Seeking Nearness to Allah Through Love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Through His Right (peace and blessings be upon him)

The Shaykh : If a person seeks nearness to Allah through his love for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and says, “O Allah, I ask You by my love for Your Prophet to grant me such and such,” this is permissible. This is because love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is an act of worship by which a person draws near to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). It is obligatory for you that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) be more beloved to you than yourself, your children, your parents, and all of mankind. Look, my brothers, at the greetings in the tashahhud. The first thing we present is the right of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Then, after that, the right of whom? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then, after that, the right of yourself. Then, after that, the right of your Muslim brothers. This indicates that the greatest of rights, and the one most deserving of being presented first, is the right of whom? The right of the Lord of the Worlds, then the right of His trustworthy Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), then the right of the self, then the right of the righteous in the funeral prayer. In the first takbir, say, “Rise.”
The student: Al-Fatihah.

The Shaykh : Al-Fatihah is praise of Allah. The second is prayer upon the Messenger. The third is a general supplication for the Muslims. The fourth is a specific supplication for the deceased. Rest. Why did we present our right in “peace upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah” before the righteous servants? Because the right of the self takes precedence over others. However, in the supplication for the deceased, you will supplicate for others, and the general is preferred over the specific. Reflect on these great meanings and profound secrets in the Shari'ah, and it will become clear to you that they are from the Wise, the Knowing. If seeking nearness to Allah through love for the Messenger is permissible, is it not permissible? It is permissible, because you are rewarded for it. By the way, we often hear people say, “Ibrahim is the intimate friend of Allah, and Muhammad is the beloved of Allah.” Is this correct or incorrect? Please, rise.
The student: Incorrect.

The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because...

The Shaykh : Exactly, this is incorrect, because Ibrahim is the intimate friend of Allah, and Muhammad is also the intimate friend of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Which is higher, love or intimacy? Intimacy is higher. For this reason, we do not know of any created being whom Allah took as an intimate friend except Ibrahim and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them both). But we know that Allah loves the learned, loves the believers, loves the righteous, and loves those who fight in His path in rows. But can you say that Allah is the intimate friend of those who fight in His path in rows? No, you do not say that. Can you say that Allah is the intimate friend of the believers? No. So, if you say that Ibrahim is the intimate friend of Allah and Muhammad is also the intimate friend of Allah, it is clear, my brothers. But some supplications come, in reality, without focusing on knowledge; the one who composed them has some ignorance, and he says, “Ibrahim is the intimate friend of Allah, and Muhammad is the beloved of Allah.” This seeking nearness through love for the Messenger, if it is permissible, is seeking nearness through the right of the Messenger. This is not permissible. Seeking nearness through the right of the Messenger is not permissible, because the one who benefits from the right of the Messenger is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Unless the speaker intends by “the right of the Messenger” that it is upon him, which is belief in him and following him; then this falls under the category of seeking nearness through righteous deeds. Likewise, seeking nearness through the status of the Messenger: the correct view is that it is not permissible. We say, “O my Muslim brother, instead of seeking nearness through doubtful matters and matters of disagreement, seek nearness to Allah through something clear, with no issue in it.” How many types of permissible seeking nearness did we count? Seven types, yes?
The student: May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Write, write the question.
The student: On the same topic.

The Shaykh : Write the question, on the same topic or another.