Is it possible to persist in committing sins under the pretext that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention), will intercede for his nation on Judgment Day?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There are Hadeeths where the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who dies associating nothing with Allaah The Almighty, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, will intercede for him and he will be taken out of Hell thanks to the Grace of Allaah The Almighty. However, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was also reported to have said that his nation will be admitted into Paradise except those who disobeyed him. [Al-Bukhari]

In fact, those who persist in committing sins are disobedient to Allaah The Almighty and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. One of the Companions once suggested that a Muslim might not observe the acts of worship, relying on his own predestination. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied that everyone had to exert effort and not depend on their predestination, for Allaah The Almighty made it easy for everyone to do that which would lead them to enter either Paradise or Hell.  [Al-Bukhari]

Therefore, if someone aspires to enter Paradise, this entails obedience of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and preparation for the Hereafter.

Scholars mentioned that persisting in sin is a cause of foul end of life  –  may Allaah forbid. Also, it is known that anyone who dies without peace and serenity  and in a state of polytheism will remain in Hell for eternity and there will be no intercession for him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, Allaah does not forgive association with Him.} [Quran 4:48]

Anyone who fails to worship Allaah The Almighty properly, relying on the hope that he will die as a believer and that this would entitle him to be taken out of Hell, is an ignorant, self-deceived person. Does he have a guarantee that he will die as a believer despite his  persistence on committing major sins? Can he be secure from the plan of Allaah The Almighty? Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {But no one feels secure from the plan of Allaah except the losers.} [Quran 7:99]

Moreover, his own Satan who tempts him into continuing to  sin would entice him to renounce his religion at the last moments of his life, and he may obey Satan because he had been accustomed to obeying him and disobeying Allaah The Almighty.

Only those who have a weak mind underestimate the severe torment for sinners that may continue for a long period of time by the order of Allaah The Almighty on the Day of Judgment. It is incorrect to have an unsuitable appraisal of Allaah The Almighty. Man cannot bear the smallest torment in the worldly life, how then can he endure torment in the Hereafter that might last for ages?

In conclusion, no one should rely on Hadeeths indicating that admittance into Paradise is conditional on intercession and renouncing the state of polytheism. No one should violate the Sharee‘ah orders under this pretext. To do so is incorrect and has grave consequences. This kind of thinking contradicts  the Sharee‘ah and violates its main purpose which is obedience to Allaah.  May Allaah The Almighty protect us all.  

Allaah Knows best.