THE SUPERIORITY OF AHL AL-BAYT (ع) AND THE INHERITANCE OF THE PROPHETS (ع)

Peace and blessings be upon you,

If the Imam is considered superior to the prophets Adam, Noah, and Abraham (peace be upon them all), then why, for instance, do we describe Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in the visitation as the heir of the prophets? We say in the Ziyarah [visitation], 'Peace be upon you, O heir of Adam...' What can the superior inherit from the inferior?

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Peace and blessings be upon you,

If universal superiority is considered apart from the progression or delay of time, then inheritance and similar concepts, which depend on time for their meaning, would have no significance. However, when considering the element of time, it is said that the Imam (peace be upon him) inherited everything from the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and surpassed him. Thus, he would be superior to him. It is firmly established that the knowledge, inheritance, and virtues of the prophets culminated in them (peace be upon them).

However, it is important to note that the concept of inheritance does not necessarily entail superiority or inferiority in itself, nor is it the sole cause of superiority. Among the prophets explicitly mentioned in the Ziyarah [visitation] is the Honorable Messenger (peace be upon him), the best of all creation, the leader of both prophets and heirs.

Nevertheless, it has been reported that he (peace be upon him and his family) inherited and also transmitted knowledge. It has been narrated from Dura’is al-Kunasi, who said:

کُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِی‌عَبْدِاللَّهِ [الصادق](علیه السلام) وَعِنْدَهُ أَبُوبَصِیر فَقَالَ ابوعبد الله(علیه السلام): «إِنَّ دَاوُدَ(علیه السلام) وَرِثَ عِلْمَ الْأَنْبِیَاءِ، وَإِنَّ سُلَیْمَانَ(علیه السلام) وَرِثَ دَاوُدَ(علیه السلام)، وَإِنَّ مُحَمَّداً(صلی الله علیه وآله) وَرِثَ سُلَیْمَانَ(علیه السلام)، وَإِنَّا وَرِثْنَا مُحَمَّداً(صلی الله علیه و آله)، وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا صُحُفَ إِبْرَاهِیمَ(علیه السلام) وَأَلْوَاحَ مُوسَی (علیه السلام)». فَقَالَ أَبُو بَصِیرٍ: إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْعِلْمُ. فَقَالَ: «یَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ لَیْسَ هَذَا هُوَ الْعِلْمَ، إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ مَا یَحْدُثُ بِاللَّیْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ یَوْماً بِیَوْمٍ وَسَاعَةً بِسَاعَةٍ

“I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdallah, and Abu Basir was also there. Abu 'Abd Allah [As-Sadiq] said, “David inherited the knowledge of the prophets. Solomon inherited David. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) inherited Solomon and we inherited Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). With us are the pages of Abraham and the tablets of Moses.” Abu Basir then said, “This is the knowledge.” The Imams said, “O Abu Muhammad, this is not the knowledge. The knowledge is what happens in the nights and in the days, day after day and hour after hour.” [1] [2]

And may you remain under the care of Allah.

References

[1] Al-Kafi, Shaykh Al-Kulayni, Volume 1, Book 4, Chapter 33, Hadith 4

[2] The Shi'ite Scholar Allamah Al-Majlisi has stated the following: 

صحيح على الظاهر

"It is authentic [Sahih] according to the apparent."

[Mir'at al-‘Uqul fi Sharh Akhbar Al al-Rasul, Allamah Al-Majlisi, Volume 3, Page 20]

The original text in arabic can be found here

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﷽

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