Urafiki wa karibu ni hali inayotofautishwa na upendo kamili, ni hali ya moyo ambao hauna nafasi kwa mwingine yeyote zaidi ya mpenzi wake. Ni nafasi isiyokubali kushirikiwa, kwa namna yoyote ile. Nafasi hii ni maalum kwa khalilan (marafiki wawili wa karibu) wa Allah ~: Ibrahim ~\ na Muhammad ~' kama Mtume~ alivyosema: "Allah amenichukua kuwa khalil, kama alivyomchukua Ibrahim kuwa khalil." 3 Mtume ~ pia alisema: "Kama ningechukua khalil, ningemchukua Abu Bakr, lakini yeye ni ndugu yangu na mwenzangu katika Uislamu." Pia alisema ~: "Mimi sina hatia na khalil yeyote kwa urafiki wake wa karibu, (isipokuwa upendo wake kwa Allah ~)"4 Ibrahim ~\ alipomwomba Mola wake mtoto, hata akiwa na umri mkubwa, alipewa Isma'il ~\. Moyo wa Ibrahim ulikuwa umezama katika upendo kwa mtoto wake mpya, hivyo Allah ~ alitaka kumjaribu Ibrahim na kuona - ingawa Yeye ~ ndiye Mjuzi wa kila kitu, kinachoonekana na kisichoonekana - kama urafiki wa karibu kati yao umeathiriwa na kuwasili kwa mtoto mpya; hivyo akamwamuru Ibrahim, katika ndoto, amchinje mwanawe. Ilikuwa amri ya kimungu, iliyokuja kama maono ya kweli, ambayo ikawa mtihani mkubwa kwa Ibrahim ~\. Lengo halikuwa kumchinja mwanawe kwa kweli, bali kuchinja upendo uliopindukia aliokuwa nao Ibrahim kwa mwanawe moyoni mwake, ili moyo wake ubaki umejitoa kikamilifu kwa Allah ~. Ibrahim ~\ alipoanza kumchinja mwanawe, akiweka upendo kwa Allah mbele ya upendo kwa mwanawe, lengo lililokusudiwa lilikuwa limetimia, na hivyo Allah ~ akamkomboa mwana kwa dhabihu kubwa (ya kondoo). Baadhi ya watu wamekosea wanapofikiri kwamba upendo unaweza kuwa kamilifu zaidi kuliko Khullah (urafiki wa karibu), na kwamba Ibrahim ~\ alikuwa Khalil wa Allah, wakati Muhammad alikuwa mpendwa na mpenzi wa Allah. Neno "upendo" lina maana ya jumla, wakati "Khullah" ni mahususi zaidi; Al-Khullah ndiyo mwisho na matokeo ya upendo wa dhati. Mtume ~ ameeleza kwamba Allah ~ alimchukua yeye na Ibrahim kuwa Khalil Wake wawili. Yeye ﷺ alikanusha kwamba alikuwa na khalil yeyote isipokuwa Mola wake, huku akitangaza wazi mapenzi yake kwa 'Aishah, kwa baba yake Abu Bakr, kwa 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, na wengineo. Allah (SWT) pia anatangaza mapenzi Yake kwa watu Wake wema, akisema: {Hakika Allah huwapenda wanaorejea kwake kwa toba, na huwapenda wanaojitakasa}⁵ {Allah huwapenda wenye subira}⁶ {Allah huwapenda wanaofanya wema}⁷ {Hakika Allah huwapenda wanaofanya uadilifu.}8

This is intimate friendship, characterised by perfect love, belonging to a heart which has no place for others besides his/her beloved one. It is a position which does not accept sharing, of any kind. This position is special for the khalilan (two intimate friends) of Allah ~ : Ibrahim ~\ and Muhammad ~' as the Prophet~ said: "Allah has taken me as a khalil, just as he had taken Ibrahim as a khalil. " 3 The Prophet ~ also said: "If I were to take a khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion in Islam." He ~ also said: "I am innocent from any khalil for his intimate friendship, (besides his love of Allah ~)"4 When Ibrahim ~\ asked his Lord for a child, even at an advanced age, he was given Isma' il ~\. The heart of Ibrahim was besotted with love for his new child, so Allah ~ wanted to test Ibrahim and see - while He ~ is the All- Knower of everything, seen and unseen - if the intimate friendship between them had been affected by the arrival of the new child; so He ~ ordered Ibrahim, in a dream, to slaughter his son. It was a divine Command, coming as a real vision, which became a great test for Ibrahim ~\. The aim was not to slaughter his son, in reality, but to slaughter the excessive love that Ibrahim had for his son in his heart, so that his heart would stay fully devoted to Allah ~- When Ibrahim ~\ set about slaughtering his son, placing the love for Allah before of the love for his son, the intended mission had been achieved and so Allah ~ ransomed the son for the great sacrifice ( of a sheep). Some people are wrong when they think that love could be more perfect than Khullah ( intimate friendship), and that Ibrahim ~ \ was a Khalil of Allah, while Muhammad was a dear and beloved one of Allah. The term "love" has a general context, while "Khullah" is more specific; Al- Khullah is the end and outcome of sincere love. The Prophet ~ has informed that Allah ~ had taken him and Ibrahim as His two Khalils. He~ denied that he had any khalil besides his Lord, while at the same time declaring his love for ' Aishah, for her father Abu Bakr, for 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, and others. Allah ~ also declares His love for His righteous people, saymg: (Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance, and loves those who purify themselves)5 (Allah loves the Patient)6 (Allah loves the good-doers)7 ( Verily, Allah loves those who act justly.)8

Uamuzi wa kutenda au kutotenda kitendo fulani unategemea manufaa yanayopatikana kutokana nacho, au faraja inayotokea baada ya kuondolewa kwa maumivu. Uamuzi huu umechukuliwa na watu wenye akili pamoja na wanyama. Hata hivyo, watu wengi hujidhulumu vibaya pale wanapofikiria tu kupata kuridhika, hata kama kitafuatiwa na mateso makubwa baadaye. Hivi ndivyo ilivyo kwa watu wenye upeo mfupi; wale wanaofikiria tu kuridhika kwa wakati wa sasa na kupuuza madhara yoyote mabaya ya baadaye. Mtu mwenye akili zaidi ni yule anayependelea hali ya akili yenye amani na ya kudumu kuliko starehe za muda mfupi na za kupita za maisha. Mtu mpumbavu ni yule anayebadilishana Baraka za Milele, maisha mema na ya kudumu, na kuridhika kamili, kwa starehe fupi na zinazofifia, zilizojaa mateso, hofu na wasiwasi. Njia pekee ya kupata kuridhika kwa kweli ni kumgeukia Allah ﷻ peke yake, na kutafuta Radhi Zake, katika kila tendo. Kwa njia hii, mtu akikosa chochote katika dunia hii, bila shaka atakuwa amepata nafasi yake kubwa, isiyoweza kukosekana, ya kupata Amani Akhera; na mtu asipokosa chochote duniani, huku akibaki katika utii kamili kwa Allah ﷻ, basi atakuwa amepata kuridhika kote mbili, duniani na Akhera. Hii ndiyo njia ya furaha ya mtu, pamoja na Mafanikio kutoka kwa Allah ﷻ.

The choice as to whether or not to do an act is based on the benefit that is achieved from it, or the relief it produces after the removal of pain. This choice has been taken by reasonable people as well as animals. However, many people wrong themselves badly when they only think of achieving satisfaction, even if it is subsequently followed by a great suffering. This is the case of short-sighted people; those who think only of satisfaction in the present and ignore any bad consequences in the future. The most reasonable person is one who prefers a lasting, peaceful state of mind to the ephemeral , short-lived satisfactions of life. A foolish person is one who exchanges Eternal Blessings, a good, lasting life and perfect satisfaction for brief and fading satisfaction, troubled with sufferings, fears and anxieties . The only way to achieve real satisfaction is to tum to Allah ~ ' Alone, and seek His Pleasure, in every action. In this way, if a person had missed out on anything in this world, he/she would indeed have earned his/her great chance, which cannot be missed, of achieving Peace in the Hereafter; and if he/she had not missed anything in this world, while remaining in total obedience to Allah ~, then he/she would have achieved both satisfactions, in this world and the Hereafter. This is the way to one's happiness, with Success from Allah ~ .

Upendo ndio msingi wa kila shughuli, iwe ya kweli au ya uongo, na msingi wa shughuli zote za Kiislamu ni kuwa na upendo kwa Allah ~ na Mtume Wake ~, kama vile msingi wa Wahyi (Qur'an na Sunnah) ulivyo kuwa na imani kwa Allah na Mtume Wake. Hisia yoyote inayozuia ukamilifu wa upendo huu kwa Allah na Mtume Wake, inayoshindana na upendo huu, kwa hakika inapingana na msingi wa Imani na kuudhoofisha. Ikiimarika hadi ikapingana na msingi wa upendo wa Allah au imani katika Wahyi, inakuwa aina ya shirki inayobatilisha imani ya mtu. Ikiwa haipingani nao, basi inapunguza ukamilifu wa imani hiyo. Kwa hiyo, urafiki wa kweli katika Uislamu haupatikani isipokuwa kwa kuonyesha uadui kwa Maadui wa Allah ~. Allah ~ amesema kuwa Ibrahim :%§1 aliwauliza watu wake: ("Je, mnaona yale mliyokuwa mkiyaabudu, nyinyi na baba zenu wa zamani? Hakika wao ni maadui kwangu, isipokuwa Mola Mlezi wa walimwengu (binadamu, majini na kila kilichopo).") 1 Ibrahim, Khalil wa Allah, hakuanzisha urafiki wake wa karibu wa kweli na Allah mpaka alipotangaza uadui wake kwa wale wa watu wake waliokuwa wakiabudu miungu isiyokuwa Allah ~. Hakuna urafiki isipokuwa kwa ajili ya Allah, na hakuna urafiki isipokuwa kwa kutangaza kuachana na chochote kinachoabudiwa badala Yake £. Kwa maana Allah ~ amesema: ("Hakika kwenu kulikuwa na mfano mzuri kwa Ibrahim na walio pamoja naye, walipowaambia watu wao: 'Hakika sisi tumejitenga nanyi na kila mnachokiabudu badala ya Allah; tumewakataa, na kumetokea baina yetu na nyinyi uadui na chuki milele, mpaka mumwamini Allah peke Yake.'") 2 na Yeye ~ amesema: ("Kumbuka alipomwambia Ibrahim baba yake na watu wake: 'Hakika mimi nimejitenga na mnachokiabudu, isipokuwa Yule aliyeniumba; na hakika Yeye ataniongoa' Naye akalifanya neno hili kuwa neno la kudumu katika kizazi chake, ili wapate kurejea (kwa Allah).") 3 yaani. Alifanya urafiki kwa ajili ya Allah na kuukana kila kitu kinachoabudiwa badala ya Allah kuwa ni "neno" la kudumu, litakalorithiwa na Mitume na wafuasi wao baada yake. Neno hili ni shahada ya Imani: (la ilaha illallah - hakuna haki ya kuabudiwa isipokuwa Allah peke yake). Ni "neno" ambalo mbingu, ardhi na dini zilisimama juu yake. Kwa ajili ya neno hili ilipangwa Qibla, na panga za Jihadi zikanyanyuliwa. Ni "neno" linalolinda damu ya mtu na mali yake katika ardhi ya Waislamu, na linamuokoa na adhabu ya kaburi. Hakuna atakayeingia Peponi bila kulitamka; ni Neno la Uislamu, na ufunguo wa Nyumba ya Amani, Nyumba ya Imani. Linatofautisha nyumba ya baraka na nyumba ya mateso na taabu. Ni nguzo inayobeba wajibu wa kidini na Sunnah, kwani yule ambaye neno lake la mwisho lilikuwa la-ilaha-illallah ataingia Peponi. Kiini cha neno hili na siri yake ni: kumtenga Allah peke yake, Ambaye ndiye mwenye Ufalme wote na Sifa zote, kwa Mapenzi, Sifa na Utukufu. Kumpenda Yeye peke yake; kumwomba Yeye peke yake; kumtegemea Yeye peke yake; kutamani kumridhisha Yeye peke yake; kumcha Yeye peke yake; kuapa kwa jina Lake peke yake; kutubia Kwake peke yake; kutii Amri Yake peke yake; kutafuta wokovu kutoka Kwake peke yake; kusujudia Yeye peke yake; kuchinja (mnyama) kwa ajili Yake peke yake. Yote haya yanaweza kukusanywa katika neno moja: kumwabudu Yeye peke yake. Hii ndiyo utekelezaji wa Shahada ya Imani, (la ilaha illallah). Kwa sababu hii Allah ﷻ ameharamisha Moto wa Jahannamu kwa yule anayeithibitisha Shahada hii ya Imani katika maisha yake na kusimama imara nayo, kama Allah ﷻ alivyosema: (Wale wanaosimama imara juu ya ushahidi wao.) Muumini husimama imara juu ya shahada yake moyoni mwake, ambapo iko mahali sawa na roho ilivyo mwilini. Mgonjwa ni yule aliye karibu na kufa, ilhali roho inayoangalia afya ya mwili iko hai. Kwa hiyo uhai wa roho hii unategemea uhai wa neno hili (kwa kuwa na Shahada ya Imani ndani yake), kama vile uhai wa mwili unavyotegemea kuwepo kwa roho ndani yake. Yeyote aliyeishi maisha yake akishikilia kwa uthabiti neno hili na kutekeleza wajibu wake, roho yake itafurahia maisha mapya mazuri yaliyokusudiwa kwake Peponi, kwa kuwa Allah ~ amesema: (Kwa yule aliyeogopa kusimama mbele ya Mola wake, na kujizuia na matamanio ya nafsi na tamaa mbaya, hakika Pepo ndiyo makazi yake.) 3 (Atakayetenda mema - awe mwanamume au mwanamke - huku yeye ni Muumini wa kweli, hakika tutampa maisha mazuri) 4 (Hakika! Hakika Auliyaa' wa Allah (yaani wale wanaoamini Umoja wa Allah, wakimcha na kumpenda sana), hakuna hofu itakayowajia wala hawatahuzunika; wale walioamini na walikuwa wakimcha Allah sana; kwao ni habari njema, katika maisha ya dunia hii na Akhera. Hakuna mabadiliko katika Maneno ya Allah. Hiki ndicho kifanikio kikuu.) 5 Muumini aliye mkweli katika ibada yake kwa Allah ndiye miongoni mwa watu wanaofurahia maisha bora zaidi, akili tulivu zaidi, moyo mpana zaidi, moyo wenye furaha zaidi, ambayo ni aina ya Pepo duniani (kwake) kabla ya ile ya Akhera. Anas bin Malik ~ alisimulia kwamba Mtume ﷺ alisema: "Mtakapofika kwenye malisho ya Peponi, jilisheni humo." Alipoulizwa malisho ya Peponi ni yapi, alijibu kwamba ni halaka za dhikri ya Allah." Pia alisema ﷺ: "Umbali kati ya nyumba yangu na mimbari yangu ni malisho ya Peponi." 7 Hakuna jambo lenye manufaa zaidi kwa Muumini kuliko kumgeukia Allah ~ katika kila jambo, kumkumbuka na kujitahidi kumridhisha, ili apate kufurahia Mapenzi Yake. Mtume ﷺ alisimulia kwamba Allah ~ alisema: "Ewe mwana wa Adamu! Nimekuumba ili uniabudu, basi usipoteze muda wako kucheza. Nimechukua jukumu la baraka zako na riziki zako, basi usijichoshe nafsi yako." Ee mwanadamu! Niite, nawe utanipata; na ukinipata, umepata kila kitu; lakini usiponipata, umepoteza kila kitu; kwani mimi ni mpenzi zaidi kwako kuliko kitu chochote kingine."