He said: Abu Nasr Muhammad b. al-Husain al-Muqri reported to me from Umar b. Muhammad al-Warraq, who reported from ALI b. al-Abbas al-Bijilli, who reported from Hameed b. Ziyad, who reported from Abu Nuaim al-Fadhl b. Dakin, who reported from Muqatil b. Sulaiman, from al-Dhahhak b. Mazahim, from Ibn Abbas, who said:
I asked the PROPHET (SAWW) . Peace be upon him and his progeny, about the verse of the Quran: 'And those foremost in faith, are the foremost, those are the ones brought near, in the garden of bliss...' (56:10,11,12). He said: Jibraeel told me: "That refers to ALI (ASWS) and his Shias. They are the foremost towards Paradise, brought closer to ALLAH (SWT), Most High, by the special honour bestowed upon them."
(Ref Al Amali Shaikh Mufeed The Thirty fifth Assembly Hadees No. 7)