What is your response to the brother's objection that the phrase "except for the Messenger of Allah" is incorrect because the exception therein is munqaṭiʿ (discontinuous), and that intention is not taken into consideration in such matters to prevent innovation?

Probable speech that spreads and has a close, correct interpretation should not be hastily judged as forbidden, nor should it be interpreted in a corrupt way, especially since the Arabic language accommodates such styles, like their saying: "There is no generous one but Yusuf." This does not mean negating generosity from anyone else, but rather affirming a special merit of generosity for him. This is the meaning attributed to this phrase, and it does not mean that the affairs of anyone other than the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, do not concern us, or that we can remain silent about harming them.