The Ruling on Taking a Close Friend in This World

Question:
Your brother, Honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you. Is it permissible to take a close friend in this world, such as a son, a brother, a wife, or a friend?

Answer:
No. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is the one who prohibited taking a close friend, because Allah took Him as His close friend, and one does not combine two close friends. As for us, there is no objection; we say our close friend is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "My close friend, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), advised me." "Close friend" means the one he loves with the greatest love. There is no objection, and you may take close friends from among the people; there is no objection. The rights of the created beings, some with others, there is no objection. Yes. But as for what is between the servant and his Lord, no; the state of being a close friend did not occur except for two of the people, and they were prohibited from taking close friends from among the people. For this reason, when Ibrahim loved his son, whom he was given in old age, Allah tested him by commanding him to sacrifice him, so that his closeness would be pure for Allah the Exalted and Majestic. He proceeded to sacrifice him and proceeded to carry it out in obedience to Allah the Exalted and Majestic. Yes.