And we say that Allaah took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) and that Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 30   : Point [121] 

 ونَقُولُ‏:‏ إِنَّ اللهَ اتخَذَ إبراهيمَ خَلِيلاً، وكَلَّمَ اللهُ مُوسى تكْلِيماً، إِيماناً وتَصْدِيقاً وتَسْلِيماً

[121]  And we say that Allaah took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) and that Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa, saying that with eemaan (true faith) and testifying to the truth and with full submission.

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The Explanation – Point [121]

From the `aqeedah (creed and belief) of the Muslims, is that the Messengers (Rusul) are the most excellent of the creation and that the Messengers (Rusul) vary in levels of excellence. So they hold as their creed and belief, that Allaah took Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an especially beloved one) just as Allaah, the Most High, said,

“..and Allaah took Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an especially beloved)”  (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 125)

And this word ‘al-khullah’ (الخلة), it means: the highest of the levels of love. So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, has love for His believing servants and for the muttaqeen ( المتقين – the people of taqwaa – those are dutiful to Him) and He has love for the muhsineen (المحسنين – the doers of good) and He loves those who frequently repent (التوابين – at-tawwaabeen) and He loves al-muttatahhireen (المتطهرين – those people who purify themselves). However, al-khullah is a special degree which has not been attained except by two of the creation: Ibraaheem and Muhammad `alayhimas–salaatu was-salaam. Just as he `alayhis–salaatu was-salaam said,

“Allaah took me as an especially beloved one (Khaleel) just as He took Ibraaheem as an especially beloved one (Khaleel).” [1]

“And Allaah spoke directly to Moosaa”  (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 164)

So, He (Allaah) gave excellence to some of the Prophets over others, even though all of them were upon a very high level. However, Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, gave excellence to some over others.

“Those are the Messengers; We gave excellence to some of them over others. From them are those to whom Allaah spoke directly and He raised some in degrees of excellence.” (Sooratul-Baqarah (2), aayah 253)

So, every Prophet was given by Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, a degree of excellence particular to him. So he gave to Ibraaheem and Muhammad `alayhimas–salaatu was-salaam, al-khullah (that He made them His specially beloved). And He gave to Moosaa the excellence that He spoke to him directly, without an angel in-between. And Moosaa heard His Speech; so He the Perfect called to him (ناداه – naadaahu) and spoke privately to him (ناجاه – naajaahu). And the term ‘al-munaadaat’ (المنادات) means ‘a raised voice’ and ‘al-munaajaat’ (المناجات) is ‘speaking with a low voice’. Both of these occurred for Moosaa `alayhis–salaatu was-salaam and this was a virtue not attained by anyone besides him. And He said at the end of the aayah, “takleemaa (تكليما – with Speech)” for emphasis so that no one could say that this was something metaphorical. So when He has emphasized it with this verbal noun, this proves that it is true and real Speech from Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So this contains affirmation of al-Kalaam (الكلام – Speech) for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. And it contains affirmation of the virtue of Moosaa `alayhis–salaatu was-salaam over other Prophets with regard to this characteristic. And the fact that a Prophet had a particular quality special to him does not necessitate that he is better than the others unrestrictedly. Rather, it means that he was more excellent than other Prophets with regard to this particular quality.

End of explanation of point [121][2]

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by Muslim as a hadeeth of Jundub radiyAllaahu `anh, and something similar occurs in Al-Bukhaaree but not with this particular wording.

[2] Translator’s Side Point: The explainer, Ibn Abil-`Izz, in his explanation of At–Tahaawiyyah, he said,

“And just as the station of al-khullah (being an especially beloved one of Allaah) which is confirmed for Ibraaheem salawaatullaahi `alayhi he is shared in that by our Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, as has already preceded. And likewise, the status of being spoken to directly which is confirmed for Moosaa salawaatullaahi `alayhi, then he is shared with that by our Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, as well, as occurs in the hadeeth of the Israa· (the Ascent through the heavens).”

At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah At–Tahaawiyyah
By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah
Pages 125-128 (Points 118-121)
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH
Transcribed by Sideeqa Ali

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
Explanation of Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]