Can We Call the Prophet “Habeebullah”?

[Abu emaan]

A short yet very beneficial excerpt about the status of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam by Shaykh ibn Al-Uthaymeen rahimahullah,

Ibrahim and Muhammad - may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both- are the two close friends of Allah (Khaleelaan). Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala said, “And Allah did take Ibrahim as a Khaleel (an intimate friend).” [4:125] The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Allah has taken me as akhaleel just as He took Ibrahim as a khaleel.”
[Saheeh Muslim].

The meaning of khaleel is a loved one that has gained you who has been utmost love [i.e., a greater and more intense love you have for an intimate friend] and we do not know of anyone who has been described with this attribute except for Muhammad and Ibrahim, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both, they are the two close friends (Khaleelaan).

And you may hear some of the people say, “Ibrahim is khaleelullah (the close friend of Allah), Muhammad is the Habeebullah (the one loved by Allah), and Musa is the kaleemullah (the one Allah spoke to).” As for the one who says, “Muhammad is Habeebullah“, he should realize that khullah (being akhaleel) is more intense than mahabbah (love, i.e., being a habeeb). So, if he says, “Muhammad isHabeebullah,” then this is a type of reduction from the rights of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam because the ones loved by Allah are many –the believers (mu’minoon), those who do utmost good (muhsinoon), those who are just (muqsitoon) are all loved by Allah.

But, as for the khullah (being a khaleel), we do not know that it is established for other than Ibrahim and Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both, so according to this we say the correct statement is:

Ibrahim is Khaleelullah, Muhammad is Khaleelullah and Musa is Kaleemullah.

[Sharh Riyaad As-Saaliheen 1/236-237]


Tayyibaat » Blog Archive » Can We Call the Prophet “Habeebullah”?

[Abu Zakariya Yahya]

Yeah there are different types of love and intensities. My teacher told me khaleel comes from the word that we use for like when you make wudhu you have to get to the roots of the hair of the beard, or get in between the fingers, and other then that which uses this word are pickles, because the brine and the vegtable come together to form one thing.
So by saying Prophet Muhammad is khaleel allah, basically its saying that his heart and his body and his soul, sallu alayi wa salam is connected to Allah.

[suleimanibnsalim]

Which is greater? Calling Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallah `Alayh wa Sallam a Nabi or a Rasul?

If, as Ibn `Uthaymin, says "then this is a type of reduction from the rights of the Prophet", than calling Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallah `Alayh wa Sallam a Nabi has the same effect. However, we are permitted to do this, so what is wrong with calling the beloved Messenger a Habib?

Sallu `Ala al-Habib! Allahumma Salli wa Sallim `Alayh wa `Ala Alih wa Sahbih wa Man Sara `Ala Darbih!

Wassalam

[Abu Zakariya Yahya]

Which is greater? Calling Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallah `Alayh wa Sallam a Nabi or a Rasul?

If, as Ibn `Uthaymin, says "then this is a type of reduction from the rights of the Prophet", than calling Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallah `Alayh wa Sallam a Nabi has the same effect. However, we are permitted to do this, so what is wrong with calling the beloved Messenger a Habib?

Sallu `Ala al-Habib! Allahumma Salli wa Sallim `Alayh wa `Ala Alih wa Sahbih wa Man Sara `Ala Darbih!

Wassalam

Are you arab or have you studied it?
Secondly, He was nabi and rasool so your argument actually doesn't hold any basis.
Also Uthaymeen didn't say you can't call him habeeb, but according to the Arabic language Khaleel is a stronger love, and thus Prophet Muhammad sallahu alayi wa salam is more deserving of the best, is he not?

[suleimanibnsalim]

He was nabi and rasool so your argument actually doesn't hold any basis

He was a Habib (which is in the form Fa`il which can mean Fa`il and Maf`ul meaning he loves Allah and is loved) and a Khalil so your argument actually doesn't hold any basis.

according to the Arabic language Khaleel is a stronger love, and thus Prophet Muhammad sallahu alayi wa salam is more deserving of the best, is he not?

A Rasul is greater than the rank of a Nabi, yet we can call him a Nabi. However, according to your line of logic: Prophet Muhammad sallahu alayi wa salam is more deserving of the best, is he not?

Wassalam

[Abu Zakariya Yahya]

He was a Habib (which is in the form Fa`il which can mean Fa`il and Maf`ul meaning he loves Allah and is loved) and a Khalil so your argument actually doesn't hold any basis.



A Rasul is greater than the rank of a Nabi, yet we can call him a Nabi. However, according to your line of logic: Prophet Muhammad sallahu alayi wa salam is more deserving of the best, is he not?

Wassalam

I didn't say he wasn't Habib, Yes he loved Allah and Allah loved him.
But the fact of the matter is that Khalil is a stronger love, yet for some reason you have resentment for someone wanting to use a stronger word then habeeb to address the Prophet/Messenger Muhammad alyi salaam.
My logic, was that Khaleel is a stronger word for habeeb thats why Uthaymeen said we should use that instead.
I don't know why people get so defensive about these small issues, when basically it was just a form of advise and he didn't say You can't say habeeb.
No offence but if it wasn't uthaymeen and it was someone you generally agree with you would probably take the advise and defend it whole heartidly out of the overwhelming love for the prophet. But when it comes from someone other then someone You take from then you don't look at what he said but you look at who he is.
Regardless of his manhaj or aqeedah or whatever it is you don't agree with, he was a scholar of the Arabic language.
All he is saying is that the Prophet deserves the best name, and Khaleel is stronger then Habib.
Is the Asl of this statement good or bad?

[maneatinglizard]

Actually, it seems that you are the one who is being defensive.

As you have said yourself, there's nothing wrong with calling Rasulullah Habeebullah. So, then why are you arguing about this?

The other brother never said there's anything wrong with saying Khaleelullah.

[Abu Zakariya Yahya]

Actually, it seems that you are the one who is being defensive.

As you have said yourself, there's nothing wrong with calling Rasulullah Habeebullah. So, then why are you arguing about this?

The other brother never said there's anything wrong with saying Khaleelullah.

Please go read the brothers first post, he said 'If it is as uthaymeen says it is a deducation from the rights of the Prophet to use Habeeb"... "If" means he doubts what uthaymeen said, and my question is WHY?
Then he goes on to say that, if this is this then it is the same with nabi/rasool. Let me ask you a question, do you know ANY scholar who when you ask him a question he gives you every masala? He has other answers to questions on the difference between Nabi/Rasool, and this question was specifically about Habeeb/Khaleel.
It wasn't the point of the advise of ibn uthaymeen to say nabi/rasool is better, the point was that in the arabic language khaleel has a stronger meaning then habeeb, and thus the Prophet Muhammad is more worthy of this title, and we should WANT to call him by the best names.
Then he sends salawat on the Prophet(masha'allah) but puts a explanation mark after habeeb as to show some type of resentment for the advise given by Uthaymeen.
Me and you can also be habeeb Allah, Allah says "Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
But being Khaleel Allah is khas for Ibrahim Alayi salaam and Prophet Muhammad alyi salaam.
The point is Linguistically Khaleel is a stronger type of love, He didn't have to make it seem like it was wrong in the first place to think that khaleel is better, when linguistically it is.
Also this issue with Prophet and Messenger, then this is a different topic but then if you say that Messenger(rasool) is better, then use it. But in English there is barely a difference, and also it would be very hard to distinguish between habeeb/khaleel in English.
so yes, I'm being defensive because of the fact that he overlooked the meaning of the advise, and wanted to think his way out of it using an analogy of nabi and rasool.
It's like saying in english, The most beloved of loved ones with Allah,Nabi Muhammad.
Or saying, the loved one of allah, Nabi Allah.
Obviously, if we love Nabi Muhammad we would want to use the best terms for him, alayi salaam and not just stick to just 'habeeb' cause you disagree with an advise, and you don't understand the difference linguistically.

[AbuFatimah]

hi I have been reading all your interesting points, I know that Allah says something in the qur'an regarding taking all your disputes back to Allah so perhaps someone could post that here as a reminder?

Then we should look to see what ayah or ahadith there are concerning the names and level of love and respect we should show the prophet salAllahu alayhi was sallam.

It seems to me that the point of contention is if u have two names and one name is of higher status than the other, why would you WANT to use the lesser of the names.

Like the prophet saw was the best of creation. Therefore he was better than over 50% of creation. But why would we want to use the lesser of the two terms? Why would we call him better than over 50% of mankind when we can call him the best of mankind. Or he was the best example so why call him one of the best examples. Its technically correct but shouldn't we show upmost praise for the most the man who should be more beloved to us than our own selves?

I certainly see the logic to adopting the name khaleelullah.

Can we agree the name khaleelullah is superior? Perhaps we can start using it instead of habibullah if that won't be too much of a strain on your cultural attachments to using habibullah as I know its a widley used term in the subcontinent.

And allah knows best

[المفكّر]

Maulana Tariq Jamil, in a number of his bayans gave a very good explanation on how the terms 'Habeebullah' and 'Khaleelullah' are derived from the Arabic language and how the former is superior to the latter. Of course, in certain linguistic interpretations, the exact opposite can also be true so ultimately it depends upon your intention. And since no sane Muslim would deliberately even dream of using a lesser term to describe the Messenger of Allah , consequently this entire argument is rendered moot.