بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

وقال ابنُ القَيِّمِ: (يَكفي في فَضْلِهم وشَرَفِهم أنَّ اللهَ سُبحانَه وتعالى اختصَّهم بوَحْيِه، وجعَلَهم أُمَناءَ على رسالتِه، وواسِطةً بينه وبين عبادِه، وخَصَّهم بأنواعِ كراماتِه؛ فمنهم من اتخذه خليلًا، ومنهم من كلَّمه تكليمًا، ومنهم من رفعه مكانًا عليًّا على سائرِهم دَرَجاتٍ، ولم يجعَلْ لعبادِه وصولًا إليه إلَّا من طريقِهم، ولا دخولًا إلى جنَّتِه إلَّا خَلْفَهم، ولم يُكرِمْ أحدًا منهم بكرامةٍ إلَّا على أيديهم؛ فهم أقرَبُ الخَلقِ إليه وسيلةً، وأرفَعُهم عنده درجةً، وأحَبُّهم إليه وأكرمُهم عليه، وبالجُملةِ فخَيرُ الدُّنيا والآخرةِ إنما ناله العبادُ على أيديهم، وبهم عُرِفَ اللهُ، وبهم عُبِدَ وأُطيعَ، وبهم حصَلت محابُّه تعالى في الأرضِ

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

It is sufficient concerning their virtue and nobility that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, specifically chose them for His revelation, made them trustees of His message, the ones through whom Allah’s servants receive His guidance, and specifically favored them with various types of His blessings. Among them are those whom He took as close friends (i.e Ibrahim and Muhammad), those whom He spoke to directly (i.e. Musa and Muhammad), and those whom He raised to high ranks above all others (i.e. Muhammad, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa). He did not ordain a path for His servants to reach His pleasure except through them, nor enter His paradise except behind them. He did not honor any of them (i.e. the people) with a blessing except through their hands. They are the closest of creation to Him as a means of drawing close to Allah, the highest in rank in His presence, and the most beloved and honored by Him. In summary, the best of this world and the Hereafter is only attained by people through them. Through them Allah is known, worshipped and obeyed, and through them Allah’s love is attained on earth.

Source: “Tariq Al-Hijratayn 350”

(Paraphrased)

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Jazaakumullaahu