What is the ruling on saying: "You are my highest ideal"?

The term "ideal" (al-mathal al-aʿlā) is used to mean a model to be emulated in a specific aspect of life, and this is permissible. However, applying it absolutely to anyone other than Allah the Almighty is not permissible, because the ultimate ideal can only be for Allah the Almighty. Similarly, describing a person as an absolute role model in all aspects of life should only be applied to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as in the verse: "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern."