Question 114 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 2

Source footnotes

Footnotes are kept separate from the main question and answer and preserve their source-record association.

↑ [266] Hisham ibn Salim and Durust ibn Abi Mansur al-Wasiti narrated from them-peace be upon them both-that he said: ‘The prophets and messengers are of four ranks. There is a prophet informed within himself whose prophethood does not extend to anyone else. There is a prophet who sees in sleep and hears the voice but does not behold while awake, who is not sent to anyone and over whom there is an Imam, as Abraham was over Lot. There is a prophet who sees in his sleep, hears the voice, beholds the angel, and has been sent to a group, whether few or many, as Allah said: “We sent him to a hundred thousand or more.” He said: they exceeded that by thirty thousand. And there is a prophet who sees in his sleep, hears the voice, and beholds while awake, and who is an Imam, like those of firm determination. Abraham had been a prophet but was not an Imam until Allah said, “Indeed, I will make you an Imam for the people.” He said, “And from my progeny?”-asking that it be among all his children. He said, “My covenant does not reach the wrongdoers,” meaning one who worshipped an idol or an image.’ Basair al-Darajat by Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, p. 393. Zayd al-Shahham said: I heard Abu Abdullah (a) say: ‘Allah, Blessed and Exalted, took Abraham as a servant before He took him as a prophet. Allah took him as a prophet before He took him as a messenger. Allah took him as a messenger before He took him as an intimate friend. Allah took him as an intimate friend before He made him an Imam. When He gathered all these things for him, He said, “Indeed, I will make you an Imam for the people.”’ He said: ‘Because of its greatness in Abraham’s eyes, he said, “And from my progeny?” He said, “My covenant does not reach the wrongdoers.”’ He said: ‘A foolish person cannot be the Imam of the Godwary.’ Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 175.