What is the nature of the love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the nature of the love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? Is it with Allah?
The Shaykh : No, it is not love with Allah. Our love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the love of a Messenger. If he were not the Messenger of Allah, we would not have been permitted to love him with this love. Therefore, his love is subordinate to the love of Allah, not with Allah.
The questioner : I mean, it is not love in Allah, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : It is not with Allah, and it is not in Allah.
The Shaykh : No, it is in Allah, without doubt.
The questioner : I mean, it is a special love.
The Shaykh : It is love in Allah, without doubt, and it is also love for Allah. However, it is not love with Allah in the sense that we do not say that we love the Messenger as we love Allah the Exalted with an original love. But we loved him because he is?
The questioner : Because he is the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : Because he is the Messenger of Allah, and our love for him because he is the Messenger of Allah makes our love for the One who sent him stronger.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Stronger, because the love of the follower is less than the love of the one followed. So, we love the Messenger because he is the Messenger of Allah, and thus our love for the One who sent him is greater.
The Shaykh : No, it is not love with Allah. Our love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the love of a Messenger. If he were not the Messenger of Allah, we would not have been permitted to love him with this love. Therefore, his love is subordinate to the love of Allah, not with Allah.
The questioner : I mean, it is not love in Allah, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : It is not with Allah, and it is not in Allah.
The Shaykh : No, it is in Allah, without doubt.
The questioner : I mean, it is a special love.
The Shaykh : It is love in Allah, without doubt, and it is also love for Allah. However, it is not love with Allah in the sense that we do not say that we love the Messenger as we love Allah the Exalted with an original love. But we loved him because he is?
The questioner : Because he is the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : Because he is the Messenger of Allah, and our love for him because he is the Messenger of Allah makes our love for the One who sent him stronger.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Stronger, because the love of the follower is less than the love of the one followed. So, we love the Messenger because he is the Messenger of Allah, and thus our love for the One who sent him is greater.