Prophets higher in status than Awliyaa'
6-10-2016 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalaamu alaykum. I do not have the knowlegde of those verses and narrations regarding the creed that the Prophets of Allaah are higher in status than any other creation and that it is disbelief to believe that any saint is better than the Prophets. I seriously need proof from the Quran and the Sunnah to show them to the persons who have the opposite believe; i.e., that the members of the family of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, are superior to the Prophets.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The Prophets of Allaah are the people of the highest status and rank among the creation of Allaah. There are many pieces of evidence in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet about this. For example, Allaah says (what means): {Allaah chooses from the angels messengers and from the people.} [Quran 22:75]
Allaah also says (what means): {And that was Our [conclusive] argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing. And We gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - all [of them] We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good and Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias - and all were of the righteous. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot - and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds.} [Quran 6:83]
Absolutely, the best of creation at all is our Prophet Muhammad then the Messengers of great determination (please, refer to fatwa 1594), and then all the other Prophets and Messengers.
The preference of the Prophets over other people is agreed upon in a consensus among the Muslims. If someone contradicts this statement, then he has indeed contradicted the religion of the Muslims.
At-Tahaawi 
said in his Mu’taqad, “We do not prefer any of the Awliyaa' over any of the Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and we say: one Prophet is better than all the Awliyaa'.”
For more benefit about the explanation of this statement, you may refer to the book entitled Sharh At-Tahawiyyah authored by Ibn Abil ‘Izz.
Also, Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah greatly elaborated in refuting this false claim and lie. In this regard, you may refer to Lawaami’ Al-Anwaar Al-Bahiyyah, authored by As-Saffaareeni .
Allaah knows best.