Following tradition is found in: “Ihya’u’l Ulum by Imam Ghazali, Sharhe Nahjul Balagha by Ibn Abi’l
Hadid Mu’tazali, the Tafsir by Ima Fakhru’d-Din Razi, and Tafsirs by Jarullah
Zamakhshari, Baidhawi, Nishapuri, etc.
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “The ulema (scholars) of
my community are like the prophets of the Bani Isra’il.” As their source of
knowledge was the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). Therefore, Imam Ali (a.s.) was
definitely superior to the prophets, since the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) said:
“I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is
its gate.” He also said: “I am the house of wisdom and Ali is its gate.” When
Imam Ali (a.s.) himself was asked about this topic, he explained some aspects
of his superiority to the prophets of the children of Isra’il.
On the 20th Ramazan, was on his death bed
following the attack by the most wretched man, Abdul Rahman bin Muljim, he
asked Imam Hasan (a.s.) to call in the Shia, who had gathered at the door of
his house. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “You
may ask any question you like before I leave you, but your questions should be
brief.” One of those present was Sa’sa’a Bin Suhan.
Sa’sa’a said to
Imam Ali (a.s.): “Let me know who is superior, you or Adam?”
Imam Ali (a.s.)
replied: “It is not proper for a man to praise himself, but according to the maxim:
‘Declare the blessings that Allah
has given you, I tell you that I am superior to Adam.” When asked why this was
so, Imam Ali (a.s.) explained that Adam had every means of mercy, comfort, and
blessings for him in Paradise. He was asked simply to abstain from the
forbidden food. But he could not restrain himself, and he ate from the tree. As
a result, he was expelled from Paradise. Allah did not forbid him (Ali) from
eating wheat (which, according to Muslim belief was the forbidden tree). But
since he had no inclination towards this temporal world, he voluntarily
refrained from eating wheat. (The point of Imam Ali’s remark was that
excellence of a man before Allah lies in the piety and devotion, and that the
height of piety lies in abstaining even from what is permissible!)
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who
is superior, you or Noah?”
Imam Ali (a.s.)
replied: “I am superior. Noah called his men to worship Allah, but they did not
obey. Their shameful mistreatment was torture to him. He cursed them and
invoked Allah: ‘O my Lord! Leave not on earth a single person of the unjust
ones.’ After the death of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), even though the people
caused me extreme difficulty, I never cursed them. I suffered their torment
with patience.”
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who
is superior, you or Abraham (Ibrahim)?”
Imam Ali (a.s.)
replied: “I am superior, for Abraham (Ibrahim) said: ‘My Lord! Show me how You
give life to the dead.’ He said: “What! Do you not believe?” He said: ‘Yes, but that my heart may be at ease.’
(2:260) My faith was such that I said: ‘If the veil over unseen were lifted, my
faith would not increase.”
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who
is superior, you or Moses (Musa)?”
Imam Ali (a.s.)
replied: “I am superior, for when Almighty Allah ordered Moses (Musa) to Egypt
to invite Pharaoh to the truth, Moses said: ‘My Lord! Surely I killed one of
them, so I am afraid that they may slay me. And my brother Aaron (Haroon), he
is more eloquent of tongue than I. Therefore send him with me as an aide to
help me. Surely I fear that they will reject me.” (28:33-34) The Holy Prophet
ordered me, by the Command of Allah, to go to Makkah and to recite the verses
of the Chapter ‘Al-Bara’a from the top of the Ka’ba to the Quraish infidels. I
was not afraid, even though there were few people there who had not lost a near
relative by my sword. Obeying his order, I performed mu duty alone. I recited
the verses of ‘Al-Bara’a and returned.”
Sa’sa’a asked: “Who
is superior, you or Jesus (I’sa)?”
Imam Ali (a.s.) replied:
“I am superior, for when Mary (Maryam) became pregnant by the Grace of Allah,
and the time of her delivery approached, a revelation was granted to her: ‘Leave
this Holy House for this is a house for prayers, not a place for the delivery
of children.’ Accordingly, she left the holy House and went to the wilderness
where she gave birth to Jesus (I’sa). But when my mother, Fatima Binte Asad,
felt labor pains within the precincts of the holy Ka’ba, she clung to the wall
and prayed to Allah in the name of that House and the builder of that House, to
lessen her pain. Soon a fissure appeared in the wall, and my mother heard a
mysterious voice telling her, “O Fatima! Enter the House of the Ka’ba.’ She
went in, and I was born inside of the holy Ka’ba.”
Source: Peshawar Nights by Hamid Quinlan &
Charles Ali Campbell
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