"... when a Messenger comes to you verifying that which is with you, you must believe in
him, and you must support him" (Qura'n, 3:81). He also advanced him on Laylatul-Isra', the
Night Journey. Muhammed led all other Prophets in congregational prayers.
The Holy Qura'n states the following: "Do not dispute in My presence, and indeed I warned
you beforehand" (Qura'n, 50:28). Muhammed, the most honoured of all prophets, as Muslims
regard him, enjoys a status that tops all those of other "Ulul-`Azm" prophets[10], peace be
upon all of them. Next in status are awliya', the friends of Allah, whose status is less only than
that of the prophets.
Al-Muqaddim, therefore, advances whoever He pleases on account of one's piety and
frequency of returning to Him, to His path, making them truthful; He responds favourably to
their pleas. And al-Muqaddim advances the living who worship Him in ranks (in this life as
well as in the one to come), protecting them against disobeying or displeasing Him.
- "Al-Mu'akhkhir"
The Almighty has said, "Man shall on that Day be informed of what he had sent forth before
and of what he had put off" (Qura'n, 75:13).
Al-Mu'akhkhir causes the polytheists to lag behind while raising the ranks of the believers. He
delays the disobedient ones and grants His guidance to those who obey Him. He postpones
the penalty of the oppressor because He is Compassionate and Merciful. Whenever your heart
is exposed to a glimpse of the light of His Attribute "al-Mu'akhkhir," you will be managing
your affairs very well, postponing what the Legislator has decided must be postponed, and
looking down at what the Wise Lord has Himself looked down upon. In Surat Ibrahim
(Abraham), we read the following verse: "And do not think that Allah is heedless of what the
unjust ones do; He only grants them a respite till a Day on which the eyes shall be fixedly
staring (being horrified)" (Qura'n, 14:42). He has forewarned people regarding the Day when
His chastisement will approach them, so those who have wronged their own souls will plead
to thus: "Lord! Grant us a respite till a near term so that we may answer Your call and follow
the messengers" (Qura'n, 14:44) but they will be told: "Did you not swear before now that
there would be no passing away for you?!" (Qura'n, 14:44).
The Messenger of Allah used to supplicate by saying, "Lord! I plead to You to forgive my
sins, my ignorance, my extravagance, and to grant me that which You know to be better for
me. Lord! I plead to You to forgive my (unintentional) sins, my deliberate sins, my ignorance,
when I am serious and when I am not, and I am guilty of all of that. Lord! I plead to You to
forgive what I have advanced and what I have postponed, what I have revealed and what I
have declared, for You are al-Muqaddim, and You are al-Mu'akhkhir, and surely You can do
whatever You please." Both Attributes "al-Muqaddim" and "al-Mu'akhkhir" are not
mentioned in the text of the Holy. The discussion of advancing something and postponing