Is it permissible to use the word "Khalili" (my intimate friend) among friends, knowing that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq used "Wāh Khalīlāh" (Oh, my intimate friend!) upon the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?

It is permissible for someone other than the Prophet (peace be upon him) to take a khalīl (intimate friend), as Abu Hurayrah and Abu Bakr did with the Prophet, and just as it is permissible to take a righteous khalīl other than the Prophet, due to the saying: "A man is upon the religion of his khalīl, so let each of you look to whom he befriends."

As for the Prophet (peace be upon him), he did not take a khalīl other than his Lord, due to his saying: "If I were to take a khalīl from my nation, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and companion," and his saying five days before his death: "I declare myself free before Allah from having any khalīl among you."

This does not contradict others taking him as a khalīl; what is impermissible is for the Prophet to take someone else as a khalīl. And the reports that mention that the Prophet took Abu Bakr as a khalīl, or that every prophet takes a khalīl, are all weak and contradict the authentic mutawātir hadiths that negate the Prophet's khullah (intimate friendship) with anyone among people; because khullah is a love that has permeated the heart, and the Prophet's khullah was confined to the love of Allah the Almighty.