We have a preacher who frequently uses in his Friday sermons, when mentioning the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the phrase
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The questioner : This questioner is from Egypt, the Arab Republic of Egypt. He says: O honorable Shaykh, we have a preacher who frequently uses in his Friday sermons, when mentioning the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the phrase: "Allah's Beloved," and so on. Is there anything wrong with this?
The Shaykh : Yes. It is well known that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is beloved to Allah, and there is no doubt about that. However, it is better for us to say that he is the Intimate Friend of Allah (Khalil Allah) rather than saying he is the Beloved of Allah, because intimacy (khalah) is a higher rank than love. If you describe the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as "Beloved," you lower the rank from intimacy to love. Therefore, it is more appropriate to say "Intimate Friend of Allah," based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 26:27 What indicates to you that intimacy is higher than love is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3656 Even though Abu Bakr is beloved to the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him)—he is the most beloved of men to the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him)—and Aisha is the beloved of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him), and Zayd ibn Harithah is the beloved of the Messenger, and Usamah ibn Zayd is the beloved of the Messenger, and all the Companions are beloved to the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him), yet he did not take any one of them as his intimate friend, because intimacy is the highest form of love, and the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) wanted his intimacy to be for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
This is also indicated by the fact that Allah's love for the believers is general. Allah loves the believers, He loves the righteous, He loves those who are just, and He loves the patient. But we do not know that He took anyone as His intimate friend except Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and Ibrahim. Thus, it becomes clear that those who describe the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) with love and call him "Beloved" are falling short in some way, and that it is more appropriate for them to describe the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) as the Intimate Friend of Allah rather than the Beloved of Allah. It is well known that if intimacy is established, then love is even more so. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes. It is well known that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is beloved to Allah, and there is no doubt about that. However, it is better for us to say that he is the Intimate Friend of Allah (Khalil Allah) rather than saying he is the Beloved of Allah, because intimacy (khalah) is a higher rank than love. If you describe the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) as "Beloved," you lower the rank from intimacy to love. Therefore, it is more appropriate to say "Intimate Friend of Allah," based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
Indeed, Allah has taken me as an intimate friend, just as He took Ibrahim as an intimate friend
إن الله اتخذني خليلا كما اتخذ إبراهيم خليلاIf I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion
لو كنت متخذا من أمتي خليلا لاتخذت أبا بكر ولكن أخوة الإسلام ومودتهThis is also indicated by the fact that Allah's love for the believers is general. Allah loves the believers, He loves the righteous, He loves those who are just, and He loves the patient. But we do not know that He took anyone as His intimate friend except Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and Ibrahim. Thus, it becomes clear that those who describe the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) with love and call him "Beloved" are falling short in some way, and that it is more appropriate for them to describe the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) as the Intimate Friend of Allah rather than the Beloved of Allah. It is well known that if intimacy is established, then love is even more so. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.