There are many authenticated prophetic quotations
that speak of our Prophet's (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be Upon Him) selection over and above all of
the creation of Allah as being "The beloved of
Allah" and Muslims often refer to him by this title.
There is a difference between the exalted titles of
"close friend" and "beloved" and these will be
explained.
The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, spoke of
his closeness to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (May Allah be
pleased with Him) saying, "If I were to have taken a
close friend other than my Lord, I would have taken
Abu Bakr."
We are also informed that the Prophet, praise and
peace be upon him, said "Your companion (referring
to himself) is the close friend of Allah" and this
is endorsed by the transmission from Abdullah Ibn
Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with Him) in his
narration, "Allah took your companion as a close
friend."
Several of the Companions had gathered and waited
for the arrival of the Prophet, praise and peace be
upon him, and during this time they spoke to one
another about the ranks of the prophets. Ibn Abbas'
(May Allah be pleased with Him) reported that when
the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, came out
he overheard their conversation, one of whom was
saying, "How astounding, Allah took Ibrahim Alaihis
Salam from His creation as His close friend,"
Another said, "It is even more astounding that He
spoke directly to Moosa Alaihis Salam!" Whereupon
another said, "Eisa Alaihis Salam is the word of
Allah and His created spirit." And another said,
"Allah chose Adam Alaihis Salam!" Having heard their
comments, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him,
greeted them and told them that he had heard what
they were saying and noticed that they were
astounded that Allah had chosen Ibrahim Alaihis
Salam as a close friend, and confirmed that this was
so. He said, "You also expressed your amazement that
Allah took Moosa Alaihis Salam as a close friend,
and this too is so. You also spoke of Eisa Alaihis
Salam as being the created spirit of Allah, and this
is so, and that Adam Alaihis Salam was chosen and
this is so. I am the beloved of Allah, and I am not
boasting. I will be the Bearer of the Banner of
Praise on the Day of Resurrection, and this is not a
boast. I will be the first to intercede and the
first whose intercession is accepted, and this is
not a boast. I will be the first to knock at the
Gate of the Garden and Allah will cause it to be
opened for me and let me enter together with the
poor believers, and this is not a boast. From the
first to the last I am the most honored or all, and
this is not a boast."
In addition to the preceding Prophetic quotation,
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with
Him) reported that Allah said to His Prophet, praise
and peace be upon him, "I have taken you for a close
friend, and written in the Torah is 'the Beloved of
the Merciful.'"
There are differences in opinion regarding the
terminology "close friend" and the root word from
which it is derived. There are those who say the
Arabic word "khalil", meaning 'close friend', also
bears the definition of "devoted to Allah." This is
because people who attain such a rank of devotion or
love of Allah are not detached from one another.
Another opinion is that the word "khalil" can be
taken as meaning "chosen", and that Allah selected
this word in preference to others. It has also been
said that the root of the word is derived from
"taking a matter to be pure".
Prophet Ibrahim Alaihis Salam was called the close
friend of Allah "Khalilullah" on account of the
ultimate intensity of his devotion to Allah. The
friendship of Allah to Ibrahim was that He made him
victorious and a role model. On the other hand,
there are those who define the root of "khalil",
which is "khulla" meaning "in need" as being "a poor
person in need". Ibrahim Alaihis Salam was known by
this title because his need was only in his Lord and
he was devotedly dependent upon Him for his needs
and did not depend upon others. We recall how when
Ibrahim was about to be cast into the fire, Gabriel
Alaihis Salam came to him and asked, "Are you in
need of anything?" whereupon he replied, "No, I am
not in need of anything from you."
Ibn Abu Bakr Furack (May Allah be pleased with Him)
defined the word "khulla" with the meaning of "pure
love that necessitates a person being singled out
for being infused by secrets."
It has also been said that the root of the word "khulla"
is love, and incorporates kindness, help, raising
and intercession. This is founded in the verse that
reads, "The Jews and the Christians said, “We are
the sons of Allah and His beloved ones”; say, “Why
does He then punish you for your sins?' [5:18]. It
is inconceivable that if a person is beloved, that
he should be punished for his sins!
The Prophet-hood has perspectives between people and
the prophet, whereas the friendship has a
perspective between Allah and Prophet Muhammad,
praise and peace be upon him, which makes it very
special.
Because of their devotion to Allah, both Prophets
Ibrahim and Muhammad, peace be upon them, were
titled "close friends." They looked to Him for all
their needs and severed themselves from needing
anyone else. And, it was either because of the
greatness of the concealed kindness of Allah to
them, and the disclosed knowledge of the Divine
secrets they received, as well as the matters of the
Unseen worlds and faith with which they were infused
in their inner self that they forsook other means
and causes. Or, because their hearts had been
purified from anything other than Him, so that love
for anything else was prevented from reaching them.
For this reason a scholar said, "A person who is 'khalil'
is one whose heart has no room for anyone other than
Him." Accordingly he is of the opinion that this is
what the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him,
referred to when he said, "If I were to have taken a
close friend other than my Lord, I would have taken
Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with Him, however, in
Islam there is brotherhood."
Opinions vary among the knowledgeable masters of the
matters relating to the heart as to which is the
higher degree and the question arises is it the
degree of close friendship, or the degree of love
the higher? On the other hand there are those who
consider both degrees as being equal to one another
saying that the beloved is a close friend and a
close friend is also the beloved. But then, Prophet
Ibrahim was given the degree of close friendship and
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them both, was given
love.
In support of the opinion that the degree of
friendship is higher, one of the scholars quotes the
saying of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him,
that says, "If I were to have taken a close friend
other than my Lord …" but he did not do so and we
find him using the word 'love' to his daughter
Sayyida Fatima, her sons, as well as Osama and
others.
The consensus of most scholars is that "love" is
higher than "friendship". To sustain this opinion
they use as their proof that Prophet Muhammad,
praise and peace be upon him, was given the title of
the "Beloved" whereas Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon
him, was titled "Close Friend" .
One must examine the human basis of love and know
that it is the inclination of what the beloved finds
pleasing. The love of Allah is not connected to
unessential matters. His love for His worshipers is
comprised of happiness, protection, success, and
affairs that bring him/her closer and His Mercy that
overflows upon the recipient. The highest degree is
reached when the veils of the heart are removed so
that the worshiper sees Him with his heart and looks
at Him with his inner eye. This is supported by the
Divine quotation that tells us, "When I (Allah) love
him I am his hearing by which he hears, the sight by
which he sees, and his tongue by which he speaks."
One should understand by this that there is nothing
better for a worshiper other than seclusion for the
sake of Allah, devotion to Him, the turning away
from anything other than Allah, the purity of heart
and sincerity of actions for the sake of Allah.
Sayyida Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, was
asked about the Prophet, praise and peace be upon
him, and said, "His character was the Qur’an, and
his pleasure was its pleasure and his anger was its
anger."
It is an undoubted fact that Prophet Muhammad,
praise and peace be upon him, was blessed to be the
receiver of not only the quality of close friendship
but also the very special quality of love.
When the unbelievers said, "Muhammad means we should
love him just as the Christians love Jesus, the son
of Mary", Allah sent down the verse that reads
"Proclaim, (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and
blessings be upon him), “O mankind! If you love
Allah, follow me - Allah will love you and forgive
you your sins”; and Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most
Merciful." [3:31]. And His anger towards them
becomes apparent in the following verse that tells
us, "Proclaim, “Obey Allah and the Noble Messenger”;
so if they turn away - then Allah is not pleased
with the disbelievers." [3:32]. In this verse Allah
increased the honor the Prophet, praise and peace be
upon him. Note how He issued the command to obey His
Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, in connection
with obedience to Himself – this is followed by the
warning if they choose to turn away, "then truly,
Allah does not love the unbelievers."
A
theologian explained the difference between love and
close friendship. He said that the close friend
reaches Allah through an intermediary. To support
his explanation he quoted the verses "And likewise
We showed Ibrahim the entire kingdom of the heavens
and the earth and so that he be of those who believe
as eyewitnesses." [6:75] whereas He indicated that
the beloved, Prophet Muhammad, reaches Him by Him in
the verse "So the distance between the Spectacle and
the beloved was only two arms’ length, or even
less." [53:9].
It has also been said that the limit of the close
friend is the desire for forgiveness. Allah quotes
the saying of Ibrahim, "And the One Who, upon Whom I
pin my hopes, will forgive me my mistakes on the Day
of Judgement." [26:82]. Whereas the one who is the
beloved is absolutely certain that he will be
forgiven, and this is supported in the verse that
reads, "So that Allah may forgive, for your sake,
the sins of those before you and those after you,
and complete His favours upon you, and to show you
the Straight Path. " [48:2].
We refer back to Prophet Ibrahim whose rank is that
of the close friend and the verse in which he said,
"And the One Who, upon Whom I pin my hopes, will
forgive me my mistakes on the Day of Judgement."
[26:82] and now to the verse "on the day when Allah
will not humble the Prophet and the believers along
with him; their light will be running ahead of them
and on their right;" [66:8].
The "close friend" Ibrahim said, "And give me proper
fame among the succeeding generations." [26:84].
Whereas Prophet Muhammad, "the beloved", was told,
in the verse "And We have exalted your remembrance
for you (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and
blessings be upon him)." [94:4]. Note how the glad
tiding was given to the Prophet, praise and peace be
upon him, before the questioning.
In
times of affliction note how the close friend says,
"Allah is sufficient for us" [3:173]. Whereas it was
said to Prophet Muhammad, the Beloved, praise and
peace be upon him, "O Herald of the Hidden! Allah is
Sufficient for you and for all these Muslims who
follow you." [8:64]
And Ibrahim, the close friend of Allah is quoted in
the Qur’an saying, "And give me proper fame among
the succeeding generations." [26:84], while Allah
said to Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon
him, "And indeed the latter is better for you than
the former." [93:4]
Khalil said: "and safeguard me and my sons from
worshiping idols." [14:35] while Allah said to HIS
Habib. "Allah only wills to remove all impurity from
you, O the People of the Household, and by cleansing
you make you utterly pure. (*The Holy Prophet’s
household.)" [33:33]
The preceding information is sufficient to give one
a glimpse into the superiority of the rank, degrees
and status of Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be
upon him, and to the inform you of the opinions of
the scholars of Islam. Allah says, "Proclaim, Each
one works according to his own pattern; and your
Lord well knows him who is more upon guidance."
[17:84]