Awliya are superior than (the masses of) humans, messengers are superior than the saints, and though the messengers (rusul) are superior than prophets (anbiyaa), but the nubuwwah of our prophet is superior than all the messengers (rusul)
mashaAllah. the third connotation for "se" is well-thought. and I completely missed "aur" as in "deegar" or "other". jazakAllahu khayran
EXCELLENCE Ala Hazrat uses the word "se" and ends with "a'ala" to prove the excellence of Allah's beloved bondmen over others. khalq se awliya, The Awliya (saints) are superior to the Khalq (all other creations) awliya se rusul The Rusul (the Messengers) are superior to the saints aur rasuloN se a'ala hamara nabi And superior to the Noble Messengers is our Prophet A. Here Ala Hazrat does not mention the word Ambiya in between the Awliyaa and Rusul although the Rusul are superior to the other Ambiya. In a subtle way, he mentions that our Prophet is better than not only all Ambiya, but is superior to all the Noble Messengers too. B. In the last line, he also uses to the word "aur" to mean "other"; so it would mean that ALL the Noble Messengers are superior to everyone; and since Hazrat Mohammed is also a Rasool, (and of course a Nabiyy), he is superior to all the "other" Noble Messengers. WORDS OF PRAISE OR SEEKING OF FAVORS Ala Hazrat uses the word "se" to mean "we hear these words from them in order to praise or seek favors" - so the verses would translate as follows:- khalq se "awliya, awliya" We hear the the creation saying "the saints, the saints" awliya se rusul we hear the saints saying "the noble Messengers" aur rasuloN se a'ala hamara nabi and the Noble Messengers say: the most high is our Prophet - we receive our favors through him.
do you mean the use of the word "se"? that it can be construed as "belonging to" as well as a preposition of comparison like "than"? -- then there is the stringing together at the end of which is placed the word "aala" - no repetition. -- also it is "khalq" and not just "insaan" - which is apt, considering the verses 6:86 and 3:33 mention the superiority of Prophets (peace be upon them) over 'aalameen. and also because "risaalat" is not limited to humans but there rusul among angles as well (for example, sayyiduna Gibril - peace be upon him)- AND - rusul-al-bashar are superior to rusul-al-malaik (this, if I remember correctly, is also mentioned in al-mu'taqad). thirdly, using "hamara nabi" instead of "hamara rasul" - is this a subtle refutation of the qadiyanis etc.? or is it because the verse 4:69, while mentioning those whom Allah ta'ala has specially favored/blessed/rewarded, in the descending order of their ranks, starts at "nabi", whereas the verse itself starts with rasul - "Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger" (till the end). Allah ta'ala knows best. P.S: to be "acquainted with alahazrat's style" - is only possible for those who have read his actual works, widely and attentively, and not just their translations.
another fine example of sahl mumtaniy is the couplet: khalq se awliya, awliya se rusul aur rasuloN se a'ala hamara nabi am sure many people acquainted with alahazrat's style will be able to place it; but just asking what is special about this verse?
