Al-Mahdi (a.s.)

third:

(and you may be bearers of witness to the people.) fourth:

(he has chosen you.)

fifth:

(he named you muslims since before.)

besides these, there are other traditions and writings which have come with regard to their superiority and if there was no other superiority but the relationship and kinship with the holy prophet of islam (s.a.w.a.) suffice it was for them to take pride and flaunt.

verily, the islamic 'ummah' is that very 'ummah' in which exists specimens of martyrs of karbala as well as the battle of badr and uhud; amongst them being hamza, the chief of the martyrs.

in them are specimen of those who accompanied the prophet in battles and fought with their lives and properties in the way of Allah. in them are specimens like salman, abu zar, miqdad, ammar, thalha, zubair, abu ubaida and saad-ibn-abi waqqas. moreover, the tradition which we had mentioned says: 'Mahdi is the best of muhammad's 'ummah'. therefore, speaking about his superiority, suffice it is to mention this very fact that he is the best among the islamic 'ummah'.

the author of «eqdud-durar» narrates (in the seventh chapter) from 'musnad' of imam ahmad and 'awali' of hafez abu na'eem and these two from abdullah-ibn-abbass who said: 'the holy prophet (s.a.w.a.) said:-

destruction is not for a nation (ummah) in which i am the first of it, isa the last and Mahdi the middlemost.