Is what some people say true, that it is obligatory to compete with the Prophets and Messengers in the love of God and closeness to Him, and that not doing so is considered polytheism (shirk) with God, citing as evidence the two verses: "Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever dreaded," and "O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek means of nearness to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed"? Do all servants compete for the Wasilah (the highest rank)? Is there a greater bliss, which is the attainment of God's pleasure itself? Will God resurrect all people, Prophets and others, as one believing nation, based on His saying: "And had your Lord willed, He could have made mankind one nation; but they will not cease to differ, Except those on whom your Lord has bestowed mercy; and for that He created them. And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled: 'I will surely fill Hell with jinn and mankind all together'"? Is "Except those on whom your Lord has bestowed mercy" referring to the Mahdi, and that those who preceded him erred in their search for the Wasilah? Is the Mahdi the only one who truly worshipped God? And what is the extent of the validity of these strange statements?

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