Allah, The Exalted, endowed the Ummah of Muhammad with distinct characteristics – in this worldly life and the Hereafter – that were not conferred upon any of the nations before it. Although it is the last nation to arise in this worldly life, it surpasses all preceding nations in status, for it is a witness over them all. Its divine law (Sharee‘ah) and its divine book (the Quran) will not be abrogated unto the Day of Resurrection, and all previous nations were commanded to follow its religion, in addition to many other special merits. It was narrated on the authority of Bahz ibn Hakeem, narrating from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah said: “On the Day of Resurrection, we will complete seventy nations, of whom we are the last and the best.” [Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Hasan]
He also said: “My nation was made the best of all nations.” [Ahmad, Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Moreover, it was narrated on the authority of Mu‘aawiyah ibn Haydah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Prophet say: “You are the completion of seventy nations, and you are the best of them and the most honorable of them in the Sight of Allah.” [Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Despite existing after the past nations, the Muslim Ummah precedes them all in merit, and this is an honor for its Prophet the master of mankind. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind.} [Quran 3:110]
Ibn Katheer said: “The Muslim Ummah attained such unparalleled precedence in all aspects of goodness because of its Prophet, Muhammad for he is the noblest of creation and the most honorable Messenger in the Sight of Allah, who sent him with the perfect and complete Sharee‘ah that was never given to any Prophet or Messenger before him. By following his Sunnah, a few deeds thereof are more rewardable than the many deeds performed by other nations.”
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “We (Muslims) are the last (nation to arise) but (we will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, though the former nations were given the Scriptures before us, and this (Friday) was their day, the celebration of which was made obligatory on them but they differed about it so Allah guided us to it, and the people came after us with regard to it: the Jews tomorrow (Saturday) and the Christians the day after tomorrow (Sunday).” [Muslim]
Ibn Hajar said: “It means that this Ummah, even though it was the last nation to emerge, shall surpass all past nations in the Hereafter. Muslims will be the first people to be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, the first to be reckoned, the first to be judged among, and the first to enter Paradise.”
Al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh said: “As for his saying, ‘We (Muslims) are the last (nation to arise) but (we will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection,’ it was said that the Muslim Ummah is the last nation in time but it exceeds all previous nations in merit, and Muslims shall be the first among whom Allah, The Exalted, will judge on the Day of Resurrection, and they will enter Paradise before all nations as well.”
Ibn Al-Jawzi said: “We are the last nation in time, but we shall be the first to enter Paradise. It was also said that since the Jews chose Saturday (Sabbath) and the Christians chose Sunday and Allah guided us to Friday, which precedes those two days, then we precede them in this worldly life and shall precede them in the Hereafter as well.”
Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon, said: “His saying, ‘We (Muslims) are the last (nation to arise),’ means the last chronologically; the Prophet was the last Prophet of Allah and his Ummah is the last of all the nations. His saying, ‘but (will be) the foremost,’ means that it surpasses all nations in merit and honor in the Sight of Allah. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind.} [Quran 3:110]
The Bestowal of Friday upon the Ummah of Muhammad:
Friday is the master of days and the best day upon which the sun rises. It is a day of celebration for Muslims that recurs every week. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said: “This is a day of ‘Eed (a day of celebration) which Allah has chosen for the Muslims. So whoever comes to the Friday prayer, let him perform Ghusl (ritual bath) and if he has perfume then let him apply some; and I urge you to use the Siwaak (tooth stick).” [Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Allah, The Exalted, singled out the Muslim Ummah with the distinct bestowal of Friday and misguided the Jews and Christians from this honor, as they favored instead Saturday and Sunday respectively. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “We are the last (nation to emerge) but the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, and are the first to enter Paradise, even though they were given the Book before us and we were given it after them. They disagreed and Allah guided us aright on whatever they disagreed regarding the truth. And it was this day of theirs about which they disagreed, but Allah guided us to it, and that is Friday. So today (Friday) is for us, tomorrow is for the Jews, and the day after tomorrow is for the Christians.” [Muslim]
An-Nawawi said: “As for his saying, ‘it was this day of theirs about which they disagreed, but Allah guided us to it,’ Al-Qaadhi said, ‘It seems that the veneration of Friday was deemed obligatory on them without specification, and it was left to be determined by their Ijtihaad (scholarly reasoning) to perform their rituals on it, but they disagreed and Allah did not guide them to it while He ordained it upon this Ummah clearly and did not leave it to be determined by their Ijtihaad; accordingly, they [the Muslims] won the privilege of venerating Friday.”
