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ما روي مسندا مرفوعا عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه أنه قال‌ قال لي رسول الله(ص) يا جابر أي الإخوة أفضل قال قلت البنين من الأب و الأم فقال إنا معاشر الأنبياء إخوة و أنا أفضلهم و أحب الإخوة إلي علي بن أبي طالب فهو عندي أفضل من الأنبياء فمن زعم أن الأنبياء أفضل منه فقد جعلني أقلهم و من جعلني أقلهم فقد كفر لأني لم أتخذ عليا أخا إلا لما علمت من فضله و أمرني ربي بذلك.

Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah who said,

The Prophet (saww) said to me, "O Jabir, which brother is more superior/prefered?"

I (Jabir) said, "The son's born from the (same?) father and the mother."

Then the Prophet (saww) said, "We the Prophets (as) are brothers and I am the most suprerior (Afzal) of them and the most most beloved of the brothers to Me is Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) and to Me, He is more superior than the Prophets (as). So whoever claims that the Prophets (as) are superior to Imam Ali (as) so indeeed he has considered me the smallest of the Prophets (as) and the one who considers me to to be the smallest of the Prophets (as) has commited Kufr, because I have not taken Imam Ali (as) as a brother but based on what I know of His superiority and My Lord has comanded this to me."

[Source: Taweel al-Aayat, Pg. 539]

In a long Hadith narrated by Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (as):

فَقَالَ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا عَلِيُّ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَضَّلَ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ عَلَى مَلائِكَتِهِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ، وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى جَمِيعِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ. وَالْفَضْلُ بَعْدِي لَكَ يَا عَلِيُّ وَلِلأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ

Prophet Muhammad (ص) said,

"O Ali (ع)! Allah (تبارك و تعالى) has given preference (Fadhl) to Messengers over His close angels. And He has given Me preference (Fadhl) over all the Prophets and Messengers. And preference (Fadhl) after Me is for You, O Ali (ع) and for the Imams after you."

[Source: Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, Vol. 2, Pg. 237]

Imam Ali (as) more knowledgeable than the Prophets (as)?

حَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَمُصُّونَ الثِّمَادَ وَيَدَعُونَ النَّهَرَ الْعَظِيمَ قِيلَ لَهُ وَمَا النَّهَرُ الْعَظِيمُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالْعِلْمُ الَّذِي أَعْطَاهُ الله إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَمَعَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) سُنَنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ آدَمَ وَهَلُمَّ جَرّاً إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قِيلَ لَهُ وَمَا تِلْكَ السُّنَنُ قَالَ عِلْمُ النَّبِيِّينَ بِأَسْرِهِ وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) صَيَّرَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ عِنْدَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله فَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْلَمُ أَمْ بَعْضُ النَّبِيِّينَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اسْمَعُوا مَا يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله يَفْتَحُ مَسَامِعَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنِّي حَدَّثْتُهُ أَنَّ الله جَمَعَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عِلْمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَأَنَّهُ جَمَعَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ عِنْدَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ يَسْأَلُنِي أَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ أَمْ بَعْضُ النَّبِيِّينَ.

Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad from Ali ibn Nu‘man, in a marfu’ manner from Abu Jafar Imam Baqir (as) who has said the following;

"They try to absorb the little moisture but ignore the huge river."

Someone asked the Imam (as), "What is (this) huge river?"

The Imams (as)said, "It is the Messenger of Allah (saww) and the Knowledge that Allah gave to him. Allah (swt), combined in Muhammad (saww) the Sunnah (traditions) of all the prophets from Adam onwards to Muhammad (saww)."

Someone asked him, "What are those sunnah (traditions)?"

The Imams (as) said, "They are all the knowledge of the prophets (as). The Messenger of Allah transferred all of them to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as)."

The man then said, "O son of the Messenger of Allah, is Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as) more knowledgeable or some of the prophets?"

Abu Jafar Imam Sadiq (as) replied, "Listen, everyone to what he just said. Allah opens the ears of whoever He wants. I said to him that Allah combined for Muhammad (saww) the knowledge of the prophets and he combined all of it with Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (as). He now asks me, 'Was Ali (as) more knowledgeable or some of the prophets?'

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Hujjah, Ch. 32, Hadith. 6]

All Prophets (as) acknowledge the superiority of the Imam's (as)

حدثنا السندى بن محمد عن يونس بن يعقوب عن عبدالاعلى قال قال ابو عبدالله عليه السلام مانبئى نبى قط الا بمعرفة حقنا وبفضلنا عمن سوانا

Narrated to us Al-Sanady Bin Muhammad, from Yunus Bin Yaqoub, from Abdul Aala who said;

Abu Abdullah Imam Sadiq (as) said: "No Prophet (as) has ever been a Prophet (as) at all except by recognizing Our rights, and by preferring Us over every one other than us."

[Source: Basair al-Darajaat, Vol. 1, Chapter. 9, Hadees. 1]

Hadees is Saheeh (authentic) as per the Sanad (chain of narrators). Also there are multiple narrations with the same meaning.

Prophet Sulaiman (as) in need of AhlulBait (as)

حدثنا احمد بن محمد عن على بن الحكم عن شعيب العقرقوقى عن ابى بصير عن ابى عبد االله عليه السلام قال كان سليمان عنده اسم الله الااكبر الذى إذا سئله اعطى وإذا دعا به اجاب ولو كان اليوم لاحتاج الينا

Abu Abdullah Imam Sadiq (as) said;

Prophet Suleiman (as) had with Him the Great Name of Allah (swt). Whatever He asked by it, He got it, and if He supplicated by it, it got answered. And had it been today, He would be in need of Us [Ahlulbait (as)].

[Source: Basair al-Darajaat, Vol. 1, Pg. 211]

Imam (as) have more Knowledge than Prophet Musa (as) and Khizr (as)

حدثنا احمد بن اسحق عن عبد الله بن حماد عن سيف التمار قال آنا مع ابى عبد الله عليه السلام جماعة من الشيعة في الحجر فقال علينا عين فالتفتنا يمنة ويسره فلم نر احد فقلنا ليس علينا عين قال ورب الكعبة ورب البيت ثلث مرات لو آنت بين موسى والخضر لاخبرتهما انى اعلم منهما ولانبأتهما بما ليس في ايديهما لان موسى و الخضر اعطيا علم ماآان ولم يعطيا علم ما هو آائن إلى يوم القيمة وان رسول الله اعطى علم ما آان وما هو آائن إلى يوم القيمة فورثناه من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وراثة.

It has been narrated to us Ahmad Bin Is’haq, from Abdullah Bin Hamaad, from Sayf Al-Tamaar who said:

"There was with Abu Abdullah (as) a group of Shiites in Al-Hijr. He (as) said: 'Are there eyes watching us?' We turned to the right and to the left, we did not see any one. We said, 'There are no eyes watching us'. He said: ‘By the Lord of the Kaaba, and the Lord of the House’, three times, then said: ‘If I was between Musa (as) and Khizr (as), I would have told them both that I am more knowledgeable than them both, and would have given them both the news which was not in their hands, because Musa (as) and Khizr (as) were Given the knowledge of what has happened, and were not Given knowledge of what will be happening up to the Day of Judgement, and the Messenger of Allah (saww) was Given knowledge of what has happened and what will be happening up to the Day of Judgement. We have inherited from the Messenger of Allah (saww) the inheritance.

[Source: Basaair Al-Darajaat, Vol. 3, Chapter. 7, Hadees. 1]

A Jew questions Prophet Muhammad (saww)

Muammar bin Rashid Narrates from Imam Sadid (as):

حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه (رحمه الله)، قال حدثني عمي محمد ابن أبي القاسم، عن أحمد بن هلال، عن الفضل بن دكين، عن معمر بن راشد، قال:

سمعت أبا عبد الله الصادق (عليه السلام): يقول: أتى يهودي النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله)، فقام بين يديه يحد النظر إليه، فقال: يا يهودي، ما حاجتك؟ قال: أنت أفضل أم موسى بن عمران النبي الذي كلمه الله، وأنزل عليه التوراة والعصا، وفلق له البحر، وأظله بالغمام؟

فقال له النبي (صلى الله عليه وآله): إنه يكره للعبد أن يزكي نفسه، ولكني أقول: إن آدم (عليه السلام) لما أصاب الخطيئة كانت توبته أن قال: اللهم إني أسألك بحق محمد وآل محمد، لما غفرت لي، فغفرها الله له، وإن نوحا (عليه السلام) لما ركب في السفينة وخاف الغرق، قال: اللهم إني أسألك بحق محمد وآل محمد، لما أنجيتني من الغرق. فنجاه الله منه، وإن إبراهيم (عليه السلام): لما ألقي في النار قال: اللهم إني أسألك بحق محمد وآل محمد، لما أنجيتني منها: فجعلها الله عليه بردا وسلاما، وإن موسى (عليه السلام) لما ألقى عصاه وأوجس في نفسه خيفة قال: اللهم إني أسألك بحق محمد وآل محمد، لما أمنتني منها. فقال الله جل جلاله: ﴿لا تخف إنك أنت الأعلى﴾.

يا يهودي: إن موسى لو أدركني ثم لم يؤمن بي وبنبوتي، ما نفعه إيمانه شيئا، ولا نفعته النبوة.

يا يهودي، ومن ذريتي المهدي، إذا خرج نزل عيسى بن مريم لنصرته، فقدمه و صلى خلفه‏

Narrrated that Abu Abdillah Imam Jafar Sadiq (عليه السلام) said:

"Once a Jew came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله) and stood in front of him and was staring at him.

Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله) said, "O Jew, what do you need?"

The Jew replied, "Are you superior (the best) or Moosa bin Imran (ع) with whom Allah spoke and the Torah was revealed to him and the stick, and split the sea for him and the clouds shadowed over him."

The Prophet (ص) said, "I do not like that a person praises himself, but I say that,

When Adam (ع) committed the sin asked the repentance of his sin by saying, "O Allah, I ask you by the right of Muhammad (ص) and the family of Muhammad (ع) to forgive me." And then Allah forgave him.

And when Noah (ع) boarded the ship and feared that the ship would drown he said, "O Allah, I ask you by the right of Muhammad (ص) and the family of Muhammad (ع) to save me from drowning." And then Allah saved him.

And when Ibrahim (ع) was thrown into the fire he said, "O Allah, I ask you by the right of Muhammad (ص) and the family of Muhammad (ع) to save me from the fire." And then Allah made the fire cold and safe for him.”

And when Moosa (ع) threw the stick and felt fear in his heart he said, "O Allah, I ask you by the right of Muhammad (ص) and the family of Muhammad (ع) to strengthen me from this fear." And then Allah said to Moosa (ع), "Do not fear, for you are higher"

O Jew, If Moosa (ع) would get to me and does not believe in Me (ص) and in My Prophethood then his faith and his Prophethood would be of no use (benefit) to him."

O Jew, and when the Mehdi (ع) from my progeny comes out, Esa bin Maryam (ع) will descend and will help Him and will keep Him (ع) ahead and will be pray behind Him (ع)."

[Source: Amali – Sheikh Saduq Majalis.39 Hadees.4]

Note: In the above narrations, the prayers of the various Prophet’s (as) included the name of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and Aale Muhammad (as) and hence it clearly indicates that Prophet Muhammad (saww) and Aale Muhammad (as) are having a higher status than the other Prophets (as).

AhleBait (as) are the greatest & none can reach their status:

Following are the contents of Ziyarat-e-Jamiya Kabeer:

فَبَلَغَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ أَشْرَفَ مَحَلِّ الْمُكَرَّمِينَ

وَأَعْلَى مَنَازِلِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ

وَأَرْفَعَ دَرَجَاتِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

‏حَيْثُ لاَ يَلْحَقُهُ لاَحِقٌ

وَلاَ يَفُوقُهُ فَائِقٌ

وَلاَ يَسْبِقُهُ سَابِقٌ

وَلاَ يَطْمَعُ فِي إِدْرَاكِهِ طَامِعٌ

‏حَتَّى لاَ يَبْقَى مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ

وَلاَ نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ

وَلاَ صِدِّيقٌ وَلاَ شَهِيدٌ

وَلاَ عَالِمٌ وَلاَ جَاهِلٌ

وَلاَ دَنِيٌّ وَلاَ فَاضِلٌ

وَلاَ مُؤْمِنٌ صَالِحٌ

وَلاَ فَاجِرٌ طَالِحٌ

‏وَلاَ جَبَّارٌ عَنِيدٌ

وَلاَ شَيْطَانٌ مَرِيدٌ

وَلاَ خَلْقٌ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ شَهِيدٌ

إِلاَّ عَرَّفَهُمْ جَلاَلَةَ أَمْرِكُمْ

Allah made you reach the noblest position of glory.

the highest station nearest to Allah

and the loftiest status of the Messengers

where none can ever reach you

nor can anyone surpass you

nor can anyone ever precede you

No can anyone look forward to reaching your positions

even the favorite Angels went for it

nor the commissioned Prophets

nor a friend nor a martyr

nor a scholar nor an ignorant

nor an inferior nor a superior

nor a pious faithful

nor a wicked sinner

nor an obstinate tyrant

nor a devilish rebel

nor any other being had ever been there

except that Allah informs them of the grandeur of your decisive authority

Prophet Ibrahim (as) is a Shia of Imam Ali (as):

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran:

وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيم

"Verily among his Shia is Ibrahim". (37:83)

The Following Hadees clearly say that Prophet Ibrahim (as) was a Shia of Imam Ali (as) and hence Imam Ali (as) has a higher status than Prophet Ibrahim (as).

1) Narrated from Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (as):

عن مولانا الصادق جعفر بن محمد ع أنه قال قوله عز و جل وَ إِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْراهِيمَ أي إن إبراهيم عليه السلام من شية النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فهو من شيعة علي وكل من كان من شيعة علي فهو من شيعة النبي صلى الله عليهما وعلى ذريتهما الطيبي

Imam Sadiq (as) said: "Regarding the saying of Allah (swt) "Verily among his Shia was Ibrahim", Verily Ibrahim (as) is among the Shia of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him and his Progeny, He (Ibrahim) is among the Shia of Ali (as). And all those who are from among the Shia of Ali they are among the Shia of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon Him and his pure Progeny."

[Source: Tawil Al Ayat Vol.2 Pg.495 (Sura-e-Saffat)]

2) A man comes to Imam Ali bin Husain (as) as says:

وقال رجل لعلي بن الحسين عليهما السلام : يا ابن رسول الله أنا من شيعتكم الخلص فقال له : يا عبدالله فاذا أنت كابراهيم الخليل عليه السلام الذي قال الله " وإن من شيعته لابراهيم إذ جاء ربه بقلب سليم

"A man said to Imam Ali bin Husain (as), "O Son of Prophet of Allah (saww), I am from among your Shia's."

Imam (as) said to him, "O Servant of Allah, are you like Ibrahim (as) for whom Allah (swt) says "Verily among his Shia is Ibrahim. He approached his Lord with a sound heart."

[Source: Bihar Al Anwar Vol.65 Pg.156]

3) Jabir bin Yazid Jo'fi asks Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) the tafseer of the verse "Verily among his Shia is Ibrahim":

ما رواه الشيخ محمد بن الحسين رحمه الله عن محمد بن وهبان عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي بن رحيم عن العباس بن محمد قال حدثني أبي عن الحسن بن علي بن أبي حمزة قال حدثني أبي عن أبي بصير يحيى بن القاسم قال سأل جابر بن يزيد الجعفي جعفر بن محمد الصادق ع عن تفسير هذه الآية وَ إِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْراهِيمَ فقال ع إن الله سبحانه لما خلق إبراهيم كشف له عن بصره فنظر فرأى نورا إلى جنب العرش فقال إلهي ما هذا النور فقيل له هذا نور محمد صفوتي من خلقي و رأى نورا إلى جنبه فقال إلهي و ما هذا النور فقيل له هذا نور علي بن أبي طالب ع ناصر ديني و رأى إلى جنبهم ثلاثة أنوار فقال إلهي و ما هذه الأنوار فقيل له هذا نور فاطمة فطمت محبيها من النار و نور ولديها الحسن و الحسين فقال إلهي و أرى تسعة أنوار قد أحدقوا بهم قيل يا إبراهيم هؤلاء الأئمة من ولد علي و فاطمة فقال إبراهيم إلهي بحق هؤلاء الخمسة إلا عرفتني من التسعة .قيل يا إبراهيم أولهم علي بن الحسين و ابنه محمد و ابنه جعفر و ابنه موسى و ابنه علي و ابنه محمد و ابنه علي و ابنه الحسن و الحجة القائم ابنه فقال إبراهيم إلهي و سيدي أرى أنوارا قد أحدقوا بهم لا يحصى عددهم إلا أنت قيل يا إبراهيم هؤلاء شيعتهم شيعة أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب ع فقال إبراهيم و بما تعرف شيعته قال بصلاة إحدى و خمسين و الجهر ببسم الله الرحمن الرحيم و القنوت قبل الركوع و التختم في اليمين فعند ذلك قال إبراهيم اللهم اجعلني من شيعة أمير المؤمنين قال فأخبر الله تعالى في كتابه فقال وَ إِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْراهِيمَ

Jabir bin Yazid Joafi asked Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) the interpretation of the verse "Verily among his Shia is Ibrahim".

Imam Sadiq (as) replied saying:

"Allah (swt) created Ibrahim (as) and removed the veil from his eyes. Ibrahim (as) looked and saw a light (Noor) next to the throne and said, "My Allah (swt) what is this light?" He was told that this is the light of Muhammad (saww) the purest of my creations. Then Ibrahim (as) saw a light next to that light (of Muhammad) and said, "My Allah (swt) what is this light?" He was told that this is the light of Ali bin Abi Talib (as) helper of my religion. Then Ibrahim (as) saw 3 more lights next to these 2 lights (of Muhammad and Ali) and said, "My Allah (swt) and what are these lights?". He was told that this is the light of Fatima (sa) whose lovers are weaned from fire (of hell) and the light of her sons Hasan (as) and Husain (as). Ibrahim (as) then said, "My Allah (swt) I see 9 lights". He was told that these are the Imams (as) from the sons of Ali (as) and Fatima (sa).

Then Ibrahim (as) said, "My Allah (swt) by the right of these Five, inform me about these 9 lights". He was told that the first is Ali bin Husain (as) and then his son Muhammad (as) and then his son Jafar (as) and then his son Moosa (as) and then his son Ali (as) and then his son Muhammad (as) and then his son Ali (as) and then his son Hasan and then his son Qaim (atfs).

Then Ibrahim (as) said, "My Allah (swt) and my Master I see lights which are countless and none knows the count but You. He was told that these are the Shias of Amir Al Momineen Ali bin Abi Talib (as). Then Ibrahim (as) said, "By what are the Shias known?" Allah (swt) said, "By 51 rakat Prayers, saying 'BisMillah' Aloud, performing the Qunoot before Ruku and wearing rings on the right hand.

Then Ibrahim (as) said, "O Allah (swt), make me from among the Shia of Amir Al Momineen". Allah (swt) gave the news of this in his book and said "Verily among his Shia is Ibrahim".

Source: Tawil Al Ayat Vol.2 Pg.495 (Sura-e-Saffat), Mustadrak Vol.4 Pg.187, Bihar Al Anwar Vol.36 Pg.151, Al Fazail Pg. 158