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In the first chapter of «Eqdud-Durar» the author narrates from Abu Ayub Ansari who said: 'The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) told Fatemah (may Allah's peace be upon her) as such:- Our Prophet is the best of the Prophets and he happens to be your father. Our martyr is the best of the martyrs and he is Hamza, your father's Uncle. And from Us is the one who possesses two wings and will fly with them to whatever part of the paradise he wishes.
And from Us are the two 'Sebt' (offspring) of this 'Ummah' i.e. Hassan and Hussein and they are your sons.
And from Us shall come the Mahdi. Thereafter he writes: 'Hafez Abul-Qasim Tabarani has narrated this tradition in his minor Mu'ajam.(67)
The author says: What honour and greatness Allah has bestowed upon Mahdi, the Expected one, that by virtue of his great and truthful grandfather's saying, he got the honour of being amongst the family which Allah has removed from them the uncleanness and purified them a (thorough) purification.
The author of «Eqdud-Durar» narrates (in the first chapter) from Abu Abdulla Na'eem-ibn-Hemad who narrates from Ibn-Abbass who said: 'In his first look, Isa-ibn-Maryam (Jesus Christ) looked at what would be bestowed upon the 'Qaem' from the progeny of Muhammad and then said: 'O Lord, grant me the position of 'Qaem' of Al-e-Muhammad.' Said to him: He shall be from the offspring of Ahmad. Thereafter, be looked for the second time and found the same as that be bad first seen. He asked (Allah) the same and beard the same reply. He looked for the third time and saw exactly what he had seen before. He requested the same and once again received the same reply.
Also, the author of «Eqdud-Durar» narrates from Saalem Ashal as such: 'I heard a tradition similar to this one. Abu Jafar Muhammad-ibn-Ali (may Allah be satisfied with them) would say:
'May my life be sacrificed for you, O Mahdi, the Awaited one, O 'Qaem' of Al-e-Muhammad. I low is this sublime position which Allah has bestowed upon you and assigned it and made it superior (only) for your excellency to such extent that the two confabulator with Allah i.e. Musa-ibn-Imran and the Spirit of Allah, Isa-ibn-Maryam (A.S.) wished to reach this same lofty position as yours even though they themselves possessed a sublime position? Anyhow, Allah did not accept their wish. When both looked and became aware of your sublime position which Allah had allocated for you (only) and discovered your majesty, they became amazed and requested Allah for such a position. However the reply they received was that except for the 'Qaem' of Al-e-Muhammad, none could receive this position.
Then they looked at the effects (i.e. the raising of the true creed (of faith) in the East and West; establishment of equity and Justice and destruction of cruelty and oppression) which would occur through Mahdi's existence and emergence. They requested Allah to make these effects occur under their patronage and make them the cause of their propagatory mission. However they were told that this sublime position was exclusively for 'Qaem' of Al-e-Muhammad.
Bukhari in his «Sahih» vol. 2 Page 158 narrates from Abu Huraira and he from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) who said:-
'How be your position at that time when the son of Maryam shall descend amongst you and your Imam shall be from you.'
The same tradition with similar reference has also been narrated by Muslim.
The author of «Eqdud-Durar» narrates (in the first chapter) from the book 'Manaqib-ul-Mahdi' of Hafez Abu Na'eem Esfahani who narrates from Abu Saeed Khudri who narrates from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) as such:-
'From Us is the one behind whom shall pray Isa.'(68)
Traditions in this regard are many and what we have narrated about his Imamate, distinction and leadership are adequate.
Ganji in his book 'Bayan', after mentioning traditions on 'Salat' (prayers) says: If someone says: The authenticity of this tradition that Isa (A.S.) shall stand for prayers behind Mahdi (A.S.) and will fight along with him and the fact that Isa (A.S.) shall kill Dajjal in the presence of Mahdi and Mahdi (A.S.) will be having precedence over Isa at the time of prayers are all well-known. Similarly, his position is more than Isa at the time of 'Jihad' (the holy war).
As far as the authenticity of these traditions are concerned they are resolute before the Ahl-e-Sunnah and Shi'ites too have narrated them in a similar manner.
Therefore, all the Muslims, whether Shias or Sunnis are unanimous and united over the evidence of Mahdi's existence which means that except for the sayings of Shias and Sunnis, the sayings of other sects is immaterial. In spite of such consensus on this matter and its authenticity we ask: Amongst the two (i.e.
Mahdi and Isa) who is having precedence over the other in prayers and battle?!
We reply: Mahdi and Isa are both leaders, one is the Prophet and the other is the Imam; although in a congregation the one who is the Imam shall be the leader over the other who is the Prophet. Besides, none of the two fear from reproach (of others) seeking the path of Allah and both are immaculate from all types of sins such as deceit, showing off (the good deeds) and hypocrisy. Moreover, none of the two will invite the others towards an act which is outside the decree of 'Shariat' (religious bindings) and against the Wish of Allah and His Prophet.
When such is the affair, then 'Imam' (who is Mahdi) is superior to 'Mamoom' (who is Isa) because, Muhammad's Shariat has commanded as such. The proof of this is what the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) has said:
The one whose recitation of Quran is better (than others) shall lead the people. If it is equal amongst all, then the most wise shall lead and if still they are equal, the most learned shall lead. If yet they are equal, the one who has taken precedence over the others in 'Hijrat' (migration) shall lead and if again they remain the same, the one with a handsome face shall lead. Thus if Mahdi realizes that Isa is superior to him, it is not permissable for Imam to take precedence over Isa in the 'Shariat' since Allah has kept Imam pure and clean from every abominable act. Similarly if Isa realizes that Mahdi is superior to him, it is not permissible for him to allow Mahdi to follow him because, Allah has protected him from pretention, hypocrisy and showing-off. Rather, when once Imam becomes sure that he is more learned than Isa it is permissible for him to take precedence over Isa. Similarly when Isa becomes certain that Mahdi is more learned than him he will allow Hazrat to take precedence and he himself will on the other hand, follow him. This was regarding superiority in prayers.
Jihad (the holy war), is giving one's life before the one who is having an inclination towards Allah through this means. If it is not such, then nobody is having the right to take part in Jihad in front of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) and someone other than him. The verity of this saying is the following Divine words:-
«Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain; a promise which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Ingeel and the Quran; and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Rejoice therefore in the pledge which you have made; and that is the mighty achievement.»
Another point is that Imam is t he representative of the Holy Prophet amongst the people and Isa (Jesus) cannot take precedence over the Holy Prophet. Similarly, it is .not permissible for him to take precedence over his representative.
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