hadith 5972; Zurqaani ‘Alal Mawahib, vol. 12, p. 127)
The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was not worried about death or pain, rather he was worried about the future of Islam and what will become of his Ummah, as noted by Shaykh Abdul-Haq Muhaddis Dihlawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, vol. 4, p. 628; Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, p. 308).
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