(324) It is related from the Sage—exalted be his glory: "Ali is Amir Almuminin—Prince of those in the heaven and the earth; Prince of those who have passed and Prince of those who remain. There was no Prince in them before him, nor shall there be a Prince in them after him, nor later."

(325) From our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory: Fatima bint Asad, the mother of Amir Almuminin, went with Safiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib—peace be upon them both—to the Kaaba. She was seized by the labor and birth pains common to women. Fatima cried out: "O Safiyya, reach me!" Safiyya said: "I rushed to her, but the Light dazzled me and I grew terrified. My Master called out to me: 'Do not be alarmed; I am God, there is no deity except Me.' I departed running. My nephew met me and said—exalted be his glory: 'He spoke the truth, and I am His servant and Messenger.'"

(326) It is related from Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Mihran from our Master al-Sadiq—exalted be his glory—that he said one day to his followers (Shia): "You have ascended to a degree beyond which there is no step. After the knowledge of God and His Messenger, there is nothing but falsehood; so what [more] do you seek?"

This is supported by the fact that all the prophets were in need of the successors (al-awsiya). Among these examples is our Lord Jacob, the Israel of God—exalted be his glory—regarding whom He said in the Torah: "Jacob is my firstborn and my son." He demonstrated incapacity in his affairs and a state of need toward Joseph, his successor. He complained to him of his distress and grief, so the Lord Joseph—exalted be his glory—heard his private plea, answered his call, restored his sight, and healed him. He instantly forgave his criminal brothers and raised his parents upon the throne, where they fell prostrate before him as God informed. Jacob—who is the Israel of God and His choice—was not one to prostrate to other than God or associate anything with Him; rather, he prostrated to God who was benevolent toward him: his successor and his Lord, his Benefactor.