The highest position
in Paradise which
will be attained by
only one person is
called al-Wasiilah.
It will be attained,
in shaa’ Allah, by
the Chosen Prophet,
the best of Allah’s
creation our Prophet
Muhammad, sallallahu
alaihi wa sallam. In
al-Nihayah, Ibn
Kathir said:
"The highest
position in Paradise
was mentioned. It is
al-Wasilah, which is
the position of the
Messenger of Allah,
sallallahu `alaihi
wa sallam."
This is also
narrated in a hadith
narrated by Bukhari
from Jabir ibn
`Abdullah, according
to which the
Prophet, sallallahu
`alaihi wa sallam
said:
"Whoever
says, when he hears
the call to prayer:
‘Allahumma Rabba
haadhihi’d-da`wati’t-taammah,
wa’s-Salati’l-qaa’imah
aati Muhammadan al-wasiilah
wa’l-faDiilah,
wab`athhu maqaaman
maHmoodan alladhii
wa`adtah (O
Allah, Rabb of this
perfect Call, and
the prayer to be
offered, grant
Muhammad al-Wasilah
[the highest
position in
Paradise], and also
the eminence, and
resurrect him to the
praised position You
have promised),’
intercession for him
will be granted on
the Day of
Resurrection."
Muslim reported that
`Abdullah ibn `Amr
ibn al-`As said:
"I heard the
Messenger of Allah,
sallallahu `alaihi
wa sallam, say:
‘When you hear the
muezzin call, say
what he says, then
send blessings on
me, for whoever
sends blessings on
me, Allah will
return it to him
tenfold. Then ask
Allah to grant me
al-Wasilah, for
whoever asks Allah
to grant me al-Wasilah,
intercession will be
granted for him.’"
The Sahabah asked
the Prophet,
sallallahu `alaihi
wa sallam:
"What is al-Wasilah?"
He said, "It is the
highest level of
Paradise, which only
one man will reach,
and I hope that I
will be the one."
This was
reported by Ahmad
from Abu Hurayrah;
Ahmad also reported
from Abu Sa`id that
the Messenger of
Allah, sallallahu `alaihi
wa sallam, said:
"Al-Wasilah
is a rank above
which there is no
other in the sight
of Allah. Ask Allah
to grant me Al-Wasilah."
[See Ibn
Kathir, Al-Nihayah,
2/2332]