There is no disagreement that our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the best of humankind, the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, and the greatest of all prophets and messengers, as well as the best of the first and last generations.
The Virtues of the Prophet ﷺ Over Other Prophets:
It was narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six ways:
- I have been given the ability to express comprehensive speech.
- I have been supported by fear (cast into the hearts of my enemies).
- War booty has been made lawful for me.
- The earth has been made pure and a place of worship for me.
- I have been sent to all of creation.
- The line of prophets has been sealed with me."
(Muslim)
In addition to these six virtues, other virtues have been uniquely bestowed upon him ﷺ, such as the Great Intercession, being the first to have the gates of Paradise opened for him, being the prophet with the most followers, his nation comprising two-thirds of the inhabitants of Paradise, being the bearer of the Banner of Praise on the Day of Resurrection, the owner of the Cistern (Al-Hawdh), and the one granted Al-Waseelah, a rank in Paradise that is reserved solely for him ﷺ. He will also be the leader and speaker of the prophets on the Day of Resurrection, among many other distinctions.
Mulla Ali al-Qari states in Mirqat al-Mafatih (9/3676):
"Although some hadiths explicitly enumerate certain virtues specifically granted to the Prophet ﷺ by Allah, they do not imply a limitation of his virtues to these; indeed, his virtues are countless."
The Prophet ﷺ: The Leader of the Children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection
Qadi Iyad mentions in Ash-Shifa (1/165):
"There is no disagreement that he ﷺ is the most honored of humankind, the leader of the children of Adam, the most esteemed in rank before Allah, the highest in status, and the closest in proximity to Him. The narrations regarding this are numerous."
This acknowledgment does not negate the confirmed virtues of other prophets, such as Adam being created by Allah's hand, the angels prostrating to him, and Allah breathing His spirit into him. Ibrahim was Allah's intimate friend (Khalil), Musa was Allah's direct interlocutor (Kalim), Isa was Allah's spirit and word conveyed to Maryam, Yusuf was granted exceptional beauty, Dawud was given the Psalms (Zabur), and iron was softened for him. However, none of them has been affirmed as the leader of the children of Adam as has been confirmed for our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is why he is the greatest and their leader on the Day of Resurrection.
Muslim narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, the first for whom the grave will be opened, the first to intercede, and the first whose intercession will be accepted."
Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, without boasting. I will hold the Banner of Praise, without boasting. On that day, there will be no prophet—Adam or anyone else—except that they will be under my banner. I will be the first for whom the earth will split open, without boasting."
(Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani)
His Unique Leadership Over All Prophets on the Day of Resurrection
The Prophet ﷺ will hold the Banner of Praise on the Day of Resurrection. When he prostrates before his Lord in intercession, he will be granted permission to intercede after praising Allah with praises revealed to him at that moment. This is the Maqam Mahmud (Praised Station) for which the first and last will envy him.
Allah says:
" And rise at ˹the last˺ part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise."
(Surah Al-Isra, 17:79)
Ibn Abbas said:
"The Maqam Mahmud is the station of intercession. [1]"
When the Prophet ﷺ stands in this position, all the people gathered at the assembly—believers, disbelievers, the first, and the last—will praise him.
Ibn Kathir states in his Tafsir (5/103):
"The statement 'It is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a Praised Station' means: do this (prayer) so that We may raise you on the Day of Resurrection to a station that will make all of creation, including the Creator, envy you. Blessed and exalted is He."
Ibn Jarir adds:
"The majority of exegetes agree that this refers to the station of intercession that he ﷺ will assume on the Day of Resurrection to alleviate the people's distress during that great day."
The Great Intercession and Its Uniqueness
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The believers will be detained on the Day of Resurrection until they become distressed. They will then say:
"Let us seek intercession from our Lord to relieve us of our position."
They will go to Adam and mention his virtues but he will decline, citing his sin of eating from the tree. He will direct them to Nuh, the first messenger. Nuh will decline, recalling his supplication without knowledge. He will direct them to Ibrahim, who will also decline, mentioning his three statements that appeared as lies. Ibrahim will direct them to Musa, who will decline due to killing a soul. Musa will then direct them to Isa, who will decline but not mention a sin. Finally, they will go to Muhammad ﷺ, who will say:
"I am for it (the intercession)."
He will then seek permission from his Lord, be granted permission, and prostrate before Him. After Allah grants him the appropriate praises, He will say:
"Raise your head, O Muhammad. Speak, and it will be heard. Intercede, and your intercession will be accepted. Ask, and it will be given."
The Prophet ﷺ will then intercede for the believers, some of whom will be admitted into Paradise. He will continue this process multiple times, interceding for people until no one remains in Hell except those whom the Qur'an has decreed to remain there eternally.
(Bukhari, with slight variations)
[1] Tafsir Ibn Kathir (5/104).
