Search the Community

What is the reason for the superiority of the Imams over the previous prophets? In the beginning, it is stated that the Prophet (s) is superior to all human beings and even the previous prophets of God. The Prophet himself said: "God has given me superiority over all His prophets and messengers."[1] It is also narrated from Imam Sadiq (a) that he said: "God, the Exalted, has composed His Greatest Name of seventy-three letters, and of those letters He gave two letters to Jesus, and with those two letters Jesus raised the dead, healed the blind from birth, and cured leprosy. He gave four letters to Moses, eight letters to Abraham, fifteen letters to Noah, and twenty-five letters to Adam, but He taught seventy-two letters of those letters to the Messenger of God Muhammad (s) and did not teach one letter to anyone."[2] With reference to this introduction, it is stated in numerous narrations that everything that God bestowed upon His Prophet (s) was later given to his successors, except for prophethood, and the infallible Imams (a) have all the virtues of the Prophet except that they are not prophets. The noble Prophet (s) himself addressed Imam Ali (a), saying: "You see what I see, and you hear what I hear, except that you are not a prophet."[3] Imam Hassan (a) says: "No one from the predecessors and no one from the future has surpassed Imam Ali (a) in any virtue"[4] It is important to note that the position of Imamate is higher than the position of prophethood[5] and the Imams, although they were not prophets, but they had the position of Imamate. Imam Sadiq (a) said: "The Prophet (s) was both an Imam and a prophet, but Ali (a) was an Imam but not a prophet."[6] Therefore, just as the noble Prophet Muhammad (s) is superior to all other prophets, the infallible Imams (s) are also superior to all prophets except the last Prophet (s), and whatever God had given to His previous prophets, has been inherited by the infallible Imams. Imam Sadiq (a) says: "Every prophet who has inherited knowledge or otherwise, it has ultimately reached the Imams (a)."[7] In conclusion, mentioning this narration is very appropriate: Sa'asa'a bin Sohan entered the Commander of the Faithful when he had been struck and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, are you superior, or Adam, father of mankind?" Imam Ali (a) replied: "It is not good for a person to boast of himself, God said to Adam: "'O Adam, dwell with your wife in paradise..."[8] and God made many things lawful for me that I did not approach and abstained from. Then he asked: Are you superior, or Noah? Imam Ali (a) replied: Noah cursed his people, and I did not curse my oppressors; Noah's son was an infidel, but my two sons are the masters of the youth of paradise. He asked: Are you superior, or Moses? He replied: God sent Moses to Pharaoh, and he said: "I fear they will deny me,"[9] until God said, "Do not fear, for no prophet in My presence shall fear.[10]" And Moses said, "My Lord, I have killed a soul, so I fear they will kill me."[11] But I did not fear when the Prophet of God (s) sent me to recite Surah Bara'at to Quraysh during the Hajj season, despite the fact that I had killed many of their leaders, yet I went to them, recited the Surah, and did not fear them. He asked: Are you superior to Jesus, son of Mary? He replied: Jesus' mother was in Jerusalem, when the time of her delivery came, she heard a voice saying: Go out, this house is a place of worship, not a place of childbirth. But my mother, Fatima bint Asad, when her time of delivery was near, she was by the Ka'ba, the wall of the Ka'ba split, and a voice told her to enter. So she entered the Ka'ba and I was born there, and this virtue has not been for anyone, neither before me nor after me.[12] According to the stated contents, it is clear evident that the infallible Imams (a) had a higher position than all past prophets. [1] . Al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Quran; Al-Bahrani, Al-Sayyid Hashim Vol: 1 P: 205. [2] . Al-Kafi Vol: 1 Page: 230 Hadith 2. [3] . Sayyid Razi, Nahj al-Balagha, Khutba 192 (Qasida). [4] . Al-Kafi Vol: 1 Page: 457." "قَدْ قُبِضَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ رَجُلٌ مَا سَبَقَهُ الْأَوَّلُونَ وَ لَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْآخِرُونَ [5] . For more information refer to " Is the position of imamate higher than the position of prophethood and risalat?". [6] . Al-Ilal Al-Shara’i, Sheikh Saduq, vol. 1, p. 175. [7] . Al-Kafi Vol: 2 Page: 232 [8] . Al-Baqarah: 35 " "يا آدم اسكن أنت وزوجك الجنة [9] . Al-Shu'ara: 12 " "إني أخاف أن يكذبون [10] . Al-Naml: 10 " "لا تخف إني لا يخاف لدي المرسلون [11] . Al-Qasas: 33 " "رب إني قتلت منهم نفسا فأخاف أن يقتلون [12] . Al-Lameat al-Bayda; Al-Tabrizi Al-Ansari, vol. 1, p. 220.

Does the Holy Prophet (s) have the position of Imamate? Paying attention to two points will clarify the answer to this question: 1. The Prophet has a higher status than all the prophets and angels. The prophet himself states: “Allah Almighty has favored His prophets over the angels who are close to Him, and He has favored me over all prophets.”[1] In another narration, the Commander of the Faithful (a) says: "...God has not given any prophets any status or virtue except that he collected it for Muhammad (s), and added to the number of those virtues for Muhammad"[2]. And in another narration, Imam Sadiq (a) says: "Indeed, God Almighty did not grant anything to the prophets, except that He granted it to Muhammad (s)". [3] Therefore, all the positions and virtues of prophets have been granted to the holy Prophet, and he has a position higher than all the prophets and angels, so when in the Qur'an, the position of Imamate has given to prophet Abraham (When his Lord tested Abraham's faith, by His words and he fulfilled them, He said, "I am appointing you Imam of mankind.)[4] If this great position is confirmed for Abraham, it will be for the Prophet as a priority. 2. It is specified in some hadiths the Imamate of the Prophet of Islam, such as the narration of Imam Sadiq (a): "The Holy Prophet (s) was both an imam and a prophet, but Ali (a) was an imam, not a prophet".[5] Or imam Ali (a) himself states about the Imamate of the Holy Prophet (s): " O people! Indeed, the Messenger of God is the Imam of all, during his life and after his death".[6] Or in Nahj al-Balagha, imam Ali (a) states: "The prophet is the imam of the pious"[7]. According to these two points, it becomes clear that the position of Imamate, which is a great position, has been constant for the Prophet (s) as well as the position of prophethood and risalat. [1] . Ayoun Akhbar al-Reza Vol. 1 p. 262- Kamal al-Din and Tamma Al-Naimah Vol. 1 p. 254. « إن الله تعالى فضل أنبياءه المرسلين على الملائكة المقربين وفضلني على جميع النبيين والمرسلين» [2] . Al-Ihtjaj / Tabarsi / Volume 1 / Page 211. «...مَا أَعْطَى اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً دَرَجَةً وَ لَا مُرْسَلًا فَضِيلَةً إِلَّا وَ قَدْ جَمَعَهَا لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ زَادَ مُحَمَّداً عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَضْعَافاً مُضَاعَفَة...» [3] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol. 1/p. 225." "اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يُعْطِ الْأَنْبِيٰاءَ شَيْئاً الاّٰ وَ قَدْ أَعْطٰاهُ مُحَمَّدا [4] . Al-Baqarah: 124." "وَ إِذِ ابْتَلى‏ إِبْراهيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِماتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قالَ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً [5] . Al-Ilal Al-Shara’i, Sheikh Saduq, vol. 1, p. 175." فَالنَّبِيُّ ص إِمَامٌ وَ نَبِيٌّ وَ عَلِيٌّ (ع) إِمَامٌ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيٍّ وَ لَا "رَسُول‏ [6] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol. 1/p. 225. "أَيُّهَا النّٰاسُ انَّ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ(ص) امٰامٌ حَيّاً وَ مَيِّتاً" [7] . Nahj al-Balagha, Fayd al-Islam, Sermon 93, p. 279. " "فَهُوَ امٰامُ مَنِ اتَّقىٰ

Is the position of imamate higher than the position of prophethood and risalat? First, we explain the concept of the three words of prophethood, risalate and imamate to clarify the superiority of imamate over risalat and prophecy. 1- The prophethood: prophet or nabi ((نبی is an Arabic word that means a messenger, so a prophet is a bearer of great news or a person who informs about it[1], and in the term, a prophet is someone who gives news from God without an intermediary[2] (according to this, prophecy means news Giving without an intermediary from God.) The Qur'an says: "فَبَعَثَ اللهُ النَّبیّینَ مُبَشّرینَ و مُنْذرین"[3], God raised the prophets as bearers of good news and warnings. As a result, it can be said: the position of prophethood means receiving revelation from God, and a "prophet" is someone to whom revelation is revealed and what he receives through revelation, he gives it to people if they ask him.[4] 2- The risalat (prophetic mission): Rasul (رسول) is an Arabic word means a messenger, and sometimes a word and a message that is sent is called a messenger (rasul), just as a person who carries a message is also called a messenger (rasul).[5] And the messenger in the term refers to prophets who, in addition to receiving revelations and giving news from God, have the responsibility of communicating a divine mission from God and to convey that mission to the people; The Qur'an says: " وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ "[6] “ Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But, if you turn away, Our Messenger's duty is only to deliver the Clear Message.” Therefore, messengers are also prophets because they are recipients of divine revelation and bearers of news. As a result, the position of the risalat means the transmission of revelation, propagation and promotion of divine orders and training the people through education and awareness, so the messenger is the one who is obliged to invite people to God and convey his command with effort. [7] 3- The Imamate: Imam is an Arabic word that means leader and master. [8]In al- Majmae al-Bahrayn also, imam means the leader and the one who is followed by people.[9] Although, among the Shiites, Imam is the successor of the Holy Prophet.[10] According to the Qur'an, the position of Imamate is different from prophethood and risalat, and it is accompanied by wider powers and possessions in the direction of managing and leading the society and leading the people. As a result, the position of Imamate means the leadership of the people. In fact, an imam is a person who, by forming a divine government and obtaining the necessary powers, tries to implement God's decrees practically, and even if he cannot formally form a government, he tries to implement the decrees as much as he can. In other words, the duty of the imam is to carry out divine orders, while the duty of the messenger is to convey these orders. Some prophets, such as Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad (s), had all three positions, receiving revelations and preaching divine commands, and they tried to form the government and execute the decrees, and they trained the people. Therefore, it can be said; Imamate is the position of all-round leadership, physical, spiritual, outward and inward and imam is the head of government, community leader, religious leader, moral teacher and inner leader. [11] According to the stated content, the superiority of the position of Imamate compared to the position of Risalat and Prophethood was clarified. In any case, the best reason for the superiority of the position of Imamate is the Word of God in the Qur'an, where it says: " وَ إِذِ ابْتَلى‏ إِبْراهيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِماتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قالَ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً قالَ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتي‏ قالَ لا يَنالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمينَ،"[12] When his Lord tested Abraham's faith, by His words and he fulfilled them, He said, "I am appointing you Imam of mankind." Abraham asked, "Will this imamate also continue through my descendants?" The Lord replied, " My covenant includeth not wrong-doers." (And only those of your children who are pure and innocent are worthy of this position) The verse proves the position of Imamate for Abraham - peace be upon him - after heavy trials and tests, and Abraham's success in all of them. According to Imam Sadiq(a)'s narration, prophet Abraham reached the position of Imamate after these positions: (1) the position of servitude; (2) the position of prophethood; (3)- the position of Risalat; (4) the position of friendship; (5) and at last the position of Imamate.[13]After reaching this position, he asked God whether this position is just for him or his descendants will also have this position. God says: This position is reserved for the pure and innocent men. Therefore, those who have committed wrongdoing and sin even once in their entire life, do not deserve this divine position; And what sin is higher than polytheism? Therefore, prophet Abraham had all these attributes and then he became an imam. This article clearly conveys the superiority of the position of Imamate over the prophethood and the risalat. [1] . Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab, vol. 1, p. 162. [2] . Allama Hilli, Albab Alhadi Eashra, p. 8. « النّبيّ (ص) هو الإنسان المخبر عن اللّه تعالى بغير واسطة أحد من البشر» [3] . Al-Baqarah: 213. [4] . Tafsir Namuna, Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, vol: 1 p: 440. [5] . Ragheb Isfahani, Hussein bin Muhammad, Mofardat Ragheb, Dar Al-Qalam, vol. 1, p. 353. [6] . Al-Taghabun: 12. [7] . Tafsir Namuna, Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, vol: 1 p: 440. [8] . Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab, vol: 12, p: 24. [9] . Fakhruddin Torihi; al- Majmae al-Bahrayn, vol: 6, p: 10. [10] . For more explanation about the meaning of Imam, refer to the question "What does the definition of Imam Literally and technically?". [11] . Tafsir Namuna, Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, vol: 1 p: 440. [12] . Al-Baqarah: 124. [13] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol. 1/p. 175." قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَبْداً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ نَبِيّاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ نَبِيّاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ رَسُولًا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ رَسُولًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ خَلِيلًا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ خَلِيلًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ إِمَاماً فَلَمَّا جَمَعَ لَهُ الْأَشْيَاءَ قَالَ‏ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً قَالَ فَمِنْ عِظَمِهَا فِي عَيْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ‏ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قالَ لا يَنالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ‏ قَالَ لَا يَكُونُ السَّفِيهُ إِمَامَ التَّقِيِّ"

What is the difference between the Holy Prophet (saw) and the infallible Imams (as)? The duty of the messengers of God is to receive the Sharia from God and propagate and preserve it, and prophets' successors are their successor in the Sharia among prophets' ummah, so the difference between the successor and the messenger is that the messenger receives the Sharia from God directly and the successor receives the Sharia from the prophet and as long as the Messenger's successor is among the Ummah, that Sharia also remains intact through that successor. Therefore, it is mentioned in a narration from the Prophet(s), O Ali, I am the one who gives warning, and you are the guide in this matter.[1] In another narration, Sadir says: I said to Imam Sadiq (a): There are some people who believe that you are deities and they provide evidence for it from the Qur'an. He said: O Sadir! My ears, my eyes, my body, my blood and my hair hate these people, and God hates them, they are not in my religion, nor in the religion of my fathers. I said: There are other people who say: You are the messengers of God. He said: O Sadir! My ears, my eyes, my hair, my body, my flesh and my blood hate them, God and His Messenger hate them, they are not in my religion, nor in the religion of my fathers. I swear to God that on the Day of Resurrection, God will not bring me and them together except that He is angry with them. I said: So, what are you? He said: We are the treasurers of God's knowledge, we are the interpreters of God's orders, we are innocent and pure people, God Almighty has commanded people to obey us and forbade people from disobeying us. We are the clear proof of God over everything under the sky and on the earth. [2] In this narration, the Imam denies the prophecy for himself, and explains difference between the Imams and the Prophet is that they are the interpreters of the divine command, which God has made their obedience like the prophet's obedience, obligatory. So, since they are the interpreters of the divine order, they do not receive a new religion, that's why prophetic revelation is not revealed to them[3], but they are in contact with the angels, as Imam Baqir (a) said in a narration, Imam is the one who hears the voice of angels. [4] [1] . Bihar Al-Anwar / Al-Allamah Al-Majlisi/ vol. 35/ p: 400. «أَنَا الْمُنْذِرُ وَ أَنْتَ يَا عَلِيُّ الْهَادِي إِلَى أَمْرِي‏» [2] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol: 1/p: 269. «عن سَدِيرٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ قَوْماً يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكُمْ آلِهَةٌ......» [3] . Prophetic revelation is a sign of prophecy and it is mentioned more than seventy times in the Quran. Ma’rifat Qur’ani / Marafat, Sheikh Mohammad Hadi / Vol: 1 P: 22. [4] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol: 1/p: 176. «.... قُلْتُ الْإِمَامُ مَا مَنْزِلَتُهُ قَالَ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ .....»

What is the reason for the superiority of the Imams over the previous prophets? In the beginning, it is stated that the Prophet (s) is superior to all human beings and even the previous prophets of God. The Prophet himself said: "God has given me superiority over all His prophets and messengers."[1] It is also narrated from Imam Sadiq (a) that he said: "God, the Exalted, has composed His Greatest Name of seventy-three letters, and of those letters He gave two letters to Jesus, and with those two letters Jesus raised the dead, healed the blind from birth, and cured leprosy. He gave four letters to Moses, eight letters to Abraham, fifteen letters to Noah, and twenty-five letters to Adam, but He taught seventy-two letters of those letters to the Messenger of God Muhammad (s) and did not teach one letter to anyone."[2] With reference to this introduction, it is stated in numerous narrations that everything that God bestowed upon His Prophet (s) was later given to his successors, except for prophethood, and the infallible Imams (a) have all the virtues of the Prophet except that they are not prophets. The noble Prophet (s) himself addressed Imam Ali (a), saying: "You see what I see, and you hear what I hear, except that you are not a prophet."[3] Imam Hassan (a) says: "No one from the predecessors and no one from the future has surpassed Imam Ali (a) in any virtue"[4] It is important to note that the position of Imamate is higher than the position of prophethood[5] and the Imams, although they were not prophets, but they had the position of Imamate. Imam Sadiq (a) said: "The Prophet (s) was both an Imam and a prophet, but Ali (a) was an Imam but not a prophet."[6] Therefore, just as the noble Prophet Muhammad (s) is superior to all other prophets, the infallible Imams (s) are also superior to all prophets except the last Prophet (s), and whatever God had given to His previous prophets, has been inherited by the infallible Imams. Imam Sadiq (a) says: "Every prophet who has inherited knowledge or otherwise, it has ultimately reached the Imams (a)."[7] In conclusion, mentioning this narration is very appropriate: Sa'asa'a bin Sohan entered the Commander of the Faithful when he had been struck and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, are you superior, or Adam, father of mankind?" Imam Ali (a) replied: "It is not good for a person to boast of himself, God said to Adam: "'O Adam, dwell with your wife in paradise..."[8] and God made many things lawful for me that I did not approach and abstained from. Then he asked: Are you superior, or Noah? Imam Ali (a) replied: Noah cursed his people, and I did not curse my oppressors; Noah's son was an infidel, but my two sons are the masters of the youth of paradise. He asked: Are you superior, or Moses? He replied: God sent Moses to Pharaoh, and he said: "I fear they will deny me,"[9] until God said, "Do not fear, for no prophet in My presence shall fear.[10]" And Moses said, "My Lord, I have killed a soul, so I fear they will kill me."[11] But I did not fear when the Prophet of God (s) sent me to recite Surah Bara'at to Quraysh during the Hajj season, despite the fact that I had killed many of their leaders, yet I went to them, recited the Surah, and did not fear them. He asked: Are you superior to Jesus, son of Mary? He replied: Jesus' mother was in Jerusalem, when the time of her delivery came, she heard a voice saying: Go out, this house is a place of worship, not a place of childbirth. But my mother, Fatima bint Asad, when her time of delivery was near, she was by the Ka'ba, the wall of the Ka'ba split, and a voice told her to enter. So she entered the Ka'ba and I was born there, and this virtue has not been for anyone, neither before me nor after me.[12] According to the stated contents, it is clear evident that the infallible Imams (a) had a higher position than all past prophets. [1] . Al-Burhan fi Tafsir al-Quran; Al-Bahrani, Al-Sayyid Hashim Vol: 1 P: 205. [2] . Al-Kafi Vol: 1 Page: 230 Hadith 2. [3] . Sayyid Razi, Nahj al-Balagha, Khutba 192 (Qasida). [4] . Al-Kafi Vol: 1 Page: 457." "قَدْ قُبِضَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ رَجُلٌ مَا سَبَقَهُ الْأَوَّلُونَ وَ لَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْآخِرُونَ [5] . For more information refer to " Is the position of imamate higher than the position of prophethood and risalat?". [6] . Al-Ilal Al-Shara’i, Sheikh Saduq, vol. 1, p. 175. [7] . Al-Kafi Vol: 2 Page: 232 [8] . Al-Baqarah: 35 " "يا آدم اسكن أنت وزوجك الجنة [9] . Al-Shu'ara: 12 " "إني أخاف أن يكذبون [10] . Al-Naml: 10 " "لا تخف إني لا يخاف لدي المرسلون [11] . Al-Qasas: 33 " "رب إني قتلت منهم نفسا فأخاف أن يقتلون [12] . Al-Lameat al-Bayda; Al-Tabrizi Al-Ansari, vol. 1, p. 220.

Does the Holy Prophet (s) have the position of Imamate? Paying attention to two points will clarify the answer to this question: 1. The Prophet has a higher status than all the prophets and angels. The prophet himself states: “Allah Almighty has favored His prophets over the angels who are close to Him, and He has favored me over all prophets.”[1] In another narration, the Commander of the Faithful (a) says: "...God has not given any prophets any status or virtue except that he collected it for Muhammad (s), and added to the number of those virtues for Muhammad"[2]. And in another narration, Imam Sadiq (a) says: "Indeed, God Almighty did not grant anything to the prophets, except that He granted it to Muhammad (s)". [3] Therefore, all the positions and virtues of prophets have been granted to the holy Prophet, and he has a position higher than all the prophets and angels, so when in the Qur'an, the position of Imamate has given to prophet Abraham (When his Lord tested Abraham's faith, by His words and he fulfilled them, He said, "I am appointing you Imam of mankind.)[4] If this great position is confirmed for Abraham, it will be for the Prophet as a priority. 2. It is specified in some hadiths the Imamate of the Prophet of Islam, such as the narration of Imam Sadiq (a): "The Holy Prophet (s) was both an imam and a prophet, but Ali (a) was an imam, not a prophet".[5] Or imam Ali (a) himself states about the Imamate of the Holy Prophet (s): " O people! Indeed, the Messenger of God is the Imam of all, during his life and after his death".[6] Or in Nahj al-Balagha, imam Ali (a) states: "The prophet is the imam of the pious"[7]. According to these two points, it becomes clear that the position of Imamate, which is a great position, has been constant for the Prophet (s) as well as the position of prophethood and risalat. [1] . Ayoun Akhbar al-Reza Vol. 1 p. 262- Kamal al-Din and Tamma Al-Naimah Vol. 1 p. 254. « إن الله تعالى فضل أنبياءه المرسلين على الملائكة المقربين وفضلني على جميع النبيين والمرسلين» [2] . Al-Ihtjaj / Tabarsi / Volume 1 / Page 211. «...مَا أَعْطَى اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً دَرَجَةً وَ لَا مُرْسَلًا فَضِيلَةً إِلَّا وَ قَدْ جَمَعَهَا لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ زَادَ مُحَمَّداً عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَضْعَافاً مُضَاعَفَة...» [3] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol. 1/p. 225." "اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمْ يُعْطِ الْأَنْبِيٰاءَ شَيْئاً الاّٰ وَ قَدْ أَعْطٰاهُ مُحَمَّدا [4] . Al-Baqarah: 124." "وَ إِذِ ابْتَلى‏ إِبْراهيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِماتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قالَ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً [5] . Al-Ilal Al-Shara’i, Sheikh Saduq, vol. 1, p. 175." فَالنَّبِيُّ ص إِمَامٌ وَ نَبِيٌّ وَ عَلِيٌّ (ع) إِمَامٌ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيٍّ وَ لَا "رَسُول‏ [6] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol. 1/p. 225. "أَيُّهَا النّٰاسُ انَّ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ(ص) امٰامٌ حَيّاً وَ مَيِّتاً" [7] . Nahj al-Balagha, Fayd al-Islam, Sermon 93, p. 279. " "فَهُوَ امٰامُ مَنِ اتَّقى

Is the position of imamate higher than the position of prophethood and risalat? First, we explain the concept of the three words of prophethood, risalate and imamate to clarify the superiority of imamate over risalat and prophecy. 1- The prophethood: prophet or nabi ((نبی is an Arabic word that means a messenger, so a prophet is a bearer of great news or a person who informs about it[1], and in the term, a prophet is someone who gives news from God without an intermediary[2] (according to this, prophecy means news Giving without an intermediary from God.) The Qur'an says: "فَبَعَثَ اللهُ النَّبیّینَ مُبَشّرینَ و مُنْذرین"[3], God raised the prophets as bearers of good news and warnings. As a result, it can be said: the position of prophethood means receiving revelation from God, and a "prophet" is someone to whom revelation is revealed and what he receives through revelation, he gives it to people if they ask him.[4] 2- The risalat (prophetic mission): Rasul (رسول) is an Arabic word means a messenger, and sometimes a word and a message that is sent is called a messenger (rasul), just as a person who carries a message is also called a messenger (rasul).[5] And the messenger in the term refers to prophets who, in addition to receiving revelations and giving news from God, have the responsibility of communicating a divine mission from God and to convey that mission to the people; The Qur'an says: " وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَى رَسُولِنَا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ "[6] “ Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But, if you turn away, Our Messenger's duty is only to deliver the Clear Message.” Therefore, messengers are also prophets because they are recipients of divine revelation and bearers of news. As a result, the position of the risalat means the transmission of revelation, propagation and promotion of divine orders and training the people through education and awareness, so the messenger is the one who is obliged to invite people to God and convey his command with effort. [7] 3- The Imamate: Imam is an Arabic word that means leader and master. [8]In al- Majmae al-Bahrayn also, imam means the leader and the one who is followed by people.[9] Although, among the Shiites, Imam is the successor of the Holy Prophet.[10] According to the Qur'an, the position of Imamate is different from prophethood and risalat, and it is accompanied by wider powers and possessions in the direction of managing and leading the society and leading the people. As a result, the position of Imamate means the leadership of the people. In fact, an imam is a person who, by forming a divine government and obtaining the necessary powers, tries to implement God's decrees practically, and even if he cannot formally form a government, he tries to implement the decrees as much as he can. In other words, the duty of the imam is to carry out divine orders, while the duty of the messenger is to convey these orders. Some prophets, such as Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad (s), had all three positions, receiving revelations and preaching divine commands, and they tried to form the government and execute the decrees, and they trained the people. Therefore, it can be said; Imamate is the position of all-round leadership, physical, spiritual, outward and inward and imam is the head of government, community leader, religious leader, moral teacher and inner leader. [11] According to the stated content, the superiority of the position of Imamate compared to the position of Risalat and Prophethood was clarified. In any case, the best reason for the superiority of the position of Imamate is the Word of God in the Qur'an, where it says: " وَ إِذِ ابْتَلى‏ إِبْراهيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِماتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قالَ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً قالَ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتي‏ قالَ لا يَنالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمينَ،"[12] When his Lord tested Abraham's faith, by His words and he fulfilled them, He said, "I am appointing you Imam of mankind." Abraham asked, "Will this imamate also continue through my descendants?" The Lord replied, " My covenant includeth not wrong-doers." (And only those of your children who are pure and innocent are worthy of this position) The verse proves the position of Imamate for Abraham - peace be upon him - after heavy trials and tests, and Abraham's success in all of them. According to Imam Sadiq(a)'s narration, prophet Abraham reached the position of Imamate after these positions: (1) the position of servitude; (2) the position of prophethood; (3)- the position of Risalat; (4) the position of friendship; (5) and at last the position of Imamate.[13]After reaching this position, he asked God whether this position is just for him or his descendants will also have this position. God says: This position is reserved for the pure and innocent men. Therefore, those who have committed wrongdoing and sin even once in their entire life, do not deserve this divine position; And what sin is higher than polytheism? Therefore, prophet Abraham had all these attributes and then he became an imam. This article clearly conveys the superiority of the position of Imamate over the prophethood and the risalat. [1] . Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab, vol. 1, p. 162. [2] . Allama Hilli, Albab Alhadi Eashra, p. 8. « النّبيّ (ص) هو الإنسان المخبر عن اللّه تعالى بغير واسطة أحد من البشر» [3] . Al-Baqarah: 213. [4] . Tafsir Namuna, Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, vol: 1 p: 440. [5] . Ragheb Isfahani, Hussein bin Muhammad, Mofardat Ragheb, Dar Al-Qalam, vol. 1, p. 353. [6] . Al-Taghabun: 12. [7] . Tafsir Namuna, Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, vol: 1 p: 440. [8] . Ibn Manzur, Lisan al-Arab, vol: 12, p: 24. [9] . Fakhruddin Torihi; al- Majmae al-Bahrayn, vol: 6, p: 10. [10] . For more explanation about the meaning of Imam, refer to the question "What does the definition of Imam Literally and technically?". [11] . Tafsir Namuna, Makarem Shirazi, Nasser, vol: 1 p: 440. [12] . Al-Baqarah: 124. [13] . Usul Kafi/Kulaini/vol. 1/p. 175." قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَبْداً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ نَبِيّاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ نَبِيّاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ رَسُولًا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ رَسُولًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ خَلِيلًا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ خَلِيلًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ إِمَاماً فَلَمَّا جَمَعَ لَهُ الْأَشْيَاءَ قَالَ‏ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً قَالَ فَمِنْ عِظَمِهَا فِي عَيْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ‏ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قالَ لا يَنالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ‏ قَالَ لَا يَكُونُ السَّفِيهُ إِمَامَ التَّقِيِّ"