It is written in Tafseere Qummi that Sama'ah says that I asked Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) that, "How will the Holy prophet (S.A.W.S.) intercede on the day of Qayamat? He (A.S.) replied, "When people will become weary and tired and will be sweating profusely, they will go to Prophet Adam (A.S.) and plead for his intercession. Adam (A.S.) will put forth his Tarke Ula' (leaving the better work for a less (desirable thing) and excuse himself. He will direct them towards Prophet Nooh (A.S.). Nooh (A.S.) will also apologize and direct them to go to the Prophet after him. Likewise each Prophet will direct them to the Prophet after them till they reach Prophet Issa (A.S.). Issa (A.S.) will then advice them to go to the Last Prophet Mohammad (S .A. W. S.).
Then the people will go to Him and plead his mercy and ask for his intercession. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) will accompany them till the Gate of Mercy (Babur Rahmah) and will fall into prostration (sajdah) there. At that moment Allah's voice will come "O Prophet! Lift your head up and intercede (for the people), for surely your intercession will be accepted. And ask whatever you wish, for surely you shall be given". (The intercession by the Holy Imam A.S.) has already been discussed in the Chapter of Accounting).
It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) in `Khisaal' that three groups of people will intercede on the day of Qayamat, and their intercession will be accepted (1) The Prophets (Ambiya), (2) The Scholars (Ulama), and (3)The Martyrs (Shohada), (Ehsanul Fawaed).
It is written in the third volume of `Biharul Anwaar' that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said, "Do not underestimate the Shi'ahs of Ali (A.S.), for each one of them will intercede for the people equal to the tribes of Rabi'ah and Muzar" (two great tribes of Quraysh).
Who will be Interceded for?
In `Biharul Anwaar' it is narrated from the Holy prophet (S.A.W.S.) that He said, "Intercession (Shafa'at) will be for those of my Ummah who have committed major sins (gunahane kabeera), while those who are righteous will be in no need of it".
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) says: On the day of Qayamat I will surely intercede for the following four types of people: (1) Those who respect and honour My Progeny (Ahlulbait), (2) Those who fulfill the desires of My Progeny, (3) Those who work for their cause, and (4) Those who love them from their hearts as well as by the tongue (openly and in secret). (Sawaeqe Muhriqa).
Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq (A.S.) says that the one who considers Prayers (Namaz) to be unimportant or lowly will not get Our Intercession.
Imam Mohammad-al-Baqir (A.S.) says that Our Shi'ah is the one who obeys Us and does not go against our word.
If a person does not do what is obligatory (wajib) and does not keep himself from sins and evil, he is not amongst the Shi'ahs, and will not receive Intercession of Mohammad (S.A.W.S.) and His Progeny (Ahlulbait). (Ehsanul Fawaed)
In short a believer (Mo'min) should always remain between fear (of Allah's wrath) and desire (of His Mercy), for these are the attributes of a believer.
Heights(A' araf).
There are three different interpretations regarding A' araf.
(1) According to the reports of Ahlulbait (A.S.), A'araf is a height on the Bridge of Serat on which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.S.) will be standing along with His Progeny (A.S.). The foreheads of the friends and Shi'ahs of Ahlulbait (A.S.) will be emitting a light, and this will act as a permit [of the love of Ali (A.S.)] pass over Poole Serat.
It is stated in Sawaeqe Muhriqa' that no one will be able to pass over the Poole Serat unless he has a permit from Imam Ali (A.S.).
It is written in the Qur'an: "And on the A' araf there shall be men, who know all by their marks". (Surah-al A'araf: 46).
(2) Another interpretation of A'araf is that it is a wall as said in the Qur'an: "On that day you will see the faithful men and the faithful women -their light running before them and on their right hand, good news for you today: gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein, that is the grand achievement". (Surah-aI-Hadeed: 12)
It is said in the interpretation of this verse that the light referred to here is the Love of Mohammad (S.A.W.S.) and His Progeny (walayah). And this light will be ( glowing more or less) according to the (extent of ) belief ( Eeman) and love (Walayah), and it will be (shining ) on the right side. So will be emitting light such intensely that they will not be able to look at their feet. Some will be emitting light which will be infinite. While some will be emitting a weak light which will dim sometimes and shine sometimes. They will become disturbed and cry out "Our Lord! Make perfect our light, and grant us protection" .( Surah-at-Tahreem: 8) During that moment the light of others will be of no help. The hypocrites and simmers will try to gain benefit from the light of the believers, but will not be able to do so, and a wall will be erected between them and this is the very A araf. "They will cry out to them: Were we not with you? They shall say: Yes! But you caused yourselves to fall into temptation, and you waited and doubted, and vain desires deceived you, till the threatened punishment of Allah came, which the arch deceiver deceived you about Allah".(Surah al-Hadeed: 14)
"One the day when the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women will say to those who believe: Wait for us, that we my have light from your light, it shall be said: Turn back and seek a light. Then separation will be brought about between them, with a wall having a door in it, (as for) the inside of it, there shall be mercy in it, and (as for) the outside of it, there shall be punishment". (Surah-aI Hadeed: 13).
(3) A'araf is a place between Paradise and hell. The oppressed ones (mustaz-afeen), idiots and insane people foolish women, children who have died before attaining adulthood, people who have died between the appearance of two Prophets (and did not meet either of them), and people who were alive at that time but the Prophet's message did not reach them, will be made to dwell therein) There shall be no blessings and pleasures of Paradise and no punishment and wrath of Allah.
Shaikh Sa'adi says: A'araf is (like a hell in the eyes of the 'houries', but for the people of hell it is equal to paradise .
