Important Notes Regarding the Visiting of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) Grave

The questioner : The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, the author of the book *Shifa' al-Fu'ad* regarding the visitation of the best of people mentioned that people have different ranks and stations in visiting the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He also stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is called the First, the Last, the Apparent, and the Hidden, among other things. Is what the author of this book mentioned in his book correct? And does the one who prints such a book or distributes it commit a sin?

The Shaykh : I have not read the book; I have not read the book the questioner mentioned. As for what he mentioned about the visitor to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) having ranks, we do not know what these ranks are that the questioner referred to, so that we could rule on them as valid or invalid. As for the one who names anyone as the First, the Last, the Apparent, and the Hidden, he has made him a partner with Allah the Exalted in these attributes which are not permissible for anyone but Allah. No one among the created beings is . Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: We must know that loving the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and honoring the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is never achieved by exaggeration in his regard. Rather, whoever exaggerates in the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has not honored the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade exaggeration in his regard. So if you exaggerate in him, you have disobeyed the Prophet. And if one disobeys someone, can it be said that he honored him? No. So it is obligatory upon us, O brothers, not to exaggerate in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as the People of the Book exaggerated in their prophets. Rather, we say that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is a servant who is not to be worshipped, and a Messenger who does not lie. And on this occasion, I point to a phrase that some people say: "Ibrahim is the Intimate Friend of Allah, and Muhammad is the Beloved of Allah." This is an error, because if they say "Ibrahim is the Intimate Friend of Allah and Muhammad is the Beloved of Allah," they have diminished the status of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), for the Intimate Friend (Khalil) is higher than the Beloved (Habbib). Therefore, we say that we do not know that Allah took anyone as an Intimate Friend from among the humans except two, and they are Ibrahim and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them both). Allah the Exalted said: , but did Allah take anyone as a Beloved?
Yes, many. And Allah loves the believers, He loves the righteous, , He loves those who repent, and He loves those who purify themselves. So whoever says "Ibrahim is the Intimate Friend of Allah and Muhammad is the Beloved of Allah," he has diminished the rights of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Rather, we say: Ibrahim is the Intimate Friend of Allah and Muhammad is the Intimate Friend of Allah.