One of the main beliefs of the Twelver Shia sect is that their concept of Imamate is superior to Prophethood and the twelve people they claim to be their Imams are higher in rank than all the Prophets of Allah (علیهم سلام) except the last Prophet Muhammad (saw).
We have taken all these quotes directly from the famous Twelver Shia website:
“The Shi’a further believe that the twelve Imams of the House of Prophet Muhammad have the rank higher than that of ALL the messengers (be Imam or not) except Prophet Muhammad (S).”
A Shi’ite Encyclopedia Imamat versus Prophethood Part 1
https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia-ahlul-bayt-dilp-team/imamat-versus-prophethood-part-1
“…which proves that the office of Imamate, with the ability to exercise inner influence on the ummah in order to advance on the inner path, was a higher and more exalted office than his prophethood.”
Imamate and Leadership – Lesson 17: The Imamate and Inner Guidance of Man
https://www.al-islam.org/imamate-and-leadership-sayyid-mujtaba-musavi-lari/lesson-17-imamate-and-inner-guidance-man
“The rank of imamate is higher than that of general prophethood”
“Since prophethood and the title of Khalil (Friend) did not apparently warrant a higher rank, the office of Imamate was the only office of a higher order to which even a Prophet of Allah could be entrusted.”
Peshawar Nights Fourth Session, Sunday night, 2nd Rajab 1345 A.H.
https://www.al-islam.org/peshawar-nights-sultan-al-waadhim-sayyid-muhammad-al-musawi-ash-shirazi/fourth-session-sunday-night#rank-imamate-higher-general-prophethood
“The Imamate is a stage lower than the highest stage of prophethood, but it is a stage higher than all other ranks of prophethood. Since ‘Ali was raised to the stage higher than prophethood and was one in spirit with the Holy Prophet, he was endowed with the office of the Imamate and was thus superior to all previous prophets.”
“The rank of the Imamate is higher than the rank of general prophethood, but lower than special prophethood. The last Prophet is the highest stage of special prophethood.”
Peshawar Nights Fourth Session, Sunday night, 2nd Rajab 1345 A.H.
https://www.al-islam.org/peshawar-nights-sultan-al-waadhim-sayyid-muhammad-al-musawi-ash-shirazi/fourth-session-sunday-night#rank-imamate-higher-general-prophethood
“Since the Holy Prophet was superior to all other prophets, ‘Ali was also superior to them”
“Therefore, ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib was definitely superior to the prophets,…”
Peshawar Nights Seventh Session, Wednesday Night, 29th Rajab 1345 A.H.
https://www.al-islam.org/peshawar-nights-sultan-al-waadhim-sayyid-muhammad-al-musawi-ash-shirazi/seventh-session-wednesday#holy-prophet-was-superior-all-other-prophets-%E2%80%98ali-was-also-superior-them
More can be read on these links: http://www.sjiieten-ontmaskerd.nl/AhlelBayt.com/www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/imamah/imams-superior-to-prophets.html or http://www.chiite.fr/en/imamah_05.html
The Imamah of the Shia, a hidden call for the continuation of Prophet-hood.
Giving Dawah to Shia 