Sayyidina lbn Abbas (RA) narrated: Some of the sahabah of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ sat together awaiting him. He came forth till he was near them and heard them discussing. He heard their conversation. Someone among them said, Wonderful that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, took a friend from His creatures! He took Ibrahim for a friend.’ Another put in, “What could he more wonderful than the conversation of Musa-he spoke directly to Allah!” Yet another exclaimed. “As for Eesa, he was the word of Allah and His spirit.” Someone else wondered, ‘As for Aadam, Allah chose him.’ Then, he came to them, offered them salaam and said, “Indeed, I heard your conversation and your surprise. Surely, Ibrahim was Allah’s friend. That is so! And Musa was confidant of Allah, and that is exactly so! And, Eesa was the spirit of Allah and His word, and that is exactly so! Aadam was Allah’s chosen one, and that is exactly so’O And know, I am, the dear friend of Allah, and no pride about it. And, I will be the holder of the standard of praise (Hamd) on the day of Resurrection, no boast. And, I will be the tirst to intercede and the first whose intercession will be accepted, no boast. And, I will be the first to knock the chain ot (the gate of) paradise. Allah will open it for me and I will enter it, and with me the poor of the Believers no boast. And I am the noblest of the first and the last-no boast!”