He reported God's messenger as saying, "When the day of resurrection comes mankind will be in confusion and will go to Adam and say, `Intercede with your Lord,' and he will reply, `I am not capable, but go to Abraham, for he is the friend of the Compassionate One.' They will go to Abraham and he will say, `I am not capable, but go to Moses, for he is God's interlocutor.' They will then go to Moses and he will say, `I am not capable, but go to Jesus, for he is God's spirit and word.' They will then go to Jesus and he will say, `I am not capable, but go to Muhammad.' Then they will come to me and, saying I am capable, I shall ask permission to enter my Lord's presence. When this is granted He will teach me certain utterances of praise which I do not know at present, and I shall use them and fall down prostrating myself. Then will be said, `Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted." I shall then say, `0 my Lord, my people, my people,' and shall be told to go away and bring forth from hell those in whose hearts there is as much faith as a grain of barley. I shall go and do so, after which I shall return and use those utterances of praise, then fall down prostrating myself Then will be said, `Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted.' I shall then say, `0 my Lord, my people, my people,' and shall be told to go away and bring forth from hell those in whose hearts there is as much faith as a mote or a grain of mustard-seed. I shall go and do so, after which I shall return and use those utterances of praise, then fall down prostrating myself. Then will be said, `Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, and if you make intercession it will be accepted.' I shall then say, `0 my Lord, my people, my people, and shall be told to go away and bring forth from hell those in whose hearts there is as much faith as the smallest smallest, smallest grain of mustard-seed. I shall go and do so, after which I shall return a fourth time and use those utterances of praise then fall down prostrating myself. Then will be said, `Raise your head, Muhammad. If you speak you will be listened to, if you make a request it will be granted, arid if you make intercession it will be accepted.' I shall then say, `0 my Lord, grant me permission regard - ing those who have said there is no god but God,' and He will reply, `You have no business with this, but by my might, glory, pride and greatness, I will certainly bring out of it those who have said there is no god but God'."
(Bukhari and Muslim.)