I see some people writing in letters to their brother, for example, or to their father, saying, for example, "My dear father" or "My noble brother" or "My honorable sister," and other such names from the beautiful names of Allah.
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The questioner : I see some people writing in letters to their brother, for example, or to their father, saying, for example: "My dear father" or "My noble brother" or "My honorable sister," and other such names from the beautiful names of Allah. Is there anything wrong with this practice?
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with this; rather, it is permissible. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:128] And He the Exalted said: [An-Naml 27:23] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3390 This is evidence that such descriptions are valid for Allah and for others.
However, Allah’s possession of these attributes is not similar to the possession of these attributes by any of the created beings, for the attributes of the Creator befit Him, and the attributes of the created being befit it. When a person says to his father, mother, or friend, "My dear one," he means that you are dear to me and precious to me, and the like of that. He never intends the attribute that belongs to Allah, which is the mightiness by which no one can overpower Him, but rather he means that you are dear to me and precious to me, and the like of that.
The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with this; rather, it is permissible. Allah the Exalted said:
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.
لقد جاءكم رسول من أنفسكم عزيز عليه ما عنتم حريص عليكم بالمؤمنين رؤوف رحيمand she has a great throne.
ولها عرش عظيمThe honorable, the son of the honorable, the son of the honorable, (was) Joseph
إن الكريم ابن الكريم ابن الكريم يوسفHowever, Allah’s possession of these attributes is not similar to the possession of these attributes by any of the created beings, for the attributes of the Creator befit Him, and the attributes of the created being befit it. When a person says to his father, mother, or friend, "My dear one," he means that you are dear to me and precious to me, and the like of that. He never intends the attribute that belongs to Allah, which is the mightiness by which no one can overpower Him, but rather he means that you are dear to me and precious to me, and the like of that.