English Translation

'Affan narrated to us, Hammam narrated to us, Qatadah narrated to us, from Anas ibn Malik: that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The believers will be held back on the Day of Resurrection and will be distressed by that, and will say, 'If only we sought intercession with our Lord, Mighty and Sublime, so that He might relieve us of our place.' So they will go to Adam and say, 'You are our father; Allah created you with His hand, made His angels prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so intercede for us with your Lord.' He will say, 'I am not fit for that,' and he will mention his sin of eating from the tree, which he had been forbidden. 'But go to Nuh, the first prophet Allah sent to the people of the earth.' So they will go to Nuh, and he will say, 'I am not fit for that,' and mention his sin of asking Allah, Mighty and Sublime, without knowledge. 'But go to Ibrahim, the friend of the Most Merciful, Mighty and Sublime.' So they will go to Ibrahim, and he will say, 'I am not fit for that,' and mention his sin, which was the three lies he told: his saying 'I am sick,' and his saying 'Rather, it was this, the biggest of them, who did it,' and what he said when he came upon a tyrannical, self-indulgent king along with his wife, and said, 'Tell him I am your brother,' for he said, 'I shall tell him you are my sister.' 'But go to Musa, a servant to whom Allah spoke directly and gave the Torah.' So they will go to Musa, and he will say, 'I am not fit for that,' and mention his sin, which was killing the man. 'But go to 'Isa, the servant and messenger of Allah, His word, and His spirit.' So they will go to 'Isa, and he will say, 'I am not fit for that. But go to Muhammad, the servant and messenger of Allah, whose past and future sins have been forgiven.' So they will come to me, and I will seek permission from my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, to enter His abode, and permission will be granted to me. When I see Him, I will fall down in prostration, and He will leave me thus as long as Allah wills, then He will say, 'Raise your head, O Muhammad, and speak—you will be heard; intercede—your intercession will be accepted; ask—you will be given.' I will raise my head and praise my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, with praises He will teach me, then I will intercede, and He will set a limit for me, and I will bring them out and admit them to Paradise." And I heard him say, "and I will bring them out of the Fire and admit them to Paradise. Then I will seek permission from my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, a second time, and permission will be granted to me. When I see Him, I will fall down in prostration, and He will leave me thus as long as Allah wills, then He will say, 'Raise your head, Muhammad, and speak—you will be heard; intercede—your intercession will be accepted; ask—you will be given.' I will raise my head and praise my Lord with praises He will teach me, then I will intercede, and He will set a limit for me, and I will bring them out and admit them to Paradise." Hammam said, and also I heard him say, "and I will bring them out of the Fire and admit them to Paradise." He said, "Then I will seek permission from my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, a third time. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in prostration, and He will leave me thus as long as Allah wills, then He will say, 'Raise up, Muhammad, and speak—you will be heard; intercede—your intercession will be accepted; ask—you will be given.' I will raise my head and praise my Lord with praises He will teach me, then I will intercede, and He will set a limit for me, and I will bring out and admit them to Paradise." Hammam said, and I heard him say, "and I will bring them out of the Fire and admit them to Paradise, until none remains in the Fire except one whom the Qur'an has confined"—that is, for whom eternal damnation has become due. Then Qatadah recited: "It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station," and said, "That is the praiseworthy station which Allah, Mighty and Sublime, promised His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him."