Believing in what the Prophet Conveyed—
Part 3: The Bridge, Basin, and Intercession

Among what the Prophet conveyed and is obligatory to believe in are: the Bridge, Basin, and Intercession.

The Bridge: It is a bridge that stretches above Hellfire, which all the people will cross. One of its sides is on the changed Earth and the other side is before Paradise and after Hellfire. The people will approach it to cross it but the blasphemers will not be able to get across. The blasphemers will fall off of it into Hellfire. The Muslims, on the other hand, are of two categories:

One category will not need to step on the bridge. Rather, they will fly over it.  

Another category will step on it. Some of these will fall into Hellfire, and some will cross it safely.  

The Basin: It is a place that Allah prepared for the people of Paradise, from which they will drink before entering Paradise. Each Prophet has his own basin from which his nation will drink. The biggest one is the basin of our Prophet, Muhammad, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, which receives its water from the water of Paradise. Those who drink from the Basin will never be thirsty again. In Paradise, they will drink out of enjoyment.  

The Intercession: Intercession is asking someone to grant good to another. Among those who will intercede on the Day of Judgment are the prophets, practicing scholars, angels, children for their Muslim parents, and martyrs for seventy (70) of their Muslim family members. Intercession is available for the Muslim major sinners who died without repentance.  

The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, said:
شَفَاعَتِي لأَهْلِ الْكَبَائِرِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي

Shafa^ati li’ahlil-kaba’iri min ummati.

Which means: “My intercession is [reserved] for the major sinners of my nation.” (Related by Abu Dawud.)  

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:
ولا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى

Wa la yashfa^una illa limani-rtada.

Ayah 28 of Suratul-Ambiya’ means: {They [the intercessors] do not intercede except for those who died Muslim.}