that it was initially done for a particular purpose, then Allah prescribed it as a rite and an act of worship. But this applies only when Allah has prescribed and commanded it. No one may prescribe what Allah has not prescribed. For example, if someone were to say, “I consider it recommended to circumambulate the Rock seven times, just as the Ka‘bah is circumambulated,” or, “I consider it recommended to take the stations of Moses and Jesus as places of prayer, just as Allah commanded that the station of Abraham be taken as a place of prayer,” or something similar, he would have no right to do so. For Allah Most High singles out particular things and actions for rulings peculiar to them, which preclude extending those rulings to anything else by analogy. According to most scholars, this is because of a distinctive quality not found elsewhere; according to some, it is simply because His will has singled them out. Thus, He singled out the Ka‘bah for pilgrimage and circumambulation, ‘Arafāt for standing there, Minā for stoning the pillars there, the sacred months for their sanctity, and Ramadan for fasting and night prayer, along with other such examples.
Abraham and Muhammad are each an intimate friend of Allah. It is established through several chains of transmission in the authentic hadith collections that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“Allah has taken me as an intimate friend, just as He took Abraham as an intimate friend.”
It is also established in the Sahīh:
“A man said to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—‘O best of creation!’ He replied, ‘That is Abraham.’”
Thus, Abraham is the best of creation after Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
His words, “That is Abraham,” were an expression of humility, for it is established from him—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in the Sahīh that he said:
“I am the leader of the descendants of Adam, and I say this without boasting. Adam and all who came after him will be beneath my banner on the Day of Resurrection, and I say this without boasting.”
This is among other