Imamate position better than Prophet's position

قال الله تعالى فى كتابه الكريم:

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قالَ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِماماً قالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهدِي الظَّالِمِين.

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."

Surah Al-Baqara, verse 124

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Tafsir Nemooneh

In the following verses, the greatest phases and aspects of ABRAHAM'S life and its most important events are discussed in some details; beginning thus:

``And call to mind when the Lord tried and tested ABRAHAM with certain words, (COMMANDS)which he fulfilled all in the best of ways. And after his success in the examination Allah said to him: ``I am going to make you an IMAM for the people. ABRAHAM pleaded; and what about making Imams from my offspring? God answered him: ``I don't promise that for the oppressors and wrong doers of them.''

The above verses denotes that Imamat, (LEADERSHIP) is a higher rank and position than prophethood.

When HAZRAT ABRAHAM got the glad-tidings of being an Imam, and was promised the leadership of the world, he was so excited with happiness, that he pleaded the high position of Imamat for his progeny; and his prayer was granted with the limitation that those among his offspring who were Godless and oppressors; would not have it.

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