Also al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani mentioned that...

Also al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani mentioned that: “The Mahdi is of this Ummah, and that Jesus (PBUH) will come down and pray behind him.”(3) This is also mentioned by another scholar, Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, who wrote: “The Ahlul-Bayt are like the stars through whom we are guided in the right direction, and if the starts are taken away (or hidden) we would come face to face with the signs of the Almighty as promised (i.e., the Day of Resurrection).

This will happen when the Mahdi will come, as mentioned in the traditions, and the Prophet Jesus will say his prayers behind him, the Dajjal will be slain, and then the signs of the Almighty will appear one after another.” (4) All these clearly show that the rank of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) is higher than that of Prophet Jesus (PBUH) who was one of the five greatest messengers of Allah. Are the Imams Inspired?

There is no doubt that when the verse: “Today I have perfected your religion and completed my bounty upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion.” (5), the religion is completed. Allah revealed Quran as well as the Shari’ah (Divine law) only to the Prophet (PBUH&HF), and none of such things was revealed to Imam Ali (PBUH). If Imam Ali was inspired (ILHAM), it had nothing to do with religious commandments; it was rather about what happened and what will happen.

There are many methods that Allah may inform His servants of something. One way is revelation (WAHY). The other way is inspiration (ILHAM). By inspiration, Allah induces the knowledge into the heart of His servant. This is unanimously held by the all the Islamic Schools. But do you really think revelation (WAHY) is only for the prophets and the messengers? If yes, then you have contradicted Quran, for Quran confirms that Allah sent revelation (WAHY) to the mother of Moses.

The mother of Moses was neither a prophet nor a messenger. Agreed? Allah revealed to her to leave her son in the river so that Pharaoh’s soldier could take it to the Palace: And We REVEALED to the mother of Moses: Suckle (thy child) but when thou hast fears about him cast him into the river but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee and We shall make him one of Our apostles. (6) Notice that Quran straight forwardly uses the word WAHY (revelation).

Here, Yusuf Ali has translated the word WAHY into inspiration. But Quran uses WAHY (revelation), and not ILHAM (inspiration). WAHY and ILHAM are two different things.