Shaykh Abu Ja’far said that in this regard our belief was that Prophets, Messengers and their Deputies (heir) were more eminent than the Angels, because when God announced that He was about to appoint His representative on the earth, the Angels in reply to this proclamation said,

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ They said: ‘Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not’” (2:30).

God replied that He knows what they know not. This dialogue suggests that it was Angels’ desire to acquire the status of Adam, which according to their aspiration was superior to their rank, as knowledge was the standard of differentiation. God taught Adam the names (the nature) of all things, and He then asked Angels to explain the nature of things. They replied:

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

“They said: Glory be to Thee! we have no knowledge but that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the Knowing, the Wise” (2:32).

God then addressed Adam and repeated the question. Adam explained everything in relation to the issue. God then told the Angels,

قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ

“… He said: Did I not tell you that I know the secret of the heavens and the earth? And I know that which ye disclose and which ye hide” (2:33).

All these things suggested that Adam was superior to the Angels and he was also a Prophet towards them, as God declared:

أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ

“Tell them the name of those…” (2:33).

Another thing that distinguished Adam from the Angels was God’s command to them to show their respect towards him by prostration. It was stated that all Angels bowed before Adam.

فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ

“So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together” (15:30).

This performance definitely proved Adam’s superiority, and an illustration of obedience to God, and a sign of respect for Adam, since his seed had contained the light of the persons of Muhammad (S) and his holy progeny. He, the Prophet of God (S), said, “I am superior to Gabriel, Michael and Isra’fil, and all those Angels that are given the special status of propinquity.”

He also said, “I am the leader of Adam’s entire generations, (including Jesus Christ) for whom God had said that he (Jesus) did not negate to be a servant of God and nor the Angels.”

This did not mean that Angels were superior to Jesus. This clarification was done by the Lord, because some Christians believed that Jesus was God for them and they worshipped him, and that there were some star worshippers who have adulated Angels. This concept was repudiated by God with this declaration:

لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا

“The Messiah disdaineth nor to serve and worship Allah, nor do the angels, those nearest (to Allah): those who disdain His worship and are arrogant. He will gather them all together unto Himself to (answer)” (4:172).

It was also our faith that Angels were spiritual creatures and they did not disobey Him and they performed as they were required to do. They did not eat and drink and nor did they feel pain or fall ill or become old. Their food and nourishment was the worship of God and their life depended on the ambience of the region of the Seat of Authority (the Throne).

Their pleasures and delights were various branches of knowledge. God had created them the way He wanted as a combination of light and spirit and each group of Angels looked after other creations of God. Those people whom we have preferred over the Angels had attributes far disproportionate than the Angels.