There is no comparison of Imam Ali (a.s.) with the
companions of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Imam Ali (a.s.) was superior to
all the prophets except the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
The Glorious Qur’an had declared Imam Ali (a.s.) as the
Self or “Nafs” of His Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) in Surah Al-Imran Ayah 61, which
says, “Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that
has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and
your women, our souls, and your souls, then let us pray earnestly and call down
Allah’s curse upon the liars.”
By virtue of this Ayah, the Commander of the Faithful,
Imam Ali (a.s.) has achieved the superiority over all prophets except the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Since the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) is superior to
all the creation, his self (Imam Ali) also achieves a similar status.
On the 10th of Ramazan, when Imam Ali (a.s.) was
on the death bed following the attack of Abdul Rahman bin Muljim, he asked Imam
Hasan (a.s.) to call in the Shias who had gathered at the door of his house.
When they entered, they surrounded his bed and wept silently. Imam Ali (a.s.) said,
“You may any question you like before I leave you, but your questions should be
brief. “One of those present was Sa’sa’h ibn Sawhan. He asked Imam Ali (a.s.):
Let me know who is superior, you or Adam?
Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “It is not proper for a man to praise
himself, but according to the Ayah:’ And as for the favor of your Lord, do
announce( it),’I tell you that I am superior to Adam. When asked why it was so,
Imam Ali (a.s.) explained that Adam had every means of mercy, comfort, and
blessings for him in the Paradise. He was asked simply to abstain from the
forbidden food. But he could not abstain himself, and he ate from the tree. As
a result, he was expelled from Paradise. Allah did not forbid him (Imam Ali),
from eating wheat (which, some say was the forbidden tree). But since Imam Ali
was not inclined 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 piety and devotion, and that the height of piety lies in
abstaining even from what is permissible).
Sa’sa’h 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 for him. He cursed them and invoked Allah: ‘O my Lord! Leave not 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’h asked: Who is superior, You or Ibrahim?
Imam Ali replied: I am superior, for Ibrahim said in Surah
al-Baqarah Ayah 260, “…. Show me how You revive the dead,’ He said,’ Do you not
believe?’ He said, ‘Yes indeed, but in order that my heart may be at rest….’ My
faith was such that I said: If the veil over the unseen were lifted, my faith
would not increase.’
Sa’sa’h asked: Who is superior, you or Musa?
Imam (a.s.) replied: I am superior, for when Allah ordered
Musa (a.s.) to go to Egypt to invite Firaun to the truth, Musa (a.s.) said in
Surah al-Qasas Ayah 33-34: He said,’ My Lord! Indeed, I have killed one of
their men, so I fear they will kill me. Aaron, my brother – he is more eloquent
than me in speech. So, send him with me as a helper to confirm me, for I fear
that they will impugn me.’ The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) ordered me, by the
Command of Allah, to go to Makkah and to recite the Ayahs of Surah al-Taubah
from the top of the Ka’bah to the Quraish infidels. I was not afraid, even
though there were majority of people whose relatives were killed by my sword.
Obeying his order, I performed my duty.
Sa’sa’h asked: Who is superior, you or Isa (a.s.)
”
The Imam replied: I am superior for when Maryam became pregnant by the Grace of
Allah and the delivery time approached, she was told: Leave this Holy House for
this is a house for prayers, not a place for the delivery of children. But when
my mother Fatima bint Asad , felt labor pains within the precincts of the Holy Ka’bah, 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’bah. She went
in, and I was born inside the Holy Kaaba.
Source: Al-Anwar al-Nomani v.1 by
Nimat Allah ibn Abdallah Jazairi (Seeratonline.com)
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