Describing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as the intimate friend of Allah is better than describing him as the beloved of Allah.
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The Shaykh : And with this, we know that describing the Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as the intimate friend of Allah is better than describing him as the beloved of Allah. These people who constantly speak and say “the beloved of Allah” or the like have belittled the right of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because intimacy (khalah) is higher than love. Love is established for many of Allah’s servants; indeed, Allah loves the righteous, He loves the doers of good, He loves those who are just, and the like. We do not know intimacy to be established for anyone except these two noble messengers: Ibrahim and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) highlighted this great virtue of his, saying: Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 26:27.
And I have heard some people say: Muhammad is the beloved of Allah and Ibrahim is the intimate friend of Allah. Look at how ignorant they are! They distinguish between them, even though the Messenger said:Al-Mustadrak lil-Hakim 26:27 Yes.
The reciter: "Sahih Muslim 532 ".
The Shaykh : By Allah, it is a great distinction for Abu Bakr, He did not say, “I took Umar,” nor “I took Uthman,” nor “I took al-Abbas,” nor anyone else. And this is a virtue, by Allah, that no one from the Ummah attained except Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), even though there are people now who claim to be Muslim and curse Abu Bakr. May Allah fight them. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
The reciter: "Mishkat al-Masabih 713 ".
The Shaykh : Allah is the Helper.
Indeed, Allah has taken me as an intimate friend, just as He took Ibrahim as an intimate friend.
إن الله اتخذني خليلاً كما اتخذ ابراهيم خليلاًAnd I have heard some people say: Muhammad is the beloved of Allah and Ibrahim is the intimate friend of Allah. Look at how ignorant they are! They distinguish between them, even though the Messenger said:
Indeed, Allah has taken me as an intimate friend, just as He took Ibrahim as an intimate friend.
إن الله اتخذني خليلاً كما اتخذ ابراهيم خليلاًThe reciter: "
I stand acquitted before Allah that I took any one of you as friend, for Allah has taken me as His friend, as he took Ibrahim as His friend. Had I taken any one of my Ummah as a friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend.
إني أبرأ إلى الله أن يكون لي منكم خليل ، فإن الله قد اتخذني خليلاً كما اتخذ إبراهيم خليلًا، ولو كنت متخذًا من أمتي خليلًا لاتخذت أبا بكر خليلًاThe Shaykh : By Allah, it is a great distinction for Abu Bakr,
I would have taken Abu Bakr.
لو كنت متخذاً خليلاً من الأمة لاتخذت أبا بكرI would have taken Abu Bakr.
لاتخذت أبا بكرThe reciter: "
Those who preceded you used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as mosques, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.
ألا وإن من كان قبلكم كانوا يتخذون قبور أنبيائهم مساجد، ألا فلا تتخذوا القبور مساجد، إني أنهاكم عن ذلكThe Shaykh : Allah is the Helper.