The reason for the superiority of Imam Ali (as):
Sa’sa’a said to Ali: Oh Ali, who is more superior, you or Adam?
Imam replied: Me. Sa’Sa asked: Why?
Imam Ali said: Allah did not forbid “me” from eating wheat, but he forbid Adam from eating it. The food that was Halal for me, was forbidden for Adam as it is mentioned by a verse in Quran:
Don’t come close to the forbidden tree
God asks man to come close to Him. For me, eating was Halal, but I chose not to eat.
And the reason why he prohibited this food was that there were people in his reign that couldn’t eat wheat
Sa’sa’a asked: Who is superior, you or the next Prophet, Noah?
Ali replied: Me
Noah cursed his men, but I didn’t.
Third, Sa’sa’a asked: Who is superior, you or Abraham?
Ali replied. Me, for Abraham said to Allah. My lord! Show me how you give life to the dead!
And as Quran recites Abraham asks for “my heart may be at ease”
But as Imam explained that if all the veil over the unseen were lifted, the strength of Imam Ali’s believe would not increase or decrease.
Sa’sa’a asked: Who is superior, you or Moses?
Hazrat Ali replied: I am superior, for Moses has declared his fear in 6-7 situations.
“Note that it is not shameful for man to be afraid of Almighty Allah
Moses was referring to Pharaoh.
But Imam Ali did not fear a second when he risked his life and
laid covered in Prophet’s bed to protect the Prophet from Quraish infidals.
Imam Ali said: I didn’t fear.
Sa’sa’a asked: Who is superior, you or Jesus?
Ali said: I am superior, for when Hazrat Maryam approached the delivery birth time of Jesus, Allah ordered her to leave the Holy House.
On the other hand, Allah creates a fissure in the wall of the Ka’ba and asked a lady to go inside to give birth.
الانوار النعمانیة ج1 ، ص27اللمعة البیضاء ص220