Maqam-e-Mahmud- The Highest Station

The greatest honor
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Allah ﷻ has placed His final messenger on the highest pedestal and nearest to Himself in this world and the hereafter as mentioned in the Quran: “It may be that your Lord will raise you to Maqam Mahmud.”[1]
Maqam Mahmud is the highest station and honor given to no one else by Allah ﷻ except to His final messenger and prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Additionally he has been given Al-wasila (the highest station) in paradise which no one has except him. Allah ﷻ has raised some prophets more than others and that is His blessings and having mercy on humankind through their high ranks: “We have chosen some of those messengers above others. Allah spoke directly to some, and raised some high in rank.”[2] This the honor, high rank and station given to him by Allah ﷻ due to which he enjoys love in the hearts of all believers and respect among entire humankind.

Renown 12th century mufassir, historian and scholar Imam ibn Kathir (r.a) in his famous commentary briefly explains the importance of this Maqam (station) and how it raises the honor of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the highest as compared to all other prophets – my comments are in between Imam's quoted and italicized sentences:

“The Messenger of Allah will have honors in the Day of Resurrection in which no one else will have a share, honors which will not be matched by anyone else. He is the first one for whom the earth will be opened” i.e. first one to be resurrected from his grave “and he will come forth riding to the gathering place.” this is the place where all humankind will be gathered for judgment. “He will have a banner under which Adam and anyone else will gather, and he will have the Hawd (Lake) to which no one else will have more access than he.” The lake is called Kawthar, which has been gifted by Allah ﷻ only to the Prophet ﷺ who will give water to believers to quench their thirst; it is sweeter than honey and whiter than milk! “He will have the right of the Grand Intercession with Allah when He comes to judge between His creation. This will be after the people ask Adam, then Nuh (Noah), then Ibrahim Abraham), then Musa (Moses), then Isa (Jesus) to intercede, and each of them will say, 'I am not able for that.' Then they will come to Muhammad, and he will say 'I can do that, I can do that.' The Imam continues and says “Part of that (honor) will be that he will intercede for some people who had been commanded to be taken to Hell, and they will be brought back. He is the first Prophet whose Ummah (nation) will be judged, and the first to take them across the bridge over the Fire, and the first to intercede in Paradise, as was reported in Sahih Muslim. In the Hadith about the Trumpet, it says that none of the believers will enter Paradise except through his intercession. He will be the first to enter Paradise, and his Ummah will be the first nation to enter. He will intercede for the status to be raised for people whose deeds could not get them there. He is the one who will reach Al-Wasilah, which is the highest position in paradise, which befits no one but him. When Allah gives permission for intercession on behalf of sinners, the angels, Prophets and believers will intercede, and he will intercede for people whose number is known only to Allah. No one will intercede like him and no one will match him in intercession. This has been explained in comprehensive detail at the end of the Book of Sirah, in the chapter on the specific qualities. Praise be to Allah.” (Tafsir ibn Kathir n.d.) Thus the highest seat given to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is an act, expression of Allah’s mercy for humankind as it is through this highest honor, and rank many among humankind will be forgiven.

References:
[1] Al Quran 17:79
[2] Al Quran 2:253