After the Messenger of Allaaah - صلى الله عليه و سلم, the most virtuous of the creation are the ‘Messengers of Strong Will’, they are:
- Nooh
- Ibraheem
- Moosaa
- ‘Eesaa
- and the fifth is our messenger Muhammad - صلى الله عليه و سلم.
Allaah said:
{ And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad - صلى الله عليه و سلم), and from Nooh (Noah), Ibraaheem (Abraham), Moosaa (Moses), and ‘Eesaa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary). } [Al Ahzaab: 7]
The most virtuous amongst them after our prophet is Ibraheem.
Those who come after them in virtue, are the rest of the Messengers who were honored with the Message, the most virtuous after the messengers are the prophets, may the best Salaat and Salaam be upon them all, and they have different levels of virtue, Allaah said:
{ Those are the Messengers! We preferred some of them to others…} [Al Baqarah: 253]
It is an obligation to believe in the details of this issue if detailed knowledge of it is available, and in general where there is no detailed knowledge, with full conviction of the mentioned ruling without harboring any doubt, just as some were preferred over others concerning the Books revealed to them, the legislations they were given and the size of their nations.
Ash Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan states in al Irshaad P. 179:
The most virtuous of the Messengers of Strong Will are al Khaleelaan; Ibraheem and Muhammad may the best Salaat and Salaam be upon them all, and the most virtuous of the two is Muhammad - صلى الله عليه و سلم.
