The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Edicts, headed by Shaykh ˁAbdul ˁAzīz b. Bāz, studied the issue of expressing love for the Prophet – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – through the imagery of love hearts.
They were asked about keychains in the shape of a heart inscribed with “I ❤︎ The Messenger”, meaning I love The Messenger, and women’s shirts that had the same message printed on their left side, above the heart.
The Committee issued the following edict.
After studying the issue, the Committee replies that putting the above mentioned shape and writing the above mentioned expression on clothes, pendants and the like is not from the way of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) of this Ummah, and they were the best of generations and loved and respected the Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – more than those who came after them. Likewise, doing this involves emulation of the sinful who use such symbols to show their ḥarām love and infatuation for others, and in which they vary in intensity without paying attention to the ruling of the pure Sharīˁah on their love. Also, [using] the above mentioned shape gives the impression that loving the Messenger of Allāh – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – is like loving others from [Allāh’s] creation. This is a grave error, because loving the Messenger of Allāh – peace and blessings be upon him – is obligatory in Islām and a person’s faith cannot be complete without it. As for loving others, it may be allowed or it may be forbidden.
Based on the above, writing the previously mentioned expression [on items], selling them, buying them or using them is not allowed.
And from Allāh comes success. And may the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon our Prophet Muḥammad, and upon his Family and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Edicts
Bakr Abū Zayd (member)
Ṣāliḥ Al-Fawzān (member)
ˁAbdullāh Al-Ghudayān (member)
ˁAbdul ˁAzīz b. ˁAbdillāh b. Bāz (chair)
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Edicts. ‘Heart Shaped Keychains Inscribed With “I Love The Messenger”‘. General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Edicts. Web. 17 Jan. 2015. <http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/fatawaDetails.aspx?languagename=ar&View=Page&PageID=9409&PageNo=1&BookID=3>