Combining the lack of distinction between the messengers with the preference of some over others

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Question:
In it is mentioned the command that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is superior to his prophets and to his father, and between His saying, the Exalted: “There is no separation between one and…”

Answer:

We make no distinction between any of them

لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ

[Al-Baqarah 2:136]

in faith and disbelief, meaning

We believe in some and disbelieve in others

نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ

[An-Nisa 4:150]

as the Jews and Christians did. The Christians disbelieved in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Jews disbelieved in 'Isa and disbelieved in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So distinguishing between the prophets means believing in some of them and disbelieving in some of them.
As for preferring some of them over others, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:

Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit.

تِلْكَ الرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٍ وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ

[Al-Baqarah 2:253]

. It is Allah who preferred some of the prophets over others. This is a belief. Do not say that some of the prophets are better than others, but this does not mean that one should belittle the word or disparage a prophet who is misguided, for he has virtue and status.
For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Do not prefer me over the other prophets.

لا تفضلوني على أمور مسلمة

. Meaning, if the preference is merely due to tribal bias or disparaging some of the prophets, this is not permissible. But if it is in the context of speaking of the grace of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and explaining the favor of Allah upon His servants, there is no harm.

Source الفوزان -أشرطة- أسئلة وأجوبة من دروس التوحيد - أسئلة وأجوبة - الفوزان - ٨ — archive.org (16:13)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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